blog posting week 3

Blog posting

Paragraph1:

Inspiration is a software that totally supports visual thinking and visual learning.  Many students are visual learners and when teachers don’t teach to those kids, then we sometimes lose them.  To use it in your class, all students would need a computer – I think – and I know all schools don’t always have that available. I think I would like to learn more about it and maybe use it in my classroom some day – but I think good training would really be necessary. It looked complicated.

Paragraph 2: Since writing is something that is hard for me, I know the importance of using whatever technology sources that are available to try to engage students and get their minds working.  I like the idea of computer-based concept mapping tools. These tools help students understand by seeing a visual of the relationships between their ideas. I know visuals have always helped me when writing assignments were hard.  I like using concept maps or graphic organizers to connect my ideas and get my thoughts in order. I think technology like this could be very beneficial for students who find it hard to write, especially because they just can’t seem to get started. This seems to be a good way to help organize and plan their thoughts

            PowerPoint presentation is a great way to help with writing. It makes it easy and creative to organize thoughts and ideas and compose and edit your text. When creating PowerPoints, sometimes it’s easy to overdo the visuals with excessive use of fonts and lots of moving graphics and animations that distract. I would limit the number of fonts, colors and graphics and make sure the students had their ideas and text clear before they began adding the graphics. One suggestion was to write the text slides first and make sure they are clear, then go back and add the visuals and graphics. 

            I have never taught a class,  but I’ve coached a baseball team and taught the game.  I knew the game inside and out before I taught it and knew it better after I taught it – and better each time I coach a team.  I’m sure that is the same with writing, the more you write, the better you get.

(David  Jonassen. Meaningful Learning with Technology, 3rd Edition. Allyn & Bacon/CourseSmart, 06/01/2007.