CRASH........ :_(

Let me start off by saying that sometimes technology can be the DEVIL.  Yes, I said devil.  Last week, Lauren and I started on our group project that consists of a 4-6 page report and a presentation.  We agreed that we would both compile research, that I would be in charge of typing the report, and Lauren would put together the actual slideshow presentation. We were doing great emailing back and forth for stuff we found that would make our project grand. As we worked on our project in class, Lauren told me the story of how her computer crashed and she lost everything on it-- reports, pictures, and homework for her other courses.  She told me she would finally be getting her computer back from being fixed and she was back to square one.  I told Lauren that her and I have the same bad luck when it comes to technology.  Her recent computer crash must have rubbed off on me...yesterday, I made some minor changes, saved our report, and headed to work.  When I got home last night, my plan was to print out our final report and read it aloud to myself to make any last minute changes.  However, my plans changed when my computer showed the dreaded "blue screen of death."  I didn't panic, I had been through something like this before.  I rebooted my system and went to get a glass of water while I waited for it to reboot.  The moment I saw the blue screen again, I knew it was hopeless. I had lost the whole report.  All of our research- quotes, pictures, websites, that were nicely typed and inserted into 5 pages-- GONE.  After crying for 30 minutes, I calmly woke up my husband and asked if he had touched the computer even though I know he doesn't touch computers (I just wanted someone to yell at). 
I kept thinking that Lauren is going to kill me and its my fault for not having a report typed.  I had to type another report......from my memory.  We had to have something.  I dried my eyes, grabbed my daughter's laptop and looked at the clock, it was 1 a.m.  It was going to be a long night and it was.  I have not yet gone to sleep and sadly, I was not able to finish typing or printing out our report. 
I find it ironic that mine and Lauren's project is on how technology can be useful tools for teachers.  Although computers and technology can be used to enhance lessons in school, there are flaws.  I will never, eveR, evER,eVER, EVER trust another computer again.

My Word Cloud

PowerPoint (I am undecided)

One of our assignments for SEDU 183 was to create a PowerPoint to "teach" a class.  We had to chose an age group, a lesson, and research what the PA standards that must be taught.  Let me tell you my stomach was in knots!  Right off I knew what lesson I wanted to teach however, I was unsure if my lesson would teach all the standards.  As I looked on the PAS website, I was baffled on what to look under for my specific lesson.  I finally figured out what I was looking for by consulting my professor (mental note: there are no dumb questions, only dumb answers....)! So began my journey in the development of my presentation.  I take that back, its not a journey, it is a mental workout!

I decided the lesson would be on "Crash Blossoms" or confusing headlines reporters use that have multiple meanings. I chose 3 headlines and used pictures to illustrate one way the headline could be interpreted. This would also be the assignment for the students.  I knew what I wanted to do, so I started off looking for funny headlines.  Wow! You wouldn't believe how many "Crash Blossoms" in newspapers there are!  I had to keep in mind that the lesson could be used to teach 7th-12th grade students, so that meant the headline " Tiger Woods plays with own balls, Nike says" wouldn't work.  I don't even want to think about what pictures teenagers would find to interpret that one!  I was able to find clean ones and started my PowerPoint.

First of all, I have never used a PowerPoint program.  It was all greek to me.  If I wanted to put something on the slide, it seemed like it took 3 steps, keep in mind that this was my first attempt.  My professor showed us how to hyperlink this and embed that, but I was still confused with what tab to click on just to go to the next slide!  The "UNDO" button became my best friend during this project.  I finally figured it out and had about 7 or 8 slides.  I had looked at my PowerPoint so much that every time I proofread it, I would yawn.  I agonized about my slideshow being boring but it would have to do, I had run out of time to work on it.

Then came the day to present it to my group.  With knots in my tummy, I flipped through each slide "teaching" my lesson.  To my surprise, my group really liked my PowerPoint!  All positive comments and they liked my use of humor. (mental note: don't overthink things, a joke is only the funniest the first time you hear it...)
My thoughts on this project are mixed.  I love to figure out ways to teach kids, but PowerPoint is confusing.  I realized I just need more practice with the program but my ideas on how to present lessons are pretty good!

"Prezi" your presentation!

So I am trying to complete the PowerPoint presentation project (say that 10 times fast!) and all I have to say is BLAHHHH!  I wondered how I could make it better, flashier, and well, not boring.  I failed miserably. :( 
I posted on Facebook asking for help and tips from anyone who has used PowerPoint.  A whole bunch of my friends told me about the website called "Prezi".
I will say it is a fantastic site, however, me having dial-up internet connection I was unable to access the amazing site to dress up my presentation.
So unfortunately, my presentation is still pretty boring,but once Verizon gets DSL to my house, I shall never have a boring presentation ever again!

Two More for the Roll!

I searched for blogs. Lots of them. I searched for ones that interested me and ones specifically connected to my major.  As I looked through them, I found many that I had no interest in at all! Finally, I found two that I will actually gain insight from and will continue to follow. One of the blogs is about Special Education and the other is about Raising Goats.  Although you may find it strange that I would find interest in one or both of these blogs, to me they are key.
Along with having a child with Autism, my family and I raise Boer goats, which has been great therapy for my son.

Technology: Our new best FRENEMY?!?!

A long time ago, a little girl marveled at the new gadget that was sitting on top of her family's television set. It was beautiful and it had the glorious new electronic smell. The little girl, only 7 years old, wondered what could they make better than this VCR with a remote. Sure,the remote had a cord that was attached to the VCR and had to be stretched across the room, but she wouldn't have to walk across the living room to press play. She was excited. That little girl was me.
I lived in the age of television sets with knobs you had to turn to change the station, remote controllers that had cords, cassette tapes, and computers that looked like white boxes with black screens and had green letters. Technology has come along way in the time I have been on this planet, but how is it helping us and how is it hurting us?
After reading "Is Google Making Us Stupid" by Nicholas Carr, I started to wonder are these advances really good for us?
My emotions are mixed.
Think about it. Computers aren't just for typing reports. Phones aren't just for making phone calls. Although I am a fan of texting and sending emails, I can't remember the last time I have written a letter or made a phone call just to say hello. Technology has advanced the way children learn, but it has also has made them lazy.  My 11 year old daughter needed help looking something up in a textbook. When I told her to look it up in the index of the book, she looked at me puzzled and asked "In the what of the book?"  I then showed her and asked her how she ever found anything in books without reading the whole thing. She then told me that she looks everything up on the internet. Lovely, that is just lovely. Another one of my beliefs, that will never change, is that everything electronic has its flaws.
I am not knocking advancing technology as a whole. Medical care has taken on a whole new dynamic, cell phones give people a piece of security, and computers help educators to teach and students to learn. However, I believe some of the "old" way of doing things should not become a thing of the past.

 

Important to Me

There is a special reason I am going to college to become a teacher. A reason that many of my classmates wouldn't understand until they become a parent. A parent of a child who has Autism. When my son started preschool, I truly believed that the teacher would be understanding to his situation, help in his journey, and most of all be sympathetic to me and my childs needs.  She convinced me that she was the teacher I was hoping for my son to have.  She was a far cry from what my child needed and I desired. This "teacher" assured me that she would love to have him in her class because she needed more experience working with children with Autism. About 3 weeks into the school year, I had to pick my son up early to get to an appointment. I found him sitting in a room by himself with the lights off. According to the teacher, he had become too distracting during story time.  Needless to say, I pulled him from her class.

My goal is to become a Special Education teacher. Not just a Special Education teacher but the kind of teacher that parents want their child with special needs to have.