Wiki, Conversing & Personality Types!!!

Wikipedia is a very well known place. As for me and my students i would probably use it very rarely. I think that wiki is a very good place to go, to get a very general but broad aspect of a certain topic. In many ways it also depends on the topic that i would trust. The only problem that i have with wiki is that anyone can get on it and change what could be very scholarly type articles into something that someone else thinks is better. In many ways wiki is a good but relativley general source a student could use but by far not the best. On another note, wiki is a very good place for students to come together in a community desired to better ones self-intellect.

I do believe that conversing in group projects is more of an effective way to, not only control the work load but better interest the kids. Working in groups inhibits talking amoungst each other, which in some cases could be a bad thing, brainstorming with more than one head, and sharing the workload which means not overwhelming on students with everything he/she could be doing if the load wasn't split up.

I do believe that kids have different learning styles becuase of different personality types. I have ADD and becuase of that i am a more hands on learner. I like to be in the action, i dont like going home and reading or sitting quitly in a classroom, i like being with other people and working together, being active. For many students this isn't the case though, many students who are more laid back, relaxed, can sit there and listen to a lecture and learn, or read the information and just take all of it in. Many students are different.

Why do we use Spreadsheets

I believe that as a teacher we use spreadsheet because it is a good way to keep us organized as well as an easy and fast way to keep track of students grades and certain projects throughout the year. A spreadsheet has a significant advantage over a calculater for many reasons. For example when you use a spreadsheet to keep track of grades you can highlight the grades you want to get the average then press the formula and its done. With a calculator you would have to type in all the numbers, there could be room for error and unfortunately mess someone's final average up. Using a calculator also takes more time.
Storing, calculating, and presenting information are the three main functions of an excel spreadsheet. These basic functions are the foundation of a spreadsheet and can be used in many ways to help the user out. Something else that can be a main function of a spreadsheet is pictures or animation. To many of the younger students this could be a form of better learning.

What i think about the Spreadsheet!!!

I believe the spreadsheet is an awesome source of tecnology which could prove to be very reliable as a teacher. I believe that it is an easy way to keep track of hw, tests, quiz's and all the grades of the students. I would and will most definately use this in my classroom not just for myself, but to also teach my students as well.

Saving Time!!!!

One of the most streinuous things about writing is the revisions. Every writer needs feedback to help them with grammer, spelling, etc. As a teacher my time will be limited so students could get in groups and peer-review for a grade. They could spell check it as another student went over it on the computer. Student revisions is a huge thing because it doesn't just help the student's paper there revising but helps them with there very own writing in the future.

Writing Activities!!!

I would use activities such as brainstorming and writing things down, or type in the computer to get more technological. I would also be a huge supporter of flow charts or vynn diagrams. Those two though would be circumstantial. Something the kids could do with word is bulletposting whatever came up in there head.

Inspiration in the Classroom!!!

Inspiration i think is a very good site to use for young students. I like the fact that you can plan, research, and complete your whole project under this site. If i was to try this on my students i would most certainly try it on the ones who are more visual learners than anything. I think this is a very visual website and believe it could be a great success in the classroom.

Technology ideas in CH. 6!!!!

One big way's that were discussed in ch. 6, that i believe would be a good tool for the student learners is the learning circle. This is a brilliant way to keep the students informed in the classrooms not only with the the teacher, but with all of the students as well. It gives them a chance to talk, debate, share new ideas with one another without a teacher being involved but yet having the teacher one step away monotoring everything being said. Another way is through the teachers talk. I believe that if many of the teachers could talk through blogging they could aslo blog about different types of study skills or diferent ways to teach in the classroom and the teachers along with the students could learn from each other as well.

Why Blogs are Useful!!!!

Blogs can be used in many different ways. They can be used in the way that we are using them in our class today, by learning from the students in your own classrooms. They can be used to answer specific questions and of course students own opinions. They can also be used to experience new people and the different beliefs and opinions other people have not only just in the classroom but all across your nation, even world. I do believe that blogs are a good tool to exercise branching out and experiencing new ideas. I believe they also are useful in the aspect of teaching and being able to have a common place to learn and think for all of my students.

About Me

Well first off my name is Brandon Simpson. I am 22 years old and a Jr. at A&M-Commerce University. I was a Business major up until this year and switched it to History so i am a year behind. I graduated Creekview HS in Carrollton about an hour away from here. I graduated with a 3.2, was selected 1st team all academic in football and was a 5a regional finalist in track n field, in Pole vault, 4/400 and 4/200. My parents are divorced but my mom recently just got re-married and moved to N. richland hills. My father works for agilient technologies and lives in Austin. I have 3 brothers Nathan, Jeremy, and Brian. Nathan plays football for Keller HS and is 17, Jeremy is 30 and lives in McKinney, and Brian is 16 who is a wrestler for Keller HS. I also have a sister who is in nursing school at Abilene Christian University, who also just finished up her senior season of softball. She is 23 years old. i believe i am a very nice guy, i like to have fun and am very social, maybe thats the reason i am social chair of our very hated on campus but loved everywhere else fraternity Pi Kappa Alpha. Even though it's small here in Commerce America i still love it and wish the best to everyone in this class.

Brandon Simpson