Wordle

I always wondered what those jumbled words meant or the purpose of them. I got a better understanding after completing this assignment. However, when it came to creating my own Wordle it wasn't that easy. For some reason my old laptop would not allow me to create it. I had to use a different computer which I was not to happy about since I took all the time to create them in the first place only to show a publishing error not allowing me to do anything. I was not sure of how to post the links as well. There was a link at the bottom after creating the Worlde, but after pasting into my blog, nothing would happen. I do not believe that I posted my work the correct way, but it is on my site, showing the 2 images.

After reviewing both the NETS-T Standards I was able to create a Wordle for 2008 and a Wordle for 2010. I thought the updated version; 2010 was a lot easier to follow and to understand the main points they were trying to get across. The 2008 version went into more depth and seemed to have a lot more of the same things just repeated in different words. The 2010 NETS-T Standards got right to the point, using the same concepts of course but proved to be a better, easier to view updated source of information.

This is my Physical Education and Health Wordle. It displays all of the concepts, movements, and other important words that relate to my subject area. When students look at this, they automatically think of Physical Education and Health. This would be a great bulletin board for the hallways or even inside the gymnasium at any school to promote active learning.

Carpe Diem

I thought the the webassembly was very cool. I felt like I was apart of the classroom. It was quick and gave great facts about the future of technology and how it will effect our schools. I didn't realize how much smartphones had taken over pretty much everything.

1. How prepared for you to engage in each type of learning (Carpe Diem vs St. Marys)?

I believe that I am the lucky one, since my job would be to get students to put down the technology for an hour get active with games and sports. Although I could use technology during my health class but not to the extent as Carpe Diem demonstrates. I don’t think their style of teaching is the right way to get kids to learn, and hope that I do not have to teach that way. St. Mary’s on the other hand; was the typical school setting with kids engaged with each other and learning the “old-fashioned” way so to speak. They were still learning using technology and devices, just not the extent as drilling the kids with information for half of the day.

2. Provide specific examples including devices and apps or software, of what you are currently doing in each model if you are teaching.

I recently learned about an application called Classroom Dojo which is designed to improve the behavior of the students. The teacher is able to instantly notify a group or a single student, take away or earn points and so on. I have not yet used this application other than the demonstration in class. But looking back at the lessons that I created and taught in my methods courses at local middle and elementary schools, the only software or use of technology was a power-point presentation as well as play music for the elementary school students. As mentioned before my goal is to keep kids healthy and active. Its ok to put the smartphones and ipads down once and a while and go outside and do something .

Here is the link for Classroom Dojo: http://www.classdojo.com/ 

3. If you not in the class now, what would you suggest teachers in your field adopt based on current knowledge of mobile/wireless devices.

I love my iphone and like any other person, they are constantly on theirs too. At the schools that I have been to, the #1 rule was no cell phones during in class. That shows that just about every student has a smartphone or some type of device to connect with their friends. I remember taking health class, and I do not especially enjoy teaching it. But if there was a way to incorporate this technology and let the students learn some of the material using these devices, they would be more interested and want to learn. I would encourage the Classroom Dojo app if the students are not paying attention during certain lessons or the class is being uncooperative.

4. What would you recommend in terms of a school wide initiative to improve teaching and learning at this point if you were in a position to do so?

After learning about the ways of Carpe Diem, I would hope that using technology in the classroom does not follow that style of teaching. I understand that test scores were increased but the style is limiting social interaction, and other basic skills. The students are isolated, although focused, there are better ways to teach information. I recommend limiting technology and use it only when necessary. I am not saying not to keep up with how fast technology and apps are increasing to benefit learning, just that kids need all aspects of how to really learn and retain the information rather familiarizing what they see on a screen.

Excel 2 (t-Test)

After compiling the data from the previous assignment, by using the t-Test I was able to find no significant difference between the gender roles of 4th grade mathematics. I thought using this data analysis style was a little easier to handle the previous one. Just simply high-light the intended rows and the t-Test took care of the rest. Understanding the information was a different story however. Again, no being too familiar with Excel and the meaning of all the computed scores, it took a while to understand what it all meant. Come to find out there was no significant difference in the scores at all.

