McClean,+Patricia

Harrison Bergeron Quiz http://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/story.php?title=harrison-bergeron_3

Journal #5- Reflection This class was exactly what Linda described it as: it was a whirlwind tour. For a two week course, I do think I got a lot out of it. But I definitely see how this class could and should be at least a four week class. I learned a lot of technologies that I could incorporate into my classroom and I do see myself using them in the future. But I also wish I could have spent more time really sifting through the materials we were introduced to so I could learn how to work them. I do plan on doing this in my free time (if we ever get free time again) because I can see the merit in using technology in the classroom to enhance instruction and student learning.

Journal #4: Copyright and Fair Use Issues

I was familiar with the idea of public domain and copyrighted material, but I did not realize that most government sites held material that was public domain. So if I ever need certain material, I'm going to try to go straight to a government websites for it, if there is one. Then I don't have to mess around with asking for permission.

I was also familiar with the idea that for something to be compyrighted, it has to be a tangible work. It cannot simply be a person speaking. I was also aware that the while the government does its best to protect the rights of the artist/creator, the government is also aware of the public's right to have access to the material. That is why there are limits to what the public can use without permission, like a clip of a movie or song. What I was not aware of, and what I found very interesting, was the Teach Act. I think it is great that the government has taken into consideration how important creative materials are in the classroom. This act provides teachers with more access to copyrighted materials than other people, as long as they are using it strictly in the classroom. THe only problem with this act is that it gives more freedom to teachers in a face-to-face classroom than teachers who have distance learners. Having distance learners means having to post these copyrighted works on the internet where it is possible for more people than just your learners to have access to them. While I see little difference between face-to-face classrooms and distance learning, this act does which puts those teachers at a bit of a disadvantage than those teachers with tangible classrooms.

I'm trying to think of things that I do that may be considered copyright infringement (without incriminating myself). (ahem, internet downloads ahem "backing-up" files *cough cough*) Nope, sorry. I have perfect conduct when it comes to copyrights and fair use laws.

Journal #3: Synching Up with the iKid

1. I saw some personal diary-type websites, which pulled your information from different sites like Facebook and Twitter and any other site you may have information on. This site would compile all that info. I'm not really sure if this would make my life any more efficient, since I don't really care about the info that I have posted on Facebook. I don't really post anywhere else, so this wouldn't be necessary for me. But if I did have several sites I was working on, I could see how this would be a really useful site. I loved the CitationMachine website. I write a lot of citations and I always have to go to citation websites to get the correct format. Having a website where I could just plug in an ISBN number and have it spit back a citation in ANY format I wanted would be great!! There were so many tools on the Web 2.0 page that it was difficult to look through all of them and see what I could use in my everyday life. But I did see a lot of tools that I could spend time looking through more thoroughly. Maybe I have a use for these sites and I don't even know it yet! 2. After reading these articles and watching videos, it is clear that we really don't have a choice regarding technology in the classroom. We are expected to utilize it. And we should. I don't want to be the last to know about a technology I can use in the classroom. I want to be able to introduce something new to the students, no matter how tech proficient they are. In five to ten years, we will have even more at our disposal. The only way to handle the changes is to stay up to date with technology now, so we are always ready for when technology improves because it is inevitable. I'm sure there will be the same problems in the future regarding technology in the classroom because change is a thing easily feared. But since it is here to stay, we need to know now and remember in the future that we must embrace and learn how to manipulate it for our own benefit.

Link to Delicious Site: []

Journal #2 **Technology integration beliefs and experiences**

I absolutely believe that technology should be an integral part of learning. It is here to stay, so why not embrace it? That is not to say that I think technology should replace all traditional ways of teaching, but it should be integrated. This way, a student truly gets a more well-rounded experience. In my own experience, I've used computers as tools for awhile. They were great in high school, since the day would get monotonous to the same thing over and over again in every class. But when we went to the computer lab, we made presentations, did digital dissections, and studied for exams. It was great knowing you could play games your teacher created on the computer, but you were really studying for a test.

As a lot of you know, I teach at HCC and have a HUGE problem with the SmartBoard. I just don't like the thing. Now, I can see how it would be a useful tool in the classroom. It is extremely interactive and it has a lot of great features. But it is way too problematic. The SmartBoard is overly sensitive and will do exactly what it wants, whenever it wants. I have a problem with technology that thinks its smarter than me and has an attitude about it.

(I think if I got some legitimate training on the SmartBoard, as opposed to "Here is your SmartBoard. Good luck," I might not feel so hostile towards it.)

Journal 1 Tech Bio

My tech bio is not all that interesting because it is very limited. I feel I am fairly proficient in pushing buttons and figuring something out. I call this system "I will work anything that's dummy proof". It is a system that does not work that well for me. While I can usually figure something out, I break a lot of things in the process. I've been through eight iPods (I've only had to pay for two. Thank you, extended warranties!) I can't afford to go through many computers, but believe me, my laptop spends more time broken than fixed. My cell phone is breaking as I type this. I don't believe in fancy technology for myself, since I will likely break it. I need things that are dummy proof, shock proof, sand proof, water proof, coffee creamer proof (oh yes, that happened), etc. In my classroom at Harford Community College, I have a bunch of technology that I can't use well, so I end up hating it. Case in point, the SmartBoard. People love this thing for some reason, but I absolutely hate it. Mostly because it thinks for itself and I don't care to machines that feel superior to me. Just kidding. (Not really). But I can hardly ever get the SmartBoard to work. If I actually had some training on it, I think I could use it as a great tool in the classroom. But that doesn't mean I don't appreciate the technology. I just know I will find some way to destroy it. So I am excited to learn about new technology in this class so that maybe I can learn how to use them correctly!

Like everyone else, I am taking this class because it is a requirement for the MAT program. But I actually am interested in becoming more tech proficient! I am sick of looking at a computer the wrong way and it breaking. So maybe if I learn how to use a computer better, I might be a little more successful with them. Three things I hope to learn in this course are how to use a presentation program other than PowerPoint, how to use PowerPoint better since I find that program to be nothing but a hassle, and how to make some of this technology work for me instead of me feeling like I'm working for it. I know these are kind of broad goals, but any instruction I can get on technology I will take! Being able to use technology more proficiently will give me more resources to work with. The more resources I have, the better able I will be to tackle the challenges presented both in college and in my classroom. By taking this class, I hope to use technology to become more creative and successful in my problem solving.

I think a lot of you have heard this story before, but here is a little bit about myself. I graduated from Towson in 2008 with my B.S. in English with a concentration in creative writing. After Towson, I tried law school at the University of Baltimore, but that was a complete failure. I was definitely not cut out to be a lawyer!!! So I had to make an immediate life decision once I decided to stop law school, so I looked into the MAT program and found that I really liked the looks of it. So far, I was right! During all that law school madness, I was working on a graduate certificate in children's literature from Penn State. I loved loved loved that program and would recommend it to anyone interested in children's lit. Unfortunately, it is next to impossible to get a decent job in that field, so I am hoping to do some side work with it once I become a teacher. Ultimately, I would like to get my PhD, sooner rather than later. We'll see :)



Yes, this is me. In my heart.