My Technology Philosophy

I strongly feel that not only can technology be seamlessly integrated into the English classroom, but that it can boost the effectiveness of the teacher's instruction greatly. This is not to say that incorporating technology is easy, quite the contrary, but like all things, with a little practice, it will become second nature. From Web Quests, to blogging, to Digital Stories, the opportunities are endless. Plus, technology does not have to always be the star of the show. It could be something so simple as to show a movie clip after reading a novel, or playing an audio tape of a poet reading his or her work. While this may not be as flashy as some other forms of technology, it is still an effective way to boost students' comprehension of a work.

The most important thing to remember is that a teacher should find technology that compliments the rest of the lesson and that they are excited to use. If the teacher is not motivated, then odds are, the students will not be either. The teacher must also know how to use and direct students in the use of the technology. Lastly, the teacher must be able to be flexible and be patient, because at the beginning, set backs are likely to occur and if the instructor is not willing to make adjustments as needed, the lesson will turn into a stressful and counterproductive experience for the students.

My "About Me" Post

Here is my "About Me" post from the beginning of the semester:

Hey! My name is Danna and I am a junior. I was born and raised in Tallahassee on the north side of town. I am really outgoing and I talk a lot. I love to laugh/smile and make others laugh/smile. (Cliche, I know, but it's true) I have one big brother that just graduated from FSU in the Spring and I have a dog named Baxter. (He's a boxer and I love him to pieces)
As for what makes me tick... I am a Christian. My faith is the most important thing in my life and it is what drives most of what I do. Don't get me wrong, I am FAR from perfect, but I try. I also love doing anything outside, from fishing, to going to the beach, to playing in the woods. What ticks me off... I don't like when anyone thinks they are better than another person. That really gets under my skin. I don't like when yogurt has chunks of fruit in it. If I wanted whole fruit, I would have bought a whole piece of fruit. I also don't like awkward silences, when people bite popsicles, or when people take life, or themselves for that matter, too seriously.
I want to teach 11th or 12th grade English. My mother is an English teacher and she taught me to love reading and writing, which is not a luxury most children have. So many students would rather have a root canal than read a book on their free time. And don't even try to ask them to write a poem or short story for fun! I hope to help them rediscover the joy that can be found in these endeavors. I want to teach older students because I would like being able to delve deeper into the subject matter and I just enjoy that age group in general.
Any other questions, just ask! :)

Technology Article

Here is an article on technology in the English classroom that I found on JSTOR:

http://www.jstor.org/view/00138274/ap030805/03a00160/0?currentResult=00138274%2bap030805%2b03a00160%2b0%2c3F&searchUrl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jstor.org%2Fsearch%2FAdvancedResults%3Fhp%3D25%26si%3D1%26q0%3Dtechnology%26f0%3D%26c0%3DAND%26q1%3Denglish%2Bclass%26f1%3D%26c1%3DAND%26wc%3Don%26sd%3D%26ed%3D%26la%3D

Here was my article from my discussion board post:

http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/columnists/johnson/johnson022.shtml

Useful Websites

Here are some websites that I have found to be helpful:

www.youtube.com - You can actually find great instructional videos on here.

www.lib.fsu.edu - While you still have access to FSU's resources, read some articles from the English Journal to get some good ideas.

www.atozteacherstuff.com - Free lesson plans and such. You might have to scroll past an add once you open the lesson plan, but hey, that's not too bad considering it's free.

www.sparknotes.com - Beat the kids at their own game! Find out what they would know if they were to only read the spark notes.

PowerPoint Reflection

I thought this assignment served the purpose for which it was designed. While I have done too many PowerPoint presentations to count, I have never incorporated a video into one. Yes, it was a little crazy trying to figure out just how to embed the video, but sometimes the greatest learning experiences come from semi-hectic situations. Now I know that I should always check You Tube to see if someone has happened to make a video on what I am trying to figure out. :o) But I enjoyed learning new things about PowerPoint and how I can apply it to my classroom from the instructional end of the spectrum.