Computer History for Jenny Staples

When I was 7 years old my father worked for Commodore 64. I remember the day we went to the store to buy our first home computer. I thought my father was nuts. He spent good money on something that didn't apprear to do anything useful. My parents enrolled me in computer programming. In class I learned how to write a program where my name generated multiple times. I wasn't impressed.

My typewriter had to be ripped out of my hands in college. The computer was only good for writing papers. My Junior year my friends started talking about something called electronic mail. I learned how to send a basic messege to a friend I saw all the time anyway. My mother said only businesses and universities would ever use e-mail. I was only marginally impressed.

I taught for a couple of years but then went into banking. A new coworker in our group knew about spreadsheets and the management loved her. I decided that instead of being jealous I could just ask her to teach me. I got hooked. What else could a computer do?

The fact that my job is primarily computer based is a joke in my family. How far I've come. Now I'm impressed.

CED0515 Week 6

This is my first class in the MEIT. I've really enjoyed it. It's felt great to get back into the education conversation. I found the text very helpful. The tools and sites referenced have provided me with a good start. If this is just beginning I know I will continue to get a lot out of the program.

CED0515 Week 5

I felt that reviewing software evaluation tools was very beneficial for me. I've never done a review before and it's nice to know that I wouldn't have to create a tool from scratch. I was also glad that our textbook provides so many great resources so I was able to find a program that I wanted to review.

If I ever return to classroom teaching I know I won't feel overwhelmed when reviewing software.

Creating a Technology Learning Plan will help me to focus on my strengths and discern where I need more development. I tend to be very goal orientated so I think my plan will be very useful for me.

CED0515 Week 4

I choose the Science unit focusing on the rain forest for an upper elementary audience. In the lesson the teacher used the Magic Treehouse series in conjunction with the Imagination Express: rainforest program. In the program students can practice at communication through writing, narrating and animate their own stories.

As I'm not currently in a classroom I'm just now becoming acquainted with the Magic Treehouse series. Osborne has written books that cover a wide variety of topics, particularly history and social studies topics.

This lesson could be adapted to fit many different units as a way to encourage students who need more practice in reading skills.


http://www.intime.uni.edu/video/013iaue/0/

CED 0515 Week 3 Spreadsheets

I use spreadsheets everyday. The job I have in the district involves a lot of data analysis. We have changed some of our districts policies and procedures based on analysis done using spreadsheets.

While I'm not currently in a classroom, I could see where spreadsheets could also help make data based decisions. Spreadsheets could help the teacher determine things like 'how many students that averaged an 80% or better on homework scored an 80% or better on the test?' Grade analysis could help the teacher determine what adaptations or changes need to be made in instruction.

I find that tracking data and analyzing it through spreadsheets helps me make better decisions on policy and procedure for the district.

CED0515 Week 3 - Custom Search

OK - this custom search thing is great. If you're curious, type in 'stars' into the search box.

Science Search Engine