Instructional Simulation can be a great tool to use in the classroom for a multiple reasons. Students of all ages can participate in simulations such as the Oregon Trail, which was around when I was in elementary school, Sim City, or Civilization. These types of simulations provide students with tasks and encourage them to strategize as they move through the game. Simulations are a fun and engaging educational tool, that can be used in the classroom.
These types of technologies are also great for distance learning. Students who are not in the classroom can participate and contribute by playing along. Instructional simulations can also be a great tool to teach students time management and how to stay on task in order to reach their goal.
Instructional Simulations are also great tools to prepare medical students for surgery or soldiers for war. Simulations are an important part of our students future and it is important to not only engage them in the classroom, but teach them how these simulations work so they can create more advanced simulations for their future and future generations to come.
Jen Maxfield
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Games in Education
Video games could play a very important role in the classroom if used properly. One study found games to improve students engagement and excitement level for learning in several areas including both letter sounds, etc. and mathematics. Students in today’s world are engaged through the use of multimedia and spend a great deal of time outside of the classroom working with video game programs if they are available to them at home. Knowing that technology is the key to our students’ futures it is crucial for us as educators to prepare students for their future jobs, including many that have yet to be discovered.
Using video games to fine tune students abilities to multi-task, problem solve, create, comprehend, analyze, etc. will keep them engaged in today’s classroom setting. Student’s are no longer interested in reading from a text book, but would be more engaged learning the same material through a simulated computer program. The use of technology would also allow teachers to challenge their students at an independent level, based on their skills without having to reinvent the wheel and create several versions of the same assignment.
Technology should be imbedded into today’s classroom curriculum. Rather than teach literature as a separate piece, why not incorporate the use of technology to make the learning of literature more interesting? With committed teachers and a supportive school system, etc. students could have a greater opportunity of learning the skills they will need for their future jobs and overall success.
Jen Maxfield
Using video games to fine tune students abilities to multi-task, problem solve, create, comprehend, analyze, etc. will keep them engaged in today’s classroom setting. Student’s are no longer interested in reading from a text book, but would be more engaged learning the same material through a simulated computer program. The use of technology would also allow teachers to challenge their students at an independent level, based on their skills without having to reinvent the wheel and create several versions of the same assignment.
Technology should be imbedded into today’s classroom curriculum. Rather than teach literature as a separate piece, why not incorporate the use of technology to make the learning of literature more interesting? With committed teachers and a supportive school system, etc. students could have a greater opportunity of learning the skills they will need for their future jobs and overall success.
Jen Maxfield
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Online Video Resources for Educators
I reviewed the Discovery Education website for teachers. This website is an incredible tool in my kindergarten classroom. I use a great deal of the math videos, Math Monsters and Number Crew videos, to introduce new concepts as well as reinforce the concepts we've learned and applied in class. This video tool keeps my students excited and engaged in their learning! It is very common for my students to suddenly understand a new concept after watching a video demonstrating the new material. I also really like showing my students the Read A Lee Dee videos for learning more about rhyming words in reading.
Typically I show a Discovery Education video after a recess when the students are coming back into the classroom. Seeing the video preped and ready to go, gets my students to come in the room and quickly get settled to see what we are going to watch. I love listening to my students shout out their answers during the math videos and watch how excited they are when they understand!
The pros to the Discovery Education website for my kindergarten classroom is the amount of material covered on this website that directly corresponds to what we are learning and discussing in the classroom. The website is also free to me as an educator. The con would be at times the website does not cooperate and a video will not play, which is somewhat disruptive when I'm trying to teach my students. I would definately recommend educators to use the Discovery Education website.
Typically I show a Discovery Education video after a recess when the students are coming back into the classroom. Seeing the video preped and ready to go, gets my students to come in the room and quickly get settled to see what we are going to watch. I love listening to my students shout out their answers during the math videos and watch how excited they are when they understand!
The pros to the Discovery Education website for my kindergarten classroom is the amount of material covered on this website that directly corresponds to what we are learning and discussing in the classroom. The website is also free to me as an educator. The con would be at times the website does not cooperate and a video will not play, which is somewhat disruptive when I'm trying to teach my students. I would definately recommend educators to use the Discovery Education website.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
21st Century Student
21st Century Classroom Teacher
When you walk into a 21st century kindergarten classroom you would see students engaged and excited to learn about and use the technology that surrounds them. Instead of a chalkboard or a whiteboard, 21st century students use the activboard and document camera to be involved in learning new information, share their ideas, and explore new possibilities. The activboard enables students to interactively learn in a large group setting and allows the teacher to build a file of lessons without being stuck with the traditional pencil and paper method.
The knowledge and understanding of a 21st century kindergarten student exceeds the knowledge of many adults in the area of technology. While the teacher facilitates new learning, students are eager and excited to use new tools and to problem solve when technology difficulties arise. Rather than teach 21st century students the skills they will need to use new technologies, the teacher facilitates new methods to learn and ways to problem solve. The world of technology is growing at a rate teachers strive to keep up with and work hard to expose students to.
The 21st century kindergarten is as interested in playing baseball as they are about playing the new Wii game or getting their turn to use the activboard. Today’s student is excited to write about what new video game they have at home, rather than their last family outing. The 21st century students are learning in a period of time like no other in the past. Students are going to be expected to understand, comprehend, analyze, and create new technologies in their future. The 21st century teacher must expose students to technologies and allow them to explore and learn at their own rate, even if that exceeds the understanding of the teacher.
Jen Maxfield
When you walk into a 21st century kindergarten classroom you would see students engaged and excited to learn about and use the technology that surrounds them. Instead of a chalkboard or a whiteboard, 21st century students use the activboard and document camera to be involved in learning new information, share their ideas, and explore new possibilities. The activboard enables students to interactively learn in a large group setting and allows the teacher to build a file of lessons without being stuck with the traditional pencil and paper method.
The knowledge and understanding of a 21st century kindergarten student exceeds the knowledge of many adults in the area of technology. While the teacher facilitates new learning, students are eager and excited to use new tools and to problem solve when technology difficulties arise. Rather than teach 21st century students the skills they will need to use new technologies, the teacher facilitates new methods to learn and ways to problem solve. The world of technology is growing at a rate teachers strive to keep up with and work hard to expose students to.
The 21st century kindergarten is as interested in playing baseball as they are about playing the new Wii game or getting their turn to use the activboard. Today’s student is excited to write about what new video game they have at home, rather than their last family outing. The 21st century students are learning in a period of time like no other in the past. Students are going to be expected to understand, comprehend, analyze, and create new technologies in their future. The 21st century teacher must expose students to technologies and allow them to explore and learn at their own rate, even if that exceeds the understanding of the teacher.
Jen Maxfield
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