Blog #1

Computers are an important part of the educational experience because they open up so many doors and present countless opportunities that you could not find elsewhere. There is nothing more incredible than having the power of knowledge literally at your fingertips, and computers provide us with this luxury. I think we have all become so dependent on the Internet that we would be lost without it. Many people do not even know how to find things in encyclopedias, which was all we had 30 years ago. Students and teachers use computers for everything; from research to writing papers to emailing, we have become a society that is connected through this technology. I do not think there is anything wrong with this environment we have created in classrooms because it maximizes the information available to students, and what could be wrong with that? On the subject of email, I think it is wonderful that students, parents, and teachers can all be connected through the web, and can easily stay informed.

I will use computers in my classroom for a variety of activities. I think it is important for students to recognize what a resource the Internet is, so I will be sure to provide them with tips and tricks to using it for research, email, blogging, etc. I think that this is essential for a child growing up in today's world. These kids will likely be going off to college, and it would be a shame if they did not know the basics about a computer or the opportunities that await them if they use it to the fullest potential. I will also use computers for word processing, since writing papers will also be an activity they will frequently perform during their years of academia. Additionally, I would like to also have the software available to teach students the proper way of typing. Being an efficient typist has more benefits now more than ever, and I believe by teaching these skills early on, students can really excel in their computer use. I would plan to give each child at least 25 minutes a day to practice on the software, assuming I have a few computers in my classroom for the students to work on.

I would like to share my opinion on the Apple iPad. Besides the name being totally ridiculous, I just do not see the use for this gadget. Honestly, it just looks like an over-sized iPhone. And everyone has the iPhone, so why would they buy a huge one? It does almost the same things. The only difference that I can see (that matters to me anyway) is that the iPad has an application similar to the Kindle and the iReader, which is cool. I purposely did not buy either of those gadgets because I am a huge Apple fan and would prefer to wait for their version if I am going to invest in an electronic reading thing. Anyway, I wish there were more differences between this iPad and the iPhone, because I really don't like being disappointed with Apple. I love Apple and I totally support them taking over the technology world and all, but I am just not impressed with this latest invention.

Blog #0

My prior experience in technology involves a few computer classes in high school, and my at home computer use. I have a macbook, and I love it. My other technology experience involves my cell phone, since that is something I certainly use every day. I used to have a PC so I am pretty experienced in both machines, Mac and PC. I am fairly confident using Windows, although I feel like I am better with Macintosh these days. I am a pretty fast typist because I work every day typing for my boss, who is writing a book. I feel as if I get faster at typing each day; practice is definitely the best way to get better at typing.

In this class, I hope to expand on my knowledge of technology. I want to get more experience using Excel because that is definitely the program I am the weakest in right now. I also hope to just be more informed of how to use current technology. Technology is so broad these days, and it seems as if you can never know enough. I enjoy learning new techniques for using the computer, so I know I will enjoy this class and get the most out of it.

I have learned, based on the learning styles test that we took today, that my learning style is apparently fairly balanced. I scored between a 1 and 3 on each category of the test except for the second one, which I scored a 5 on. I lean more towards the reflective side of learning, which I scored a 3 on. I think this is pretty accurate, since I do catch myself reflecting on my progress and evaluating it. I scored a 5 on the sensory portion, which I also find to be accurate. I do use facts and clear knowledge to learn things, rather than inferring them intuitively. I scored a 1 on the verbal portion, which is interesting, since I think I am more visual, but after reading it I do see that it makes more sense. Lastly, I scored a 1 on the sequential part, which I agree with as well. I am a very organized person, so I believe the sequential emphasis is dead-on with my learning style.