Katlyn Rodriguez

CIS 221 Section 97

Reflections 1-6
Reflection Chapter 1
After reading chapter one of Transforming Learning with New Technologies, and
thinking about how I would use multiple forms of technology in my lessons, as well as other
teachers, I have come to the conclusion that the impact of progressing technology will be
mostly positive. That being said, I also recognize that technology is to be used the correct way. I
do believe that there are some negative impacts as well. For example: social skills; even today
amongst my peers, social anxiety is unbelievably common, and this is more than likely due to
excessive technology use. The fact that everyone has a phone or a computer in their face
restricts them from socializing. I do believe this will be a problem in the future as far as job
interviews and careers in general. However, technology is a great tool for a class and/or
classroom. It is a great source that enables online classes, such as this Computer Information
Systems class. In the future, technology will be a useful tool for research and grade posting. I
also think it is going to continue to be a great form of communication. If students have a
question, they can E-mail a teacher and continue on with their work. It will continue to be a
positive tool as long as teachers limit technology use in the classroom and make sure the
students will have face-to-face communication in the class room.
In order to teach todays students, teachers need to be able to operate a computer.
They need to make themselves available with an email address in order answer questions
students may have, that way they can avoid confusion on given assignments. I think it is a good
idea for children to learn how to operate a computer in elementary school as well. For example,
I believe students need to learn how to type correctly, and I think they should be taught to
research, as they are in most elementary schools today. It will help students to be more
successful in continuing school and in their eventual careers.
Technology can promote learning success by putting web 2.0 to use. They can create
web pages for the class and put fun activities up for them. In addition, they could send out
motivating reminders of homework and tests to their students. That way they will not forget,
and they will be more likely to study.
I do not regard my smart phone as a computer because, although it can be used for
internet use and some research, the size and speed of the device is very restricting. I would not
use my smart phone to type a document or do necessary research for school. I use my phone
for mostly entertainment purposes or to check my email. For homework, studying and
research, I resort to my computer.
As far as professional use of my phone, like I said in the above paragraph, I use it mostly
for non-professional purposes. However, I do use my phone to check my email, and to
communicate with my teachers. If I am not near a computer and need to look something up
quickly, I will just use my phone for the small amount of research I need at that time.
I believe mobile phones and either a laptop, desktop, or both are essential for teachers
nowadays. A laptop or desktop with internet connection is pretty essential in the teaching
world today. Students will send emails when they have a question, or if they are in college, they
may even call. Before technology was used as much as it is today, these things would not be a
huge necessity. However, in todays day in age, immediate gratification is expected when trying
to contact a person. Whether this is good or bad is not the issue, but it is important for teachers
to be able to answer questions in a timely manner before students start to lose motivation.

