Edutopia 3

The article "Tech Savvy at Seventeen" gives us a students perspective about the importance of technology in K-12 education. Even though the article discusses a different device used over 10 years ago, its contents are still important due to the fact that technology in the classroom can be beneficial and it can improve the grades of student's.
In this article I learned that

• By implementing technology into the classroom, test grades and GPAs increased
• Students can understand technology quickly without being properly instructed
• When students use technology to study and/or research, they are more likely to remember the information and improve their scores

This article shows the benefits of using technology correctly in the classroom in order to help improve the overall academic experience. Although most people think of fun and games when they hear technology, it truly can help improve their grades in the classroom, which is the main point of it in schools.

Tech Savvy at Seventeen

Edutopia 2

The article "Technology Integration Begins at Home" is about teachers learning how to use technology at home before they come to school. Teachers, including veteran teachers, have to learn how to use technology to teach in their classrooms. With the world advancing in technology, it is key for teachers to know how to use technology.

"Where is the best place to begin convincing teachers who don't use technology about the power of these tools?

At home -- that's my answer."

A few things that I learned from this article is:

• Its okay to not know everything about technology, even as a veteran teacher, but it is a good idea to go ahead and learn it.
• There is no reason to be hesitant about upgrading to technology because in the end it will help in the future.
• Using technology, you can do things at home, then bring it with you to school and us it in the classroom with your students.

Growing up at a home with technology, I will be able to integrate technology into my classroom very easily due to how long I have used it. With technology though, it changes everyday so who knows how it will be when I become a teacher in a few years.

Technology Integration Begins at Home

Edutopia 1

The article "Thinking Like a Coach" gives the idea that teaching a class can be a lot like coaching a team on the field. Coaches model skills and show athletes how to improve with practice. Feedback on student writing can work the same way. Both students and players need feedback to get better. The players need it on the field and the students need it on their papers and test.

• Giving feedback to students has a way more positive outcome in the long run.
• Making the feedback meaningful and specific helps the student know what they need to improve on instead of leaving them not knowing.
• Focus on the positives in the feedback so the student doesn't feel completely horrible.

This article is an important validation to show the benefits of using feedback - in the right way - in the classroom in order to improve an overall academic experience. In the future, as a teacher, I plan to use this new knowledge to make my feedback interactive and for it to be better than what it is now in college.

Thinking Like a Coach

Edmondo

The article that I discovered on the Technology section of Edmodo was "The Global Search for Education: Cyberbullying, Internet Dangers and What the World's Teachers Are Doing About It". 
I found this article very interesting because the whole world, from small child to adult, use technology one way or another and it is important that people understand how to be safe on the internet. This article discusses the benefits of guiding students to be smart and safe digital citizens and the benefits of teaching students to be sage and aware on the internet. The article also discusses the benefits of monitoring student activity on computers and how to use the internet in the most efficient way.

• One thing I learned is that it is important to teach kids at a young age about internet safety. 

• I also learned that it is important to let the students tell/teach us about new apps so we can teach others later on down the line about them, its important to know what they are seeing and whats going on in their lives.

• I also learned that it is important to have a healthy amount of technology use in the classroom-you don't need too much but you also don't need too little.

I will continue to use this knowledge by making sure my students know all about internet safety when we use technology in the classroom. I know they will go to a computer lab during the school year and learn about it there, but you can never learn too much about the safety of the internet to avoid all sorts of things.

Edmondo Technology Link

EdWeb

The webinar "Autism and Mood Disorders: Assessment and Intervention" discusses the different mood disorders of adults and children. The webinar discusses how to identify symptoms in people with Autism Spectrum Disorder, how to diagnosis different mood disorders, and identify ways to treat individuals with a dual diagnosis of ASD and mood disorders.

•  I have learned that the number of children with Autism has increased over the past 10-15 years, and it will most likely continue to grow.

•  I have learned that when diagnosing mood disorders, it is best to take your time to do it, instead of trying to do it all at once.

•  I have learned that you need to make sure the student has a for sure way of communicating if they are out of their comfort zone and don't want to do anything.

I truly believe that I will be able to use this webinar in the classroom because it gives me a better idea of how to deal with the kids with special needs. I now know that sometimes their brain is missing that one puzzle piece that could make the situation all better, and you could be holding the piece that fixes their world for that period of time.
Certification PDF Link