Advantages and Disadvantages of Mobile Computing

The advantage of mobile computing is that you can take these devices anywhere in the world and still be able to get your work done.  You no longer have to be confined to the workplace, classroom or your home.  With these devices you are able to travel, go the park, or anywhere you choose to go.  This is known as flexibility of location.  You can also save time yourself some time, if you have an appointment or have to go out of time unexpected you can take your work with you.  Having a mobile device enhance productivity by allowing you to work from anywhere in the world.  This is one of the main reasons why some companies are offering their employees to the advantage of working from home.  Think about it, if you have a sick child you are still be able to do your work and take care of your child at the same time.  Even when you are on the go you can research any subject or topic that you are working on. 

The only disadvantages that I see with mobile computing is running out of battery power and not being in a place where you are able to recharge the device.

Delicious

I had to create a Delicious account for class as an assignment this week. At first, I was like not another account to keep track of passwords, username, and just another account.  At first I had a hard time adding the tags to the site, but then I realize I had to bookmark the page first then add the tags.  I like the way it keeps my classmates information also, I can just click on their names and look at their web sites.  This also helps me from using the same website and getting the same information for a project we might be working on as a group or just a class assignment.  The tags are so useful it lets you see other information that is available to you without really searching the web for it.

Nursery Rhymes

Website Evaluation Checklist

Student Name: Eve M. Clifton                                                               Date of Evaluation:  February 14, 2011

Name of the Website:  Zelo.com

URL of the Website:  http://www.zelo.com/family/nursery/index.asp

Accuracy of the Web Page	Yes	No	Notes
1.  Can you find the author of the page? Hint:  Scroll to the bottom of the page.  It may be an institution.	x		Author Name:zelo
2.  Can the author be contacted: Hint:  Look for an “About Us” or “Contact Link”	x		Author email: webmaster@zelo.com <webmaster@zelo.com>
3.  Do you think this person or institution is qualified to publish this webpage?	x		Why or why not? They have more than one site and they offer you a way to contact them.
Authority of the Web Page
1.  Check the domain of the URL, particularly the extension.       Is this a commercial site?   The URL can give clues to the authority.		x	What does the extension tell you?
2.      Are there credentials listed for the author(s)? If not, try Googling the name of the author or the institution.		x	What did you find? It just links you to other sites that they have.
Purpose of the Web Page
1.  Read over the information on this website carefully.  Can you determine the purpose of this web page?	x		Why is this web page on-line?  Think critically about possible opinions or bias? This web page is on line to help people with a number of nursery rhymes.
Currency of the Web Page
1.  Can you find a publishing date?	x		When was it published? 1996-2011
2.  Can you find the date it was last updated?	x		When was it updated?  2011
3.  Are the links working and current? Click on some of the links to check.	x		What do you think about the links?  It is a link about first names.
Looking at your answers, do you think this website would be a reliable, credible source of information?	x		Why or Why not?  This is a reliable website for someone who is planning on doing a lesson on nursery rhymes.  It has a wide variety of nursery rhymes.

Adapting Instruction

There are times when teachers will find it necessary to make changes in their lesson plans for children with disabilities but are able to be mainstream with regular children and  just need a little extra help.  When it comes to adapting instruction it can be simple things that need to be added to the classroom for all children to have equal access what is being taught.  Sometimes these adaptations can be modifications and accommodations. 

Modifications can be support or services that relates to a child’s disability.  It can be something as simple as changing the directions or the length of the test to meet the needs of that child.  The teacher might have to give the student an oral test instead of a written test, or the child might have to be given extra time on a timed quizzed.  When it comes to making modifications in the classroom the teacher would have to know the needs of the students and add the changes to her lesson plan to meet the needs of all the children in the classroom.

Accommodations can be anything to make the student learning easier to understand, blackboards, a video, and an overhead.  Support or services that a student also need to help them with their disability.  These services might include speech, physical therapy, and occupational therapy.

Information-Processing Model

Information-processing model is how we retain, acquire, and use information.  We are not really aware of most the things that we know, we are only aware of the things we know and give our direct attention to.  When our attention is focus on them, they are stuck in what is known as the working memory which is also known as short-term memory.  Since we are working with a limited capacity in our working memory, we have to rehearse the information so that it will stay in our long-term memory or just forget the information.  The difference between short-term and long term memory is that once information is store in long-term we do not have to rehearse the information, it will just stay there.

