Plant Growth Introduction

Internet Saftey Reflection

For the article that I read I chose Elder Bednars "Things as they Really are". I really liked this article and how it talked about how many great things the internet and technology have to offer if we use our intelligence and power to distinguish the things that are beneficial and real, from those that are harmful. It was a great reminder of how the adversary attacks youth today.
I looked through the NetSmartz website and the NetUtah videos section of the resources. I found both of these informative. What I liked was that there were a variety of target audiences, it showed that everyone needs to be careful on the internet and there is a lot more to be aware of than I think we all think. I also watched the BYU animation on internet safety, it was a really cute cartoon. I think it is a perfect way to teach children a very basic but crucial internet tip: to never give out personal information or to meet people you know nothing else about that you met online. Kids are so trusting that sometimes they dont realize the danger they are willing putting themselves in. This was a great way to inform children of the dangers of technology without destroying their innocence or scaring them.
The biggest take away for me from this assignment was that there are fun ways to protect those we care about and to protect ourselves. I think even I forget sometimes that not everything is as it appears and that not all the information that is presented is accurate. It really is important to teach children how to judge the media they come in contact with, search for, and use and to remind them that once something is on the internet it is done and there is no taking what you said or did back and that can be very hurtful to others and to yourself.
When I completed the doing part of this assignment, I really was surprised at how little people really do know about the many threats there are out there with technology. Everyone I spoke with knew the basics like dont give out your personal information to strangers and not to search for things you didnt want to see. But there is so much more to internet saftey. It surprised me how little people really think of the very real threats and dangers that are out there. It was interesting to see how truly uninformed we let ourselves become. It really opened my eyes to how necessary it is as educators and parents to be informed with the new technologies that are out there and to make sure that we outline specific guidelines to protect those we care about. Children take risks and are trusting and we cant afford to let them remain uniformed. The people I spoke with seemed to really appreciate the resources and information I was able to share and I anticipate that they will make improvements in their homes to be more informed and safe while using technology, in particular the internet.

Technology with Young Children

After watching the three videos of real lesson plans for young children that include technology, it sparked my own ideas of how to use resources in my own lessons. For my practicum experience I am assigned to a first grade class and I found that these videos gave me some great accessible ideas about what I really can expect from these students. The biggest thing I learned from these videos is that students are more capable and excited to learn and use technology than I think we are aware. There are even simple ways that we can include technology, whether it is creating a class book of pictures we draw ourselves or downloading pictures we take ourselves from our surroundings.
I also liked that these videos showed that technology can be used in a variety of lesson types and curriculum areas. When I initially think of using technology myself I think of how it was used in my school experience, with researching and putting together factual reports. I loved that these videos showed that the use of technology can make lessons more engaging, fun, and lasting to young students. What I learned most from this assignment is that there is always room for technology and it can be used in many different ways to help students become successful.

Technology in the Classroom

As I started researching the technology available to teachers in the school I was impressed by the amount of technology that is used on a daily basis. My classroom teacher uses technology everyday in her classroom, while she uses simple means it is still great exposure for the students. I am in a first grade class and they visit the computer lab for special time once a week for 35 minutes a day. The classroom has a general projector that is used multiple times a day which is very helpful for the students for the added model/exposure to reading and writing. There is one computer in the room and a cd/tape player that the students use for their independent center work. I liked the chance to see resources in an elementary setting, and I can see first hand how influential including even simple technology can be. I also completed part 1 (midterm evaluation) and part 2 (informed consent) of this week's assignment.

Reflection on Virtual Tour

For other examples of tours I went through Leah Barker, Kaitlin Tingey, and Lauryn Paul's tours. Each one of them had a very unique and creative idea, using tools I hadnt even considered.
This assignment took me awhile to complete but over the course of the journey I learned a great deal and discovered many new ways to incorporate technology into the classroom. Some of the upsides of using a tour like this is that you can go into more detail, you can see things in 3D that otherwise you wouldnt, it is a quicker and more engaging way to cover a great deal of information, and it familiarizes children with technology. As far as downsides, I found that creating the tour took time and could get complicated. With more experience and practice though I am sure that these concerns would decrease. The positive outcomes of this activity and gaining this knowledge outweigh the negatives.

Virtual Tour on Environments

Here is a link to my Virtual Tour on Utah Environments.

Virtual Tour Plan

For my virtual tour I chose to teach a 4th grade science standard. This is standard number 5 objective 1 that discusses the different environments in Utah and their characteristics. I chose to visit 4 different environments and compare them using google earth tools. I felt this standard was appropriate for this type of lesson because I can view the places more in depth, survey the surrounding area, measure length and width and elevation easily, and zoom into see details. By using an online source like this students can also easily research additional information that they wish. This is an easy and fun way to explore the state of Utah.