I guess I was supposed to blog more...

Well, I was just looking over the syllabus to get ready for the final, when I saw that I was supposed to be blogging much more than I did this semester. I guess with everything so busy, I didn't even think about blogging since it wasn't often talked about it class. Hopefully it won't be too much of a problem!
I'm glad that grad students don't have a lot of exams to take throughout the semester. I think that I prefer doing papers and projects instead of having the pressures of a test. What does everyone else think?

Assistive technology

I think the most interesting part of this assignment was definitely the simulations. Some of them, like the screenreader and distractability ones, were really hard and I couldn't even do them! It was a good way to think about how technology can be difficult for some people with disabilities, but it was also good that there were suggestions given on how to create websites that would be easier for these people to use.

using access in classroom

Five ways that I found for teachers to use microsoft access in the classroom;
1) to create a form for field trips
2) parents can enter info in database at an open house
3) book review database
4) math formulas database
5) literary characters database

I think that it would be a good idea to use database software in the classrooom. It would probably be worth taking a tutorial on whatever you are planning to do with it because there is so much information that it would be hard to learn everything at once. By using a tutorial, you would be given a manageable amount of information that would allow you to do what you want to.

the pencil story

I thought that this story was very creative and entertaining, but it got its point across as well. It is funny to think that computers have been available in schools for a significant time now without much use. It is silly to think of computers as only being useful in computer class, yet that's what it was like even when I was in middle school. We never used computers outside of computer class. Even in high school, I didn't see computers used very much in the classroom. I would use them to word process my papers, but that was all. I think it's great that computers seem to be finally breaking onto the scene and being used more. The pencil story was a great illustration of what has been happening (and is still happening) with computers rarely being used, especially among teachers who are resistant to change.

actually using technology in education

I had my first subbing experiences last week, and it went really well. I was able to sub for a wonderful 4th grade classroom two days in a row, and then I worked as a one-on-one aide for a second grader. When I was in the second grade room I saw a Smartboard for the very first time. It is incredible! The teacher utilized the smartboard a lot in his classroom- it was a huge illustration for me of how technology can be used in a classroom!
Also, I'm glad I learned more about Microsoft Word in the last class. I've been using it for a long time, but basically just to word process. I was glad for the refresher on making tables because I had to use that feature for one of my classes in this last week!

Introduction

Hi everyone! My name is Heather Hatch and I am getting my master's in childhood inclusive education. My BA is from Roberts Wesleyan College in cross-cultural ministry. I spent the last three years at different jobs and figuring out what I wanted to do before deciding to teach. My most recent job was as a head teacher for one year olds, which I loved, but it was time to move on. Now I will be subbing while taking classes here full-time.
I'm glad that this class seems like it will be fun. When I heard the course name, I was thinking it might be kind of boring...