EDT+674+Discussion+Questions

=Discussion Questions= ==**__Discussion Question 1 - completed during Weekend One __**==

**What do you know about using technology with students?** When you incorporate and integrate technology in the classroom, student engagement increases. When students are able to use technology to create a presentation or complete an assignment, they are more willing to finish their work. In addition, their quality of work tends to increase. Technology is a motivational tool. As a teacher, I find that by integrating technology into my lessons, I'm allowing the students to take control of their learning. I take on the roll of a facilitator and the students lead their own learning. I have found that some teacher are apprehensive to incorporate technology because of their lack of experience.

I would like to learn which technology tools will not only be engaging for students, but also will provide students with skills that they can use in the work place. For example, teaching my students how to use power point or word, are tools that they can use in the work place. What other tools would be helpful? In addition, it would like to gain an even greater knowledge of websites or programs that I can easily integrate into my lessons.
 * What do you want to know about using technology with students?**

==**__ Discussion Question 2 - completed during Weekend One __ **==

**21st Centry Skill I use in the classroom- Communication Skill** In my classroom, there are a variety of ways for my student, parents, and myself to communicate. I use a blog to keep my parent updated on current events in the classroom. The blog is also a tool for parents to see what the homework is or when major projects are due. In addition to blogs, I use e-mail and the phone as a form of communication with parents. My students use wiki's and blogs in order to communicate their knowlege to me. In addition, they use edmodo as a means to participate in discussions.

These various methods of communicate allow my student, parent, and myself to find the best means possible to communicate.

**21st Centry Skill I need to work on -Self-Direction** I understand that at times, it is more important for my students to know how to find answers rather than memorize facts. Self-direction requires students to have a metacognition of their own learning. They need to be aware of what they know and how to use resources to find the answers to things they do not know. I find it difficult for me to frame activities and lessons to allow for my students to gain this skill. ==__ Discussion Question 3 - to be completed one week after the Weekend One __ ==

Mentos and Diet Coke- In this video you can see the effect that mixing diet coke and mentos have. I have done this experience in my classroom to introduce chemical reactions to my students, but I have not shown this video before. We disucss what chemical reactions are and what needs to take place for a chemical reaction to occur. We then discuss the specifics as to why mixing mentos and diet coke is a chemcial reaction. Now, my students can see a great video of this. I can't wait to watch it with my students. After watching this video, students will be amazed at how far this experiment can go. media type="custom" key="6521619"

==**__ Discussion Question 4 - to be completed Saturday/Weekend Two __ ** ==

**To complete the KWHL- what have you learned from the readings, activities and discussions from this course about using technology with your students?** Through the class readings, discussions and activities, they have reinforced that incorporating technology into my lessons can be and should be a natural blend. Presenting students with a video at the beginning of a lesson is a simple way to incorporate technology and activate your students' prior knowledge. You can take a lesson you've done in the past and extend it by using technology simply by having student use technology to present their information. You don't always need to revamp a lesson. By integrating technology in my lessons allows the students to activate prior knowledge, work cooperatively with others, create final products, and gain other necessary skills.  I'm looking forward to trying these ideas out in my classroom, in addition to discovering new ones.