Visit My Wiki!

 Click Here To Enter My Wiki!!!
For my students virtual flied trip they will be exploring animals that live under the sea. They will visit websites for each sea animal. After the field trip they will have to create a short powerpoint presentation about their favorite sea creature that we learned about.

Scrumblr

My lesson is about all of the months in a year. The children will have to make a note card for each month and then place them into categories. The categories are how many days are in each month. They will drag the month into the space for how many days that month has 28, 30, and 31.

I used Microsoft word to make a quick table and entered my seating chart. The table was simple to make and was exactly what I wamted to display. I was limited when I wanted to position my objects on certain parts of the page. Also, I was unable to rotate my chart in the position I wanted.

Computer Proposal

Mallory Stewart

Geoffrey Price

CAT 200-003

22 March 2011

Computer Proposal

            I have been selected on behave of the of first grade teaching committee at Taylorville Elementary School to select the ideal computer for our teachers.  The computer I believe to be the best for our teachers is the iMac desktop.  This computer has a hard drive built in the back of the monitor; therefore, there is no need to worry about finding a place for your bulky computer tower.  The computer has a 21.5-inch screen with LED-backlit display and 4GB memory.  It also has a built in camera that can be used for taking pictures and also as webcam.  The apple store offers free shipping and a free printer with every purchase of an iMac, which equals major savings when buying multiple computers.  The price of the iMac is $1199.00.  This seems like a steep price for a computer, but it really is a steal considering what you will be receiving.   Mac computers are virus free, so there will be no need to buy and extra software to prevent viruses or having to call your local tech man to help revive your computer.  It comes with an apple mouse and keyboard along with documentation.  I do recommend that we purchase the applecare protection plan ($169) for each of the computers incase of damage.  Many people believe that when they buy Mac computers that they have to relearn how to use programs, such as, Microsoft word or excel.  Luckily, apple also has Microsoft word software ($119) that I recommend buying for all of the teachers considering that’s what they are comfortable using.  I have also found a great VS200 Multimedia Projector by Epson.  This projector is very reasonable and affordable pricing at $399.99. The projector has very bright LCD projection and a one-year warranty.  It can be used to show movies to the class or teaching a virtual lesson.  These computers and projectors will be a great start to integrating technology in our classrooms at Taylorville.

Assignment 3

Mallory Stewart

            I tested my cognitive learning style by taking a test similar to the Myers Briggs that was called Personality Pathways. From taking this test I learned that I possess introverted, sensing, feeling, and judging characteristics. All of these characteristics match me perfectly. My introverted characteristics are that I always think before I act and always have to have some time to myself.  I am in the present and I have great memory recall. The test said that I have really strong feeling and react to conflict with complete discomfort. It described me perfect when it showed that I always plan ahead and am most comfortable when I am ahead of a deadline.

            Second, I tested my learning style. Based on my input on the test, I am a visual leaner. I am constantly visualizing or picturing words/concepts in your head and writing them out to help review for tests. I use flashcards as a study method. By seeing the actual definitions, I am able to take in more information than by sitting in on a lecture. I am very good with directions and I’m probably the only one out of all of my friends that can read a map. I was not surprised by the test that I am a visual leaner.

            Overall, my results from the cognitive and learning styles inventory tests were very accurate. As I learner I believe these results will benefit me because I know how I learn and what ways are best for me. For example, I will learn more from reading a chapter out of my textbook than listening to a lecture. This does not mean that I should not listen to the lectures; just that reading the material will benefit my learning style the best. From a teaching standpoint these results will help me in my classroom because I will be able to teach my children visually. I will be comfortable using visuals aids in my classroom such as, maps, posters, videos, etc. Because I am comfortable with this method I will be to accurately communicate lessons to my students.

http://www.personal.psu.edu/bxb11/LSI/LSI.htm

http://www.personalitypathways.com/type_inventory.html

Favorite Animal

Make your own poll voting question with Poll Everywhere

CAT 200 Assignment 1

Mallory Stewart

Geoff Price

CAT 200-003

30 January 2011

Technology in the Classroom

            For one semester of my senior year in high school I got the opportunity to shadow a local kindergarten grade teacher at Taylorville Primary School. Through this experience I was able to confirm my career choice as an elementary school teacher. I made many connections at the school with students and faculty, which lead to my current job working at their after-school program. As I have seen in kindergarten classrooms, technology such as, computers, projectors, and smart boards are not used as often as in middle or high schools. The technology I have seen in elementary school is more hands-on and does not require a lot of prior knowledge like being able to navigate a computer. In my experience students solved simple math by adding and subtracting actual cookies. This was a cute and straightforward way to teach the children math problems by using a simple and effective type of technology.

            My definition of educational technology is teaching with tangible elements. Younger children have a better understanding when they are taught using hands-on activities. They would not be able to understand adding and subtracting by reading a worksheet because most students are not excellent readers at this age. Technology serves a teaching tool to help teachers communicate lessons and tasks to his or her students in an interactive way. Its role is learning is a tool to help children learn and understand something in a fun activity. One major factor that discourages technology in the classroom is money. There is not enough funding in the state for every teacher to have multiple computers in their classroom. I believe that two encouraging factors of technology are improvisation and creativeness. Teachers do not need computer to teach their students.  By using what they have in their classroom, teachers can make up creative methods of teaching their students new things. For example, counting how many crayons Ginny has in her box and adding them to how many Jared has in his box. This is an inexpensive yet effective way to teach.  I believe that using technology is vital in teaching and learning because it makes children want to learn.