9/10/08 Class

Last class was my first class. Going into the class, I had reservations because I didn't see the importance of having teachers taking a computer class. However I learned how important and useful computer technology is in the classroom. 

 

We started the class by talking about ways blogs could be useful in the classroom. Blogs could be used for students to get extra help for the teacher and their peers outside of the classroom, students can respond to assigned readings or other materials. The fact that we're using a blog for a journal is really beneficial and illustrates another way that blogs are important. 

After we set up our blogs, we perused the the data featured on an online website for teachers. The School District of Philadelphia created a website for teachers that contained information on each of their students (i.e. Benchmark Test Results and Analyses, parent's contact information), and curriculum information. There is also a site for parents and students. The Benchmark Results and analysis are very useful. However, there is much debate on how to administer the test. Should it be administered or given online? I'm not sure. But online testing will be graded more quickly and teachers will have more time to go over the material students missed. 

For the remainder of the class, we worked on our grade book assignment. This was extremely useful because I was completely overwhelmed when I looked at the assignment. Excel is extremely confusing. But, after doing a test run in class, I feel prepared to do it on my own.

Staisha 

Today is my first day in Education 5254. This is my first blog too. 

It's unbelievable how much education has changed since I was in high school, a mere three years ago. Computer technology had such a different connotation. It was simply internet and word processing. But today, with the advent of MySpace, Facebook, and the increasing access to the internet, students of today are far more technologically savvy than I was in high school. 

Using a blog never entered my mind for personal use let alone in the classroom. Seemingly, blogs have much use in the classroom and can be highly beneficial for students and teachers.