Learning Characteristics

It is important for a teacher to see how the children are receiving the information that is being taught.  If children are not paying attention to the information it goes into what is call the short term memory and the infromation will be quickly lost.

The teacher might even try to connect the new information to prior knowledge when teaching something new to the children so that the children can remember the information easier.  The teacher will continue to find ways that she can teach the children effectively and also so that they are able to retrieve the information even after they leave the classroom.

Content Standards

When it comes to reading, math, science, and language arts all states have content standards in these areas of study.  The state decides what is going to be taught specifically in these areas of study.  They also have a clear outline of what the children should master in the content area.  Instructional goals are also included in the content standards.

Benchmarks are used to monitor the progress of students.  They also show a student weakness and their strengths.  Benchmarks can also be used to show what grade level a student is working on at the time of the test.

Why Read

I fall somewhere in the middle when it comes to reading.  In order for me to really read a book or study, I have to be interested in the book or assignment.  There are times I can start reading something and be like this is boring to me.  I just could not bring myself to read the book.  I sometimes find it hard to complete assignments because the material is just not something I want to read so I find often myself skimming through the pages to find the answer to the questions.  I am really trying to do better in this area.  I used to read all the time but now because of my schedule I fine myself lacking in this area.  I am always encouraging the children to read, read, and read so more.  I believe that reading is fundamental.  I guess it is time for me to take my own advice in this area and start finding the time to read, read, and read some more,

Teaching Philosophy

          I believe that the most important part of the teacher’s job is to provide psychological support for his or her students.  By this, I mean that one should make them feel comfortable. When children see that someone really cares about them, then they are willing to give their best in school. The most natural way to achieve this is to develop a good relationship with the class. 
         I would have as much interaction in recitations so that the students will feel involved personally.  I would let the children know that I am there for them personally as well as giving them extra help with their class work.
         My job as a teacher is not just to teach them the lesson, but to make sure that they understand the lesson by asking and answering questions.  I would tell the children that nothing comes easy but hard work does pay off. I need to make the students feel good and encourage them about their progress, no mater how small or how big their progress is.

How People Learn

When it comes to a learn-center learning environment there are many elements that the instructor should contain.  Some of those elements are beliefs, interests, skills, and the knowledge and experience of every student. The main idea of a learn center learning environment is to make the students thinking more visible. I will plan an activity where the children will write a poem or a short story.  From this activity the children will be improving their writing skills, how to speak in public and most important of all their listening skills.

A knowledge-centered learning environment should consist of well organized ideas that the students will be interested in. It should also have resources that the children can learn how to use and the resources should also be available to them.  The children are learning with an understanding rather than memorizing in a timely manner.

The two types of assessments that should be included in assessments are a formative assessment which provides feedback to the students and teachers during the course. The information is also change to help meet the needs of the students. The other type of assessment is known as the summative assessments and this assessment is used to see how the children are able to understand the information they have learned during the course and to also see if the learning goals have been met for each students.

A community-center learning environment is geared to the expectations of the instructor and also having the students being able to ask questions without feeling intimated by other students.  Students are more likely to participate in a community classroom when they know that the instructor care about their needs both collective and also individual. The children and I prepared a spaghetti lunch and made invitations for the parents to come and have lunch with us.  When the parents walk into the center they are always greeted with a smile and a hello and when they are leaving the building they are told to have a good day or a good evening.

I always asked myself at the end of the day what could I have done different with the lesson to get the children involved or for them to understand the lesson better.

I have to participate in activities with the children and by doing this I am also observing the children to see what skills they are learning as well as what skill they are lacking in.  This will help me to better understand the needs of the children and will also help me to plan my activities around the needs of the children.

My Goals

My goal for this semster is to learn more about how to use the technology that is already available to me.  I can not wait to do a web page and learn about Evaluating and Organinzing Resources.  This class is full of information for us to go back and teach our children so they can use it correctly.  Have a great and wonderful semster.