Week 5

My two favorite Web 2.0 sites are Teacher Tube and Delicious.  Teacher tube is full of useful videos that allow my students to see different ways of teaching the same content.  One student may understand it better with my working the problems, but another may need to see and hear it a different way.  I do this to make sure all my students, no matter what their learning style is, understand Algebra.  There is also songs on there that deal with students life.  I found a really good rap "Pull Your Pants Up" that my students loved listening to and possibly walked out of class with their pants pulled up.

My second site I use and like is Delicious.  I like to bookmark sites to use in my class and then be able to go to Delicious and pull them up.  I never have to search for sites as I know they are saved in this one area and there is no wasted time hunting for sites. 

Week 4

The two multimedia's I use the most in my classroom is PowerPoint and Blogs.  Teaching Algebra I can introduce objectives and show each step using a PowerPoint presentation.  The students can see the steps and possibly complete a step before I show it on the screen.  PowerPoints are also easy for students to use for presentations in classes.  I also like to use blogs for my students and parents.  I can update my blog each day or week showing the objective I am teaching and any homework I assign.  This is a great tool as the parents can see the homework and even comment if their child is having a problem or if they need to talk to me about something. 

Types of Software (week 3)

One website that I use a lot and took a 3 different day training on was www.cooltoolsforclassrooms.com  It is wonderful and full of wikis, games and fun interactive things to use in almost all subjects.  It is something that I use weekly with my students because math is a repetitive subject.  The more I allow my students to practice the more they will restore.  If you ever need other options as to where to allow your students to practice at home or in the classroom visit this website and use it.  Great ideas!!

History of Educational Technology (week 2)

Looking back at the history of educational technology can teach us a lot for the future.  First thing I learned from the history is that teaching is a timely job and most teachers do not have time to create technology or
software for their classes.  I use technology such as a symposium to write on that projects my work onto a screen through a LCD projector, but I am not actually making software for the students to use.  If technology is given to a teacher ready to use then it may get used, but teachers just do not have time to go out and find new things.  Secondly, parents and educators want students to learn about technology in the classes so they will be prepared for after school.  Technology is everywhere now and if you do not understand it then you will be lost.  Some jobs do not require you to use a lot of technology, but most jobs at least make you check email.  Every chance a teacher is given to expose a student to technology it should be used wisely.  Lastly, technology should never replace the actual teacher.  Yes, teachers should know somewhat about technology and use that, but a teacher knowing their subject area could never be replaced.  Distance learning is becoming more and more popular, but some students need the one on one attention and we cannot leave that child out. 

Issues with Using Technology in Education (week 2)

I love to use technology in my classroom especially since it is such a growing environment.  It always engages my students when I incorporate some into the lesson.  However, there are several factors why schools do not have much technology.  The first is funding for it.  In the state of Alabama, proration is hitting the education budget so hard each year we are having a hard time having enough teachers for the students must less providing technology for the classes.  I am fortunate that where I teach we have received some grants and been able to purchase new things for the classes.  I have a symposium, LCD projector, teacher & student computer stations and a laptop.  I believe teachers should apply for any and all funding to purchase technology.  Secondly, online plagiarism is an issue with using technology in schools.  Students can easily use the internet to find papers to turn in that was written by others.  Teachers should be aware of online sites that can check the students work for plagiarism.  I know of a group of students that were taking online classes and when it was test time they would type the problem into yahoo and find answers online.  The teacher caught then and turned them in.  They received a F in the course.  The last issue I want to discuss is that schools are having to spend a lot of money to purchase anti-virus programs because of the growing issue of viruses and hackers computers.  When we allow students to input data into a program, hackers are waiting to attack and steal all their information.  And when a virus gets on a computer it may weeks to get them cleared off.  School systems may spend a lot of money on firewalls, but it is so hard to prevent viruses.

Week 1 - Introduction

Hello, my name is Chasity Ledkins and I live in a very small town called Excel, Alabama.  I have been married for ten years and have three children, Carter (8), Cade (6) and Addie (2).  They keep me very busy!  I have an Accounting degree, but after working as an Accountant for years I knew it was not my dream and so I went into teaching.  This is my third year of teaching Algebra at  Monroe County High School and I love it!  I was an ABC student and took my four classes and passed the praxis in Math so now I am highly qualified.  This is my first term in Graduate school and I am so excited to be going back.  I chose Library Media for my master's so that if I ever decide to come out of the classroom, I have somewhere to go.  Teaching and helping children is my life long dream and it is the most rewarding job ever.  I teach at a low income school, so for some, I am not only a teacher, but a mother in simple terms. 
As far as technology, I have a good bit in my classroom and hope to be receiving more in the next few months.  I have a symposium which has to be my favorite.  As I am facing the classroom, I write on it and it projects through an LCD projector onto a screen behind me.  This enables me to watch the class and make sure they are following along while I am teaching. 
I am so looking forward to this session and learning a lot of new things for my classroom.