Post #1

As it is continually reminded today, America and the world in general is moving ahead at a fast speed. Things change daily, new things are created and more information than ever is becoming available at the tips of our fingertips. The computer is our number 1 tool to access information from all over the world, without having to leave our homes. I think the importance the computer has become is also making its importance in the classroom apparent. Whether to create a power point to explain a lecture, show a video to the class or even to share ideas among teachers or students the computer has become a powerful source. Teachers lives are said to be easier because assignments can be submitted and graded online, power points and word documents can be sent out, and teachers can communicate much faster in email during school hours than spending time on the phone. Overall computers are becoming integrated in schools more and more as a key component.
In my classroom I plan to use the computer for quite a few things. I plan to teach elementary school and power points or word documents with plenty of graphics will help engage my students. I want to do reading quizzes online such as i have seen in other classes, like on AR tests. I want to teach my students basics, but at the same time not too much because the children I will teach will still be young and I want them to focus on being a kid before they start wasting all their time on the computer. I will use the internet at times to look for advice from other teachers, using this advice and maybe learning and enacting new skills into my teaching style. I will of course use my computer to email, look up information and make use of websites. All of these will be important as a teacher. The grade book online will also become of importance as well. In this class, I just hope to gain more knowledge and hopefully more tricks on the best ways I can do things for my class. All the stuff we have learned so far has been interesting and I want to keep learning more!
I wanted to take this time to say that this class is pretty cool. It is fast paced but time goes by rather quick. I especially love to hear the oohs and aahs when we all learn something new we haven't seen before. I loved working with paint and using all my new techniques. After we learned about the cutepdf i actually copied a document from online and made it to where i could print it out, I felt accomplished. I love how much I have learned, I just hope I can retain a lot of this information, if not I can always take notes!