Game Play

I think computers should be used in the classroom. Maybe have a class web-site that everyone could ask other students for help. Peer to peer instruction is very important in my opinion. I would never let students use a chat program during class. It seems like students talk to each other in class enough as it is. This would give them an outlet to just talk during class and not learn the material. Every student learns in different. Some learn by listening and taking notes in class. Others can learn by reading the material while not paying attention in class. While others can read material online and learn. The only podcast that I think could be used is maybe a podcast of the lecture. I think that would help tremendously. Students that didn't understand the material have a chance to go back and listen to the lecture again and try to grasp the information.

Video games help keep the mind active and working. Sometimes helps develop analytical thinking. Some games more than others. However, some students play video games to much and it takes away from the material. I would let me kid play video games whenever as long as he/she had a time where they were active and all school work was completed.

Inspiration

I think Inspiration is a great tool for brain storming. If the student is proficient with the program then the student will save time and get the assignment done faster. The outline tool would really help with writing papers and organizing ideas. The one problem that might occur in a few students is the ability to use the program. They might not understand it well enough to get their ideas typed into the program fast enough. Thus not getting everything they need written down and handing in a paper that they could have done better on. When working with math students, some people have trouble just because they are scared of the material. This may be the case with this program. I would use Inspiration in a class room to help learn the thought patterns of the students. In math there is a step-by-step approach to most problems and if the students are going in a different direction then they should be, I think that would help point it out. Then I could adjust the way I was teaching to help the students understand the material better.

I think Inspiration would really help out in research papers. At first a student could think of all that he/she wanted to write about. Then after doing research and learning more could add to their brainstorm. After they were finished with that, then use the outline to help write the paper. One idea for peer feedback is to have other students proof-read papers. Then to incorporate technology, have the students proof-read the Inspiration program. From the brainstorm to the outline. This would help the proof-reader follow the paper better.

Kevin Tanton

Week 2

What do you think about using blogs? What and how do you think blogs would be useful for education? Some people think using blogs in classrooms is a waste of students’ time. How would you respond?

I personally have never blogged about anything but sports. I have friends who do it as it acts kind of like a online diary. Then other friends use it to tell funny stories. I feel like they are a good use of a communication tool.

I think blogs would be good in the class room. It would open a line of communication from the teachers to the parents as well as open another line between the student and teacher.

If the teacher is using a blog in the classroom and not using it properly (not talking about classroom material or things important to education) then it is a waste of time. It needs to be available to read by the students and parents/guardians of that student. I think it would be important to tell about daily lesson plans, what was actually covered in class, and what is expected of the student. It would also be a good use to let the student's comment. Maybe telling the teacher that they need help with something or letting the teacher knowing that the student had trouble understanding the topic. Anything to let the teacher know that a student is having trouble in the class room would have a positive affect.

Me

My name is Kevin Tanton. I'm a senior math major. I graduated high school from Como-Pickton, then went to Northeast Texas Community College and received my bachelors degree. I have since been at Texas A&M-Commerce and will graduate this May. I have a 2 year-old daughter and live with my girlfriend and daughter. My parents are divorced with my dad living in Port Aransas and my mom lives in Sulphur Springs. I have one sister with a niece and nephew.

I referee jr. high/high school football and basketball and love doing both. I think I'm knowledgeable with the rules in both sports and love to dicuss officials calls and no calls.

Kevin