Summary of Virtual Field Trip

I chose for my class to take a field trip to the zoo.  The purpose of this field trip is for the students to see primates, which we have been studying in class.  After the field trip, the students must write a two page paper on what they already knew about primates, and what they learned after going on the field trip.  I believe a trip to the zoo will be a fun way to gain a better knowledge about primates.  The hyper link to my wiki is: http://katiecooper200.wikispaces.com/message/view/home/37514896.

Scrumblr

The class activity involved using the site scrumblr.  I used this site to classify different types of animals.  The three domains of animals that I mentioned were reptiles, mammals, and amphibians.   I listed three different animals under each category.

Computer Lab Seating Chart

One benefit of using Microsoft Word is that I am familiar with it so it was easy.  Word also offered an easy way to use textboxes.
One limitation was that it probably took longer than other programs.  There might have been a more timely manner for the assignment.

Assignment 5-Dream Computer

The MacBook Pro: Assignment Five

            If I were able to choose any computer for my classroom I would choose the fifteen inch MacBook Pro with 2.0 GHz.  This computer is listed as $1,799, which is a great deal for everything that is included.  The MacBook Pro is an excellent choice for the classroom because it has many things built in to the computer, has few extra things a teacher would have to buy, and is easy to use throughout the classroom.

            The MacBook Pro is a wonderful choice for teachers to use in their classrooms because it has many necessities built in.  The computer comes with a webcam that is useful for taking pictures and chatting visually online with other classes.  Therefore, there is really no need for the teacher to have to purchase a digital camera.  MacBook Pro’s also come with a built in microphone, keyboard, and built in speakers.  Microphones are necessary on computers for children to be able to record themselves for particular projects.  Keyboards are useful for typing in information.  Finally, speakers are needed for the class to be able to hear certain videos that their teacher has put together for them.  All of these resources being included in the MacBook Pro make it a better choice than a regular computer because it does not have all those extra costs. 

            While the MacBook Pro does include a lot of extra components, there are still a few things a teacher could purchase that would be beneficial to their classroom.  One of the largest things I would need to go along with my laptop computer would be a digital projector.  Digital projectors usually can be found for as low as $200 and as high as several thousand.  However, the Dell projector I’m hoping to get for the classroom is $379.  Having a digital projector could increase my ability to teach, as well as provide the children with an easier way of learning.  Another thing I would need to assist my work on the MacBook Pro is a scanner.  I found a good scanner on Amazon.com for $149.99, which would be very useful to the classroom.  Having a scanner in the classroom would allow me to make copies of worksheets or to copy students’ pictures onto the computer.  A digital projector and scanner would allow the classroom better opportunities and would be the only extra components I would need for my MacBook Pro.

            The last way MacBook Pro’s are useful in the classroom is that they are easily transported.  This is an advantage over regular computers because students can use the laptop anywhere in the classroom.  It would be beneficial for me to get this computer so I could work with students on the computer at their desks, rather than them having to sit at a particular location.  The MacBook Pro would also be a good type of computer for our classroom because I could walk around with it if I needed to during role call.  The MacBook Pro would be a wonderful piece of technology for my classroom because it can be used anywhere in the class.

            The MacBook Pro would be the best type of computer for my classroom because it comes with many necessary items, there would not be a lot of extra stuff to buy with it, and it could be used anywhere in the classroom.  The MacBook Pro would be a wonderful addition to the classroom and would be a very smart choice.

Assignment #3

Katie Cooper

           

Assignment 3:Learning/Cognitive Style Inventories

The two types of surveys my class was assigned to take were a cognitive style inventory test and a learning style inventory test.  The cognitive inventory test taught people the way they preferred to learn information.  The learning style inventory test taught the person what type of learner they were.  Both of the tests were about a page long, and contained about fifteen questions.  The cognitive test found me to be a sensorial thinker.  According to the website, sensorial thinkers prefer to use their five senses, think with common sense, and have a memory rich in detail.  The learning style test proved me to be a visual learner.  Visual learners learn best by having something to look at, while learning. 

            After taking both the cognitive style inventory test and the learning style inventory test, I was presented with fairly accurate results.  The results from the cognitive inventory test were relatively similar to myself.  However, the results from the learning style inventory were very accurate.  I definitely consider myself to be a visual learner, and I have used this learning style my entire life.

            Knowing the results from my surveys, can allow me to be a better teacher in the future.  The reason this information can help me in the classroom, is because I will know what type of learning I specialize in.  To be the best teacher I can be, I can incorporate my learning styles into my lessons.  As well as, focusing on other types of learning to ensure the best education for my students.  The url addresses from where I took my surveys are, http://tests.infoartperu.com/en/test_cognitivestyles.htm and http://www.personal.psu.edu/bxb11/LSI/LSI.htm.

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Assignment #1

Katie Cooper

Geoffrey Price           

Cat 200-003

30 January 2011

The Benefits of Technology in the Classroom

            The use of technology is becoming vital in every field.  A particular setting technology is used in, is school classrooms.  Educational technology is the use of technology in the classroom.  Furthermore, it is when a teacher incorporates technology into her lesson plans.  Educational technology plays a major role in teaching and in learning.  It is important for teachers to use technology during class time to provide their students with an easy learning style.  Technology is also important during the learning process, as it helps students learn new and easier ways to do things.  The amount of money a school has is one of the biggest factors determining their level of technology.  For example, if a school had plenty of money then it would encourage new levels of technology.  However, schools located in a more rural area, with less money would be less likely to encourage technology due to lack of funds.  I have relatively good experience working in the classroom, have seen a great deal of technology incorporated in the classroom, and believe the use of technology should be integrated into teaching and learning.

            Throughout my life I have known I wanted to be a teacher.  Therefore, I have participated in organizations that allowed me to work in elementary school classrooms.  When I was in fourth and fifth grade I worked with kindergarteners each week.  In middle school I participated in a group that went to a nearby elementary school each week, and worked with preschool students.   I really enjoyed these opportunities, and decided that I would like to continue working in classrooms in high school.  My junior year of high school I helped in the special education room, and my senior year I joined peer helping.  As a member of peer helping, I was assigned to work with children in different elementary schools.  Two days of the week I went to help in a preschool class, and the other two days I worked in a first grade class.  Therefore, I have a large amount of experience in the classroom, and am grateful for those opportunities.

            The amount of technology I have seen in the classroom has greatly increased since I started school.  When I began school, the only type of technology the school had were computers and overhead projectors.  Throughout elementary school, the teachers would write the notes on the whiteboard or use the overhead projector.  The lack of technology continued into my middle school years.  However, when I got to high school the level of technology had drastically increased.  Each classroom had a projector, an elmo, an airliner, and a set of classroom clickers.  Therefore, I have seen a wide range of technology in classrooms.

I believe technology should have a major impact on peoples teaching and learning styles.   I feel that teachers should have a strong grasp on technology, so they can use it in their classrooms.  Teachers should use technology when conducting their class experiments, history assignments, and other class projects.  Teachers should use PowerPoint presentations to provide and easy way for their students to learn.  I believe seeing visuals on the projecting screen would help children concentrate on what they were learning, and provide them with an interesting style of learning.

Participating in school classrooms has given me good experiences, I have seen a great deal of technology in classrooms, and I believe technology should be integrated into classrooms.  The use of technology in classrooms opens a window of opportunities for teachers and students.  Schools should continue the use of technology in classrooms.