I believe the variable of male to female was not the best of choices to determine any true reliable data. It is 4th grade and regardless of gender, kids are still developing their minds. I believe this test would be very beneficial for other discoveries though.
For example; I have created a survey to understand what motivates students in Physical Education Class. I would have 20 questions that to certain aspects of a typical class period. I would then gain a population of a variety of students; athletes, drama, musicians, "average-joes" etc.. then divide those groups by male and female. This will determine not only the type of person that enjoys Physical Education but if the male and female population have a significant difference between them.
I have compiled the data into a Chrombachs theory and 5 scale rating in order to understand the dependent and independent variables (male vs female).

This will not only show me their attitudes towards the questions but to relate to those answers and get immediate feedback on what needs to change as far as grouping certain students together for certain games, or simply adjusting the rule to accomodate all students so everyone is fully participating and enjoying each day.

Above is an example of the survey that I created demonstrating a few questions.

I think this research could not only benefit my classroom progress and motivation but the way I would plan my classes as well.

Excel

I was a bit confused by this assignment at first, and still not confident working with Excel. I followed the video instructions but noticed it was not the same data and was hard to compare to see if I was doing the steps correctly. I did not have a problem downloading and openening the Data Analysis Tool, it was computing the right information that frustrated me. I do not know if that data is correct, due to how the scatter plot images relate. However being from Maryland, my data findings prove it is a good state after all is coming in at 3rd place.

Maryland in ranked 3rd according to the data that I got. That 49 states below Maryland and that is way above average.

Below is the Jing capture of my findings showing Maryland near the top at 3rd.

 

 

 

 

 

Google Site

During my undergrad, I had to create a Google site for my future teaching portfolio. It was a one time thing for a class and we didn't do much with it after that until assignments had to be posted and that's about it. It was a basic layout, only the standard features were taught to us and only a few items needed to be uploaded. The site was just an introduction on what could be done for the class, not so much on showcasing my accomplishments.

I now realize that it will very beneficial now that I have updated it and tweaked somethings around to look a lot better. I did not know how to create different "pages" and now I was able to import my resume as well as my rubric. My Google Site is much more improved and will be a significant feature for landing a job.

After I complete Student Teaching, I will add other information about my experiences that will improve my site.

Rubrics

This was the only assignment that I got really frustrated with, and will continue to be until I figure out what the problem is.

I did not have problem creating a Rubric, which I thought was very helpful and would definitely be using in the near future in order to grade certain assignments or to get ideas from. I was able to make a Rubric and understand the purpose of it. A rubric to me is another form of assessment that students can go off of when working on projects, groups or any assingment. It allows the students to get a better understanding of what is expected of them during the activity as well as when it is completed. Most rubrics have different grading scales, usualy marked by a 1-4 or 1-5 scale. These scales are the grade that is given to the student or group depending on how well the accomplished the intended goal.

What made me so mad, that I almost threw my computer, was trying to upload the rubric into Google Docs. I followed the steps to save the format to Excel, but when it was time to upload into Google Docs it would get an error message. I tried numerous was to save the file; changed the name, saved as an offline file, saved to Excel then opening Excel and saving it under a new name...Nothing worked.

I hate when I cannot figure such a simple uploading procedure out!
I will continue this process until I SUCCEED.

Self-Grading Form - Google Docs

After learning how to create Forms on Google Docs, it was now time to learn how to grade and get data of those responses. After watching a VERY helpful video on How to Grade your Form, I created a new Form Quiz and got on my way.

I created a new quiz in order to familiarize how well I could use these tools. I created a Golf Quiz that I could also use in Physical Education Class. It was a simple 10 question quiz that covered the basic rules and equipment that would be taught in a Golf Lesson. I then got a few people to take the quiz in order to get my SpreadSheet Results.

I think this will be very helpful for me to use in the near future in order to get fast and efficient grades completed. I used to hate excel, and this helpful tool along with Google Docs made me like it and want to use it more and more.