Post #8

For my powerpoint presentation, I decided to create a jeopardy game. I used a very basic layout and a solid background color. I only used graphics and sounds on the answer slides as to not give the answers away. In linking the text I was able to change the font color once the hyperlink had been selected so that the participator knew which questions had already been selected. The powerpoint in general is very basic and easy to use.

The yellow text shows where the items have already been selected.

In my classroom pictures will be the main way for students to relate to the information that I am presenting. I also feel that soft music playing during quiet work time will be very productive. I do plan on using slide shows and other graphic displays in my classroom when presenting and reviewing information. It is always a good idea to have some type of visual aid for those students who are more visual learners.

I have really enjoyed learning about all of the fun and interactive ways to use powerpoints in a classroom setting. In highschool I had to create a story with no words using just powerpoint graphis and animation, while it was a fun project that allowed me to learn a lot about powerpoint it was not something that was really applicable to the classroom, now I feel like I have really learned more information that I will be able to take to my own classroom.

post #7

I think that using presentation software is very important to my students. Autistic children relate a lot better with visual examples instead of an abundance of words either spoken or written. With presentations I can use graphics with smaller descriptions that will help them to better understand the material I am presenting to them.
As far as the knowledge dimensions are concerned I feel that remembering and understanding go hand in hand as mentioned above, my students will be able to better relate to the graphics then just a mass of words. If I was teaching an older group, I would have them create a presentation and then have them present them and analyze and evaluate the other presentations. This would include all of the remaining knowledge dimensions.
An issue in education technology that now interest me is how people are beginning to use computers to help improve social skills for the mentally handicapped. I always thought of computers as a way to reduce social skills but with the new interactive programs that are being developed there is improvement being shown in those with mental handicaps.

post #6

As I was reflecting on the first question I guess I was surprised at the thought of using web 2.o technologies in a k-12 classroom, but as I though about it more I realized that it could be useful in some situations. One of the situations that I thought about using this technology for would be if there was a long term group project I could have the different groups blog about their progress and compare their results to the other groups. I am sure that there are many other useful ways to use the Web 2.0 technologies this was just the one thought that I could really see myself using.

In all of my computer classes and by all of my teachers I was always told to never cite wikipedia as a source. However, as I look at wikipedia today I still do not cite it but I see it more as a starting place. When you have no where else to turn to start your research I feel like wikipedia can help you start by presenting ideas and concepts to look at and think about.

I really enjoyed using the wikis and learning how to create one but I honestly do not see myself using one in my own classroom. I might use it one day to compare ideas with other teachers or if I was working on organizing a field trip or activity with a group of other people then it may be very useful, I just don't see myself using it with my students.

Post #5

The internet is a very useful tool for student research. Today it seems like the internet has become the only tool that students use for research. The internet has coutnless sources on various topics. It can take you almost anywhere virtually. There are so many different sources out there today which can make picking the good sites from the bad very complicated. Students have to be very careful when looking at the facts that a site is presenting.
I do not think that Wikipedia is a very good site for factual research. However, if you have no where else to begin I feel like it can be a good starting place. It can give you realted topics and ideas that will help you in your search so that you can contiune. I would not ever site wikipedia in an actual bibliography though because the information can be altered so easily.
I am really not to concerned about monitoring my students in techology. I feel like the early elementary autistic class that I want will have a different focus than other classrooms. I feel like it will not be a frequent problem for me. I do hope that we will be able to use computers with the children but I do not think that they will be using the internet frequently.

Post #4

The information presented in chapter 7 was very interesting but I feel that it is really for an older age group then what I plan on teaching. If I was to use some of these techniques, I think that I would use the concept maps the most. With teaching the mentally disabled it is important to use visually stimulating pictures and charts and I feel like the concept maps would be a big help in that. I will use technology very frequently and I feel that it is important to have the kids use technology as well so that they can help adjust and be able to relate better to the environment around them.
I don't think at this point that I would require my students to create their own outlines, storyboards, and concept maps. I will not really know until I get in the classroom and am able to assess how functional the students are and how much they can handle. I may have higher functioning students who may be able to understand and complete the task fairly easily and then I would assign individual assignments.
Last week in class when we went through the search engine tools, I feel like I picked up a lot of useful tools that I will continue to use. I feel that they will help me more as a student more than they would as me as a teacher. I am sure that I will still be using these tools when I am a teacher but I feel like it will be for my behind the scenes work.