Reflection chapter 2
Nowadays, students are becoming more and more wrapped up in technology. I am a
pretty substantial technology user myself, to an extent. If I wasnt, I wouldnt be taking this
online course. However, I do recognize that it takes some self-discipline. I am unlike most
technology students today due to the fact that Id rather learn from a hard copy of a book than
look at e-textbooks. I find that I have a much harder time learning while staring at a computer
or tablet screen, than I would from a book that I can hold in my hand.
Obviously students learning styles differ very much today than what they were in the
past. The most technology past students used in class was an overhead projector, and not like
the ones today that you can hook up to a computer. Students were not able to just Google
whatever questions they had; they had to do manual research in books at the library. I cannot
say which one is better as I have not experienced both, but reading the textbook, a lot of
people believe it is for the better.
I think technology engages students because it is easy for most of us to use. If you send
a student to the library and tell them to do research without a computer, many of them are
more than likely to give up because they are not used to that kind of thing. If you tell them to
use the computer, on the other hand, it is more accessible for most of us, and we find it easy to
use. It is something weve grown up knowing, and I think many students stay motivated
because they know that using technology is something that they are good at.
I think that basically the same technologies would have great value amongst all grade
levels. That being said, the younger grades would require some guidance, along with more
appealing assignments. For example, instead of saying Research past wars in history, a
teacher could design a computer game that involves matching answers with questions, or
something of that sort. I think that it is up to the teacher to integrate technology properly into
his or her study plan, or students will not learn from it.
In my opinion, technology should not be used all day every day in the classroom. I think
that if it is used for everything, students will be more hooked than they are today, which I see
as a bad thing. I think that teachers should have students visit the school library, and look for
books on their own that correspond with their current lesson. After they locate their books, I
think they should either have an hour of reading time, or an assignment to go with their book. I
think it is still important to get students eyes off the screen and back to the real world, at least
during the school day.
Although I would have to manage the amount of technology use in the classroom, I
would use it often. As an elementary school teacher, I will integrate technology in a way that
will only help my students learn. First off, I would help them practice typing skills, and other
basic operations of a computer. I will do so because most careers today require the ability to
operate a computer. After that, I will be able to move on to showing them how to research. I
will give PowerPoint presentations with visual affects to keep students interested, as I
recognize that a lot of students are visual learners.
As far as home use, I will help each student set up a school email so they are able to
communicate with me from home. This way, I can send out additional instructions, rubrics, or
reminders on due dates of assignments or class presentations. Also, students will be able to
contact me with any questions they might have on assignments that they are not fully able to
understand. I will limit computer use to about an hour or an hour and a half per day based on
the lesson, to ensure that they communicate with me and their peers for most of the school
day.
Reflection Chapter 3
I find that I prefer to learn science visually and interactively. I have taken science classes,
and during lecture, especially in chemistry or biology, I find it very difficult to understand what
is going on. However, when we would move to the lab or do some kind of hands-on activity
where we are demonstrating or practicing the information we have talked about, it is
something that I will remember for a quiz or an exam.
Although I understand there could be some hands-on activities for learning English and
math, I cant really think of any off the top of my head that would be fit for a college level. I do
just fine with learning these subjects from a text book and practicing them on my own time. It is
easy for me to read a book and write an essay on it. I can do it very quickly with ease and get an
A almost every time, which is more than I can say if I was learning science from a textbook.
All of my classes that I am currently taking at Henry Ford Community college involve
online communication. In my Childrens literature class, just yesterday I educated myself on
about ten classic fairy tales. I also completed interactive assignments for my Spanish class,
along with taking the quizzes for this class and receiving immediate feedback. I do prefer to
take quizzes online, because you can take as much time as you need, and you can review your
grade immediately.
When I am a teacher, I plan to do a fair amount of visual and hands-on teaching, along
with lecture and reading assignments. While I understand that most students prefer hands-on
learning, and can better absorb the information, I recognize that that is not the case for every
student. For most of my lessons, I will give reading assignments for the day before, and when
the students come into class the next day, having read, I will have activities planned for them in
order to help the hands-on thinkers understand what they have read, and to review what the
textbook learners already understand.
I think one of the most important things teachers need to educate their students on
digital citizenship is plagiarism. I remember when I was in elementary school and we would do
little research assignments, I would copy and paste a sentence and just change one word. I
thought that was okay because nobody ever told me that it wasnt. It wasnt until I did my first
paper in middle school social studies that I actually got in trouble for it. I did not think this was
fair because no one ever actually taught me that what I was doing was wrong. I think teachers
need to address this issue early and identify everything that constitutes as plagiarism. They
need to stress the fact that plagiarism doesnt just mean copying someones entire essay, but
single sentences as well.
I also think that we need to educate children on the fact that once they put something
on the internet, its there for good. While I understand that this isnt necessarily an educational
topic, it is becoming a huge issue for children in todays technology-based world. As teachers,
we cannot rely on the fact that their parents are going to teach them about the dangers of the
internet, because some parents do not know of them. That is why it is our job to step in, and
take twenty minutes of our time to educate our students. It could help them out a lot in the
long run.
Before, I would say that digital citizenship wouldnt have to be taught about until about
third grade. Nowadays, however, even if the students arent using computers and other
technologies in school, odds are they have access to them at home or at a friends house. I
believe that digital citizenship should begin being taught about in about first grade.
As a future teacher, I plan to makes sure my students know what they need to know
about digital citizenship. I will teach about it in the classroom, and maybe even organize an
assembly for the whole school to sit through. I will try to arrange speakers. Hopefully I can get
some people who have suffered consequences from not following the rules of digital citizenship
to come in and talk to my students about the importance of it.

