How does the technology that you currently use enhance your students' learning and your teaching? How do you know?
Using CFNC with my eighth grade students helps them begin planning for high school and college. Having them complete a career interest survey on the CFNC site gives them an idea of what careers would be suitable for them, which then assists them in deciding which courses to take in high school. Based on student evaluations for this activity, the students felt more confident selecting high school courses after completing the interest survey. I have conducted student evaluations after other activities with groups of students (see previous entry for activities), and they consistently state that the use of technology (videos, Powerpoint, websites) keeps them engaged and interested in the material. They also state that using the videos makes the related discussions and activities more realistic and age-appropriate.
As a teacher/counselor, using technology with my students helps me keep them engaged in activities. It also allows me to provide them with very current and relevant resources (college information, study skills, etc.). Integrating technology also helps me stay up-to-date professionally.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Day 2 Morning
How do you currently use technology in your classroom?
As a school counselor, I use various forms of technology in both large and small group guidance sessions. I help each of the eighth grade students with whom I work create accounts on CFNC (College Foundation of North Carolina) and complete the career interest survey on that site. I use videos of scenarios involving conflicts and problems as a starting point for discussion and activities intended to help my students develop conflict resolution or decision-making skills. I am hoping to maintain a wikispace next year where I can post useful resources for my students, such as links to websites about study skills, self-guided activities about anger management, etc., and announce upcoming events or small group sessions. I use email to communicate with students, teachers, and administration and I maintain all of my student records electronically. Powerpoints are useful when discussing topics like high school course requirements with students. Our guidance department is hoping to utilize a self-guided conflict resolution program (on CD-ROM) next year as an alternative to suspension for some of our students.
As a school counselor, I use various forms of technology in both large and small group guidance sessions. I help each of the eighth grade students with whom I work create accounts on CFNC (College Foundation of North Carolina) and complete the career interest survey on that site. I use videos of scenarios involving conflicts and problems as a starting point for discussion and activities intended to help my students develop conflict resolution or decision-making skills. I am hoping to maintain a wikispace next year where I can post useful resources for my students, such as links to websites about study skills, self-guided activities about anger management, etc., and announce upcoming events or small group sessions. I use email to communicate with students, teachers, and administration and I maintain all of my student records electronically. Powerpoints are useful when discussing topics like high school course requirements with students. Our guidance department is hoping to utilize a self-guided conflict resolution program (on CD-ROM) next year as an alternative to suspension for some of our students.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Shutdown, Power Off
Positive:
Room for improvement:
- Very helpful and patient staff/instructors
- Enjoyable work environment
- Good food :)
- A diverse group of teachers and students
- Getting started on the game design before the end of the day
Room for improvement:
- Could pre-workshop communication be improved? It would have been helpful if all involved could have downloaded the necessary software prior to arrival this morning.
- For those of us bringing personal computers, knowing the necessary minimum system requirements would have been helpful ahead of time (graphics card, processor, etc.).
Day 1 Afternoon
Why are you here? What are you excited about?
I'm combining these questions because the reason I'm here is also the reason for my excitement. As a classroom teacher, I frequently used technology in various ways with my students. This year I began working as a school counselor, and I have had a harder time figuring out how to integrate technology into this new position. So...I was excited when I heard about this workshop because I immediately thought of some problem-solving situations in my new curriculum around which I could develop a computer game. Conflict resolution, anger management, making healthy decisions, handling peer pressure--these are some of the skills that I help students develop and that could be incorporated into a video game. I'm looking forward to being able to bring technology into the counseling curriculum, two areas that most people would not normally tie together!
What are you concerned about?
Well, I have a number of concerns...I consider myself to be fairly competent in using a computer for "daily" tasks, but that is a far cry from designing and implementing a video game! I'm worried about not being familiar with the language, basic functions, etc. needed to develop a game. I never play computer games myself, so I'm concerned about not understanding how games operate and how to actually play a game successfully. And, since the whole purpose of this workshop is to create a curriculum-based game that my students will enjoy, I worry that what I create will flop! Eighth graders are a tough crowd! :)
I'm combining these questions because the reason I'm here is also the reason for my excitement. As a classroom teacher, I frequently used technology in various ways with my students. This year I began working as a school counselor, and I have had a harder time figuring out how to integrate technology into this new position. So...I was excited when I heard about this workshop because I immediately thought of some problem-solving situations in my new curriculum around which I could develop a computer game. Conflict resolution, anger management, making healthy decisions, handling peer pressure--these are some of the skills that I help students develop and that could be incorporated into a video game. I'm looking forward to being able to bring technology into the counseling curriculum, two areas that most people would not normally tie together!
What are you concerned about?
Well, I have a number of concerns...I consider myself to be fairly competent in using a computer for "daily" tasks, but that is a far cry from designing and implementing a video game! I'm worried about not being familiar with the language, basic functions, etc. needed to develop a game. I never play computer games myself, so I'm concerned about not understanding how games operate and how to actually play a game successfully. And, since the whole purpose of this workshop is to create a curriculum-based game that my students will enjoy, I worry that what I create will flop! Eighth graders are a tough crowd! :)
Day 1 Morning
What are your personal feelings about video games?
Personally, I rarely play video games--computer, PlayStation, etc. I watch my husband play them quite often, though! :) I played video games frequently when I was younger (Zelda, anyone?), but lost interest as I got older and I've never gotten back into playing them. I guess I'd say that I'm ambivalent about video games at this point in my personal life.
What are your feelings about using video games as educational tools?
As a learning tool, I see great potential for the use of video games. Students of all ages play video games and this is a medium through which we can capture and maintain their interest in many content areas. The integration of technology into classrooms has increased exponentially in the past several years, allowing educators to make students' learning experiences more authentic and engaging; using video games is a natural fit in this trend.
Personally, I rarely play video games--computer, PlayStation, etc. I watch my husband play them quite often, though! :) I played video games frequently when I was younger (Zelda, anyone?), but lost interest as I got older and I've never gotten back into playing them. I guess I'd say that I'm ambivalent about video games at this point in my personal life.
What are your feelings about using video games as educational tools?
As a learning tool, I see great potential for the use of video games. Students of all ages play video games and this is a medium through which we can capture and maintain their interest in many content areas. The integration of technology into classrooms has increased exponentially in the past several years, allowing educators to make students' learning experiences more authentic and engaging; using video games is a natural fit in this trend.
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