Practicum 2

It is getting close to the last day of my practicum and I have to say that I have really enjoyed being in a 6th grade classroom and working with the students.  I have seem strategies being used that we are and have been learning to do by our professors.  Seeing the strategies in action by my host teacher has been interesting to see.  I now how much work and time a teacher has to put into everything they are teaching.  The time they have to spend on grading is quite a bit.  I have been able to grade tests and packets that the students have done and it takes time and can be a bit difficult trying to figure out what the students are trying to say.  I have learned a lot from being in the classroom and my host teacher is helpful and willing to answer any questions that I might have about the work or the students.  I know that I still have quite a bit to learn but I know that I am going to enjoy it.

Digital Citizenship

After reading the nine elements of digital citizenship I have learned that a lot of things have changed with technology like communicating with people, new technology coming into the classroom, and new technology at the work place like video conferencing.  For the new technology in communication, people are able to stay in  contact with anybody, from anywhere with the help of cell phones, email, and instant messanger. Learning how to use new technology is something that everyone is going to have to do because technology is growing fast and coming into the classroom.  As the new technology comes into the work place people need to be able to learn about the new technology so they will be able to use it anywhere and at anytime and they need to be able to use it quickly and accurately.

School

I have been enjoying block 1 even with all the work that we have to do.  Being around the same people everyday can be helpful because we are all doing the same work so if anybody is having trouble with something everyone is able to help each other.  This semester has been a challenge for me.  I have done more work this semester then I have in any other semester since I have been in college.  It has been stressful but I know that everyone else is in the same place and we all are able to work together to get through the semester.  This semester has also taught me how to be more organized with my work so that I'm not all over the place.  I still need to work on my organization but there is a difference from previous semesters.

New Technology

In technologies to watch it talks about the new technology that will be coming up in the next 12 months and the next few years.  Within the next 12 months mobiles and electronic books will be coming into the main stream.  Just by seeing the new technology with phones and have the internet on the go, shows me that I need to learn a lot about technology.  Seeing Smartboards coming in the elementary classrooms and just now starting to learn how to use one and how it works.  I have just recently bought a tablet and it has been about a month and I'm still trying to figure out how to buy apps or where to go to look for them.  I am slowing figuring out how to buy apps and I am always using my tablet everyday so that I can try and figure out new things that I haven't learned yet.  Learning about all the latest technology is going to be important for me and I am ready to take on the challenges they bring with them.