Web Resource Educational App
Tech Tool 3.1: Web
Resources and Apps for
critical thinking and
problem solving
http://www.nea.org/assets/docs/A-
Guide-to-Four-Cs.pdf
Brain Fitness Pro
Tech Tool 3.2: Web
Resources and Apps for
Developing Digital
Literacies
http://digitalliteracy.us/ Word Wagon
Tech Tool 3.3: Web
Resources and Apps for
communication and
Collaboration
www.dnaftb.org Words with friends
Tech Tool 3.4: Web
Resources and Apps for
Creativity
www.readwritethink.org/classroom-
resources/student-
interactives/comic-creator-
30021.html
Toontastic
Tech Tool 3.5: Web
Resources and Apps for
Digital Citizenship
www.digiteen.org/index.html Question Builder

Reflections Chapter 4
As a future special education teacher, after reviewing the standards of the Council for
Exceptional Children, I realize that keeping these close to me as I enter my field will be very
helpful. These standards cover communication, teaching techniques, learning styles, social
interaction, and a whole list of detailed standards that are going to be very helpful for me in my
work. Although this document is very detailed, it does not address the standards in which
students are to be decided to be in a secluded classroom or in a regular classroom with an IEP.
I think teachers are better off following varying standards set at state or local level
loosely. I say state or local level because I think that national standards tend to be over
generalized. I say loosely because I believe these standards should be followed to the extent
that the teacher feels necessary after getting to know his or her students. I think after the
teacher forms a bond with their students, and get a good feel of teaching; they will be able to
gage what is vital information for their students and what is not.
Reflections Chapter 6
Currently, in the classes I am taking at Henry Ford Community College, I take notes in my
notebooks in class, and then when I am home I just add on to them while reading from the
required text. This helps for me to keep all my information in one place when it comes time to
study for the test. I do the same for my current practicum. If I experience something in the
classroom that I want to remember to enter into my journal, I write it in my notebook right
away. I have a separate notebook for every class so they stay organized and easy for me to
access the information.
I keep track of information I receive from lectures, paper documents, online resources,
and text books all in the same way, and that is my notebooks as I have stated in the previous
paragraph. While I admit that while retrieving information from an online source it may be
easier to record the information using Microsoft Word or Power Point, I still record it in my
notebooks along with all my other collected information. I do not like to separate these things
as I believe it will make it hard for me to keep track of everything later on. This helps avoid
information overload and scrambling to find the things I need.
Although I may not agree that it should be a requirement for high school students, I
understand why virtual learning courses are required for some high schools. I think it gives
students a sense of self-discipline. Without as many due dates and actual classroom meetings,
it can be hard to keep yourself on track and up to date on assignments. I think it is a good thing
for students to learn how to have a little bit more control over their learning experience.
I think that virtual learning, if it is not the only form of education that a student is
receiving, can be very helpful for future careers for students. I say that it is affective if it is not
the only form of education that a student is getting because I understand that it can be isolating
if it is the only form. Students do not need to interact with anyone if they are taking a virtual
learning course. However, it will help prepare them for their chosen profession by introducing
them to time management, self-discipline, and working with very little guidance, as they will
have to do in most careers.
I think blended learning is actually perfect, and pretty much goes hand in hand with
everything I have said about virtual learning vs. in class learning so far. I have in fact taken
blended learning classes. Ive had a fifty percent online, fifty percent in class course. I think that
students get the best of both worlds: human interaction and lessons from a teacher, and the
self-discipline that comes with having online work.