Post #1

In an ever growing technical world, I think that it's extremely important that teachers are able to educate their students using computers. I believe that chapter #1 was very accurate in saying that computers are very important in a students learning process. Nowadays students are starting to know more and more about computers so it is very important that teachers learn at least basics of computer use so that they can be helpful with students questions. I agree with chapter #1 because I think that it touches base on many important issues and reasons about education using a computer. Chapter #1 brings up a good point when saying that computers can be used as a tool to support teaching models. It also was informational in giving advice on how to use your computer ethically and make sure that your students do also. Overall computers are an awesome way to help with learning. It prepares students for the real world when they get a job but most importantly allows them to deeply think about subject matter in a way that is different from plain old teaching techniques such as writing on a chalk board.

I think that I will put the computer/s in my classroom to great use. I hope to teach elementary school, so I think it would be beneficial to have a monthly newsletter to send home for the parents informing them of what we're learning about, what we're working on, and what's going on in the next month. I also think that I will use computers to make worksheets for the students to do. I plan to have a class website that i post homework assignments and announcements on in case the students forget or the parents want to double check. The book brought up some other good ideas such as tutorials, practice problems, and also computer games. The book brought up having simulations such as computer games and until I read the paragraph I thought that it was a terrible idea. Once I thought about it I realized that it is so true that games like Oregon Trail and Sims can be a very effective and fun learning tool. They make it exciting to learn about things such as money and rationing. In this class I simply hope to build a strong foundation of the basics. I want to be able to help students if they have any questions, and also incorporate the use of computers by students into my lesson plans.

I'm just going to tell a little about myself. My name is Morgan Rigney and I am a finance student here at Florida State. I have had a passion for children forever, but never considered making it my career until I worked at a lifechanging camp for underprivileged kids my freshman year. I'm going to follow through getting my finance degrere, but I feel that education classes can help me grow in an area that I really enjoy. I hope to one day be a financial coordinator at a nonprofit organization for underprivileged children. Eventually after I start a family and have children, I want to teach. I really want to give back and I truly believe that teaching is the best way to do so. I work in a preschool presently and love every minute of it! I hope that this class shows me how to use a computer because as of now I am absolutely terrible at it!!