Beverly's Academic World: Personal Use of Technology

Monday, June 27, 2011

Personal Use of Technology

Technology plays a huge part in my personal life. There are some days that I wonder how I got along without certain things that I now use on a daily basis. Of all the technology I use, my cell phone (and my computer to a lesser extent) is like a body part. For instance, last week I had the LASIK and PRK procedures done on my eyes, and was not able to drive myself home. Once my ride dropped me off, I soon realized that I left my cell phone at home (which I needed to contact my ride when I was done). I had to end up asking them for my forms to get the emergency contact number for another friend of mine. I then had her call my ride to relay the message. This quickly reminded me of my reliance on my phone due to the fact that I do not memorize phone numbers anymore!
However, I do find myself trying to balance the use of technology with my time with friends and family. I will admit, I have had to scold myself for ignoring or telling someone to hold due to trying to answer the phone, respond to a text, or instant message. I have to make a conscience decision to avoid using technology so that I do not come across as rude or uninterested in the person that is actually in my presence.

2 comments:

AnonymousJune 28, 2011 at 8:31 PM
Love the phone story. It seems like everyone has one of those these days.

A friend of mine recently asked me, "How did we get through high school without YouTube? What were we doing that kept us entertained?" It was intentionally ironic, but it still reminded us that things have changed drastically in a very short time.

Joe Greene
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AnonymousJune 30, 2011 at 4:35 PM
Beverly,
I'm the same way - my contacts and calendar are really the crutch component of my cell phone, although I look forward to the day when I can shake off my kids long enough to use it for more fun things! :) Generally, I don't answer the phone when I'm at home until after my kids go to bed, as I figure anyone who really needs me has my home phone programmed into their cell phone...lol

Dyan
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Lesson Plan Summaries

Lesson Plan #1: The objective/goal of this lesson is for students to demonstrate their knowledge of 3-D figures. Students will do this by drawing and identifying the shape when a 2-D shape is rotated and translated through space. The procedures for this lesson include: 1) Pre-assessment, 2) Direct Instruction-the class will be broken down into 6 groups of 4 and rotate through stations. In the first station, students will rotate 2-D shapes on straws and draw and identify the 3-D shape formed. The next station includes students translating 2-D shapes through moon sand and drawing and identifying the 3-D shape formed. In the 3rd station, students will explore 3-D shapes further on the following website: http://www.learner.org/interactives/geometry/3d_pyramids.html. Students will then log onto their blogs and answer the following question: Which activity did you enjoy and most and why? Students will be assessed in a variety of ways. First, the pre-assessment will be an Anticipation Guide in which they will answer a series of questions. Throughout the lesson, they will fill in a graphic organizer for their rotations and translations. For the post-assessment, students will fill out the Anticipation Guide again.

Lesson Plan #2: The goal/objective of this lesson is for students to add integers using counters, number lines, technology, and the rule. The procedures for this lesson include students taking a Pre-assessment over adding integers. Next, students will be divided into 6 groups of 4 and rotate through 3 stations. In the first station, students will explore adding integers with red and black counters. They will see if they are able to come up with the rule for adding integers. In the second station, students will use number lines to explore adding integers. They will see if the rule they came up with in the 1st station also works in the 2nd station. At the 3rd station, students will continue exploring adding integers by using the following website: www.explorelearning.com/. Students will then log into their blog and explain how to use counters, number lines, and the rule to add integers. Students must include diagrams. The assessments include students taking a pre-test, using the counters, number lines, and rules to add integers, and creating a SmartBoard page and presenting it to the class.

Plan #3: The objective/goal of this lesson is for students to find the prime factorization of a whole number using the factor tree and upside-down division methods. The procedure for this lesson was for students to complete Prime Factorization WebQuest (included in the WebQuest links). In the WebQuest, students watched videos and read summaries of how to use the factor tree and upside-down division methods to find the prime factorization of whole numbers. Students kept tracked of what they learned which will be used in designing their final project. The assessments throughout the lesson include taking notes on how to use the factor tree and upside down division methods in order to find the prime factorziation of whole numbers. Students will then use that informatin to choose one of the following activities: PowerPoint presentation, comic strip, rap, poem, song, or a storyboard. Students will present their projects to the class.

Lesson Plan #4: The objective/goal of this lesson is for students to create an online animation to show what they learned over the course of the school year. The procedures for this lesson include: 1) Students creating an ABC book (using Word) to define and show an example of the vocabulary words they learned in the 7th grade. 2) Students will then use the site www.exploretree.org.uk/explore/?notice=new_user to create graphic organizers for their vocabulary words. 3) Students will use either of these sites: http://goanimate.com/studio or http://www.xtranormal.com/ to create an online animation. The animation must include a topic/unit covered in the 7th grade, define key vocabulary terms and pictures, explain how to solve at least 3 problems, and give example problems for others to solve. Students will then post a link to their animations on their blogs. The assessments for this lesson include the ABC book and the animation (which will be graded using a rubric).

WebQuest Links

1) Prime Factorization -This WebQuest has students exploring how to find the prime factorization of whole numbers using the factor tree and upside down division methods. Students are then given the choice of presenting what they learned by choosing one of the following activities: PowerPoint presentation, comic strip, storyboards, creating a rap, poem, or song, or creating another method to find the prime factorization of a number.

2) Graphs - This WebQuest has students exploring various types of graphs (bar, line, histogram, line plot, box and whisker plot, scatterplot, circle, and pictograph). Students have to define, explain when best to use, and draw an example of each graph and create a foldable with this information. This page also includes the Hangman Game and a Quiz.