Chapter 5

Well first, I will have students use word processor to compile their thoughts on the chapter and its activities. Students will keep a daily journal blog of all their works and what they have done for the chapter and unit. In this way students will have a record of all their thoughts, and it will also provide students with an effective way to reflect on what they have learned and are learning in each chapter. Another form I will use is to have interactive group discussions as a class about the activities from the chapter. Students will have a chance to express what they liked or did not like, any questions they may have, and also reflect on what they learned as a class through the chapter activities.

Chapter 6

Objective #3:
Misrepresenting data in a chart is a fairly easy thing to do. By manipulating the horizontal axis or by using inconsitent intervals on the vertical axis a chart can be distorted. These distortions can then be used as an advantage to some and a disadvantage to others, by distorting the appearance of the data. If the scale does not begin at zero the chart will have a different appearance which can change the meaning of the chart. That is why it is important for students to understand how easily these charts can be manipulated in order to produce different results. Taking a close study at a chart and understanding how one appears in comparison to the same information represented on a differet, manipulated chart and the difference it makes, will allow students to grasp an understanding of these misrperesentations.

There are many formulas used for spreadsheets and I did learn quite a few while in high school, but somehow only the basic ones, like SUM, stuck. Is there a place where one can find examples of formulas to use on spreadsheets?

Using spreadsheets would be something I thinkg would work best incorporated into group projects in a history class. Looking at data and comparing it to society and such and then discussing it as a small group or a whole class would be an effective way to use spreadsheet information in one of my classes.

Chapter 8

Objective #2:
When authoring a multimedia presentation it is important to consider these guidelines: consider the basic building blocks for content, who the audience is, background elements, tools for transition, and ways to enhance the presentation. The basic building blocks for the content are important to remember because it is essential that the content of the presentation presents the most useful and influential information for the presentation. In other words, what format will allow for the greatest comprehension of ideas. The format must also consider the audience. The audience is important in forming the presentation because different audiences may require different means of presentation and different sources in order to communicate the ideas effectivly. When designing the presentation it is useful to remember to use background elements to add depth and interest to the project, but it is also important to remember not to use too much in ways that it will distract the audience from what is actually trying to be portrayed. Each slide or new scene of a presentation will be more influential and entertaining if they are incorporated with great transitions. That is why it is important when making a presentation to consider how each scene will be transitioned to the next. Also, when considering making a presentation, it is also important to add elements that will enhance the presentation, like oral clips or background music. These enhancing elements are to be used like the background though, too much is not a good thing and can become distracting.

In reading this chapter I felt that a mass majority focused on very extensive multimedia projects, like making a movie. For myself, these projects seem to large for a history course and appear as if they would distract the class from the overall theme. Is it alright, in a social studies course, to avoid large projects like these and instead incorporate technology by effective but less extreme means?

This chapter provided many useful ideas for multi-media projects to incorporate in the classroom. Although, some of the ideas seemed a lot more in-depth and time consuming than I would possibly want to pursue, they were great ideas all the same and allowed me to think of ideas for my own classroom.

Chapter 12

Objective 1: It is important for the teacher when planning a lesson to know and understand the content they will be teaching. If they are incorporating technology it is important that the teacher is adaquetly informed on the technology that he/she is using in order for them to have the ability to teach the children. It is also important for the teacher to realize the technologies out there and to be able to involve them into their lesson plans.

From chapter 12 I was just wondering what happens when the lesson plan fails? What if the students do not want to become involved, do not follow along, and essentially do not learn anything; should the teacher just pick up and try it again later after they assess the failure of that lesson?

This chapter was very influential on the teaching process and was probably the most important and knowledgable chapter that I have read thus far. Everything in this chapter is something I will come back to look at as a teacher.

Chapter 13--Assessment

Unit Objective:
Students will demonstrate a concrete knowledge and foundational understanding of the events of the 1920's, the Great Depression, and WWI and the causes and consequences of each event in order for students to discuss, debate, and create their own opinions on this era in history.

Assessment: Because this is my unit objective I feel I would be able to obtain a better understanding of what the students have learned if they were given a series of essay questions to study for and then have them answer 3 or 4 in class for the assessment. By allowing them to see the questions beforehand and prepare for them in advance I feel all students would have the same opportunities, even those who do not like or do well with essay questions, because they have all had time prepare.

Lesson 1--The 1920's--Objective:
Students will examine why this was a prosperous era, what the events were that led up to the roaring 20's, and be able to evaluate American society's reaction to this new found wealth.

Assessment:
This is a fun period in history, so the learning and assessment of the events would be better learned in the same manner. In order to grasp on to the various events and cultural changes occurring at the time an assessment based off a project focusing on the decade or a powerpoint presentation demonstrating the decade would be most influential.

Lesson 2--The Great Depression--Objective:
Students will recognize the major factors that led to the Depression and the paranoia and events that took place afterwards.

Assessment:
A series of blogs and journals will collaborate students feelings and opinions of the devestation of the time. By placing themselves in the shoes of the people of the time students will be able to grasp a better understanding of the events.

Lesson 3--World War II--Objective:
Students will recognize the major powers involved and the major decisions that took place during the war.

Assessment:
WWII is still recent enough that students will be able to have first hand aquaintences with people directly effected by the war. There are also still many questions still up in the air concerning the war, especially the use of the atomic bomb. Students will assess this lesson with open-ended problems on questionaires so they can devolope their own opinions and understanding of what occurred, what the consequences were, and how they affect him/her in the world today.

Chapter 4

Objective 1: Technology literacy in the twenty-first century involves being able to understand what the technology is and how it functions, but also how to use the technology in order to make decisions and solve problems in the "real world". It involves being able to know how to use the appropriate technologies that best suit the outcome and knowledge deserved for a topic. Technology literacy has expanded from just knowing the foundations of technology in the twentieth century, to learning how to use, apply, demonstrate, and decifer technology in the twenty-first century.

In forming a unit plan for students, does a teacher need to apply all of the NETS'S standards or are just a few, since they are all relatively similar, sufficient?

Just like the previous chapters, chapter 4 provided new ways to think about what I can incorporate into my own teaching plans. I think the objectives for each of the NETS'S standards provide a great scope for what should be taught in the realm of technology and how it should be used. Although, all the standards for students were different in their approach, they all seemed quite similar in the outcome they wanted. I think for myself Standard II (Social, ethical, and human issues) and Standard IV (Technology communications) would be the most relevant and influential for teaching a history course.

Chapter Three

Of the three studies of learning, the constructivism view seemed to be the best ideal. Constructivism focuses on the notion that the learner plays the largest role in what is learned and their developements of understanding and knowledge. The learners personal experiences influence the way that person learns. Rather than the student just collecting information in a well organized manner from a teacher, the student plays an active role in the learning process and in what is learned, the teacher is merely a guide that enhances the learning experience.

This chapter discusses these three different types of understanding the learning process: behaviorist, cognitive, and constructivism, and apparently they are all part of the learning process today. So, as a teacher, are we required to incorporate all of these learning processes into our way of teaching or is one better than the other?

Knowing the process of learning and the different ways it can be understood is no doubt very important for the teaching process. So as a teacher it will be important to understand the different methods of learning, if one method is not working then maybe another one should be used instead; so keeping an open eye to other styles and studies in the learning process is useful.