Week 3 - Technology

Technology has proven to be very useful in my teaching career thus far.  Students seem far more engaged in the lessons than I feel that I did at the time I was their age and in a high school classroom.  According to the text, there are five different types of instructional software that utilizes technology: drill-and-practice, tutorial, simulation, instructional game, and problem-solving program.  Examples of each of the types are listed below.  Drill-and-practice software enables to student to answer questions and receive feedback on how they do.  In science, students can practice a link than enables them to practice different science skills and the program informs the student if the answer is correct or incorrect.  Feedback how to get the correct answer is also provided.  Tutorial software also can be very useful.  Tutorial software acts like a human tutor, as the name implies, and gives the student all the information needed to understand the topic.  Tutorial software has explanations, allows the student to practice, and will even provide feedback for the practice questions.  Simulation software can be very useful to students and one that I have used quite often in my classroom.  Students are able to see a model that illustrates how certain systems work and to demonstrate the concepts. Another type of instructional software is an instructional game.  These have also been useful in the classroom.    An instructional game can increase understanding by making the information into a game-like format.  Rules and objectives are part of the game along with scoring.  Problem-solving is the last type of instructional software discussed.  Problem-solving activities help the student directly or give the student an opportunity to answer the questions.  Each of these can be beneficial in the classroom and have proven to be successful in the learning of information for students in my classroom.





Drill-and-Practice Website Example

Tutorial Website Example
Simulation Website Example
Instructional Game Website Example
Problem-Solving Website Example

Web 2.0

Web 2.0 = One of the most time-consuming / intriguing assignments I've done so far.  It was an assignment I didn't mind working on! I wasn't too happy with my Animoto video but the other sites I used were really neat.  I believe the glog can be very beneficial to my students.  Teenagers (the age I teach) love the internet and any type of social media.  Glogster is an educational Myspace.  It can be beneficial for creative students, tech savvy students, or just those who want to make a few notes.  It can meet the needs of several student types.  Students can have fun and learn while they are researching different facts/pictures/videos to put on their glog.  I can't wait to use this even more!  I also found the FaKebook pages to be really neat!  I'm attaching the URL's of my different projects!  Don't judge too harshly!


http://lcpatterson.edu.glogster.com/dna-and-genetics/

http://animoto.com/play/KAfODhPFvRyYMqtkMTMuRw

http://www.classtools.net/fb/37/NdKffK

http://www.classtools.net/fb/28/CTadgj

Week 2 - I love games!

Technology in education has provided a whole new way of learning for teachers and students alike.  Teachers can easily pull up power-point presentations, show quick video clips, and demonstrate skills using a mimio.  Students can search the answer to any question by simply typing it in Google.  Technology has provided teachers with tons of ways to teach and try and help our students understand.  One way is through games in school.  I think games can be very beneficial.  I have used different online games with my Physical Science students on multiple occasions.  Once I had them building a roller coaster to see if it would actually work based on physics.  I also had them determine trajectory and they played a game that required this to launch the shuttle to the moon.  These different games really helped my students to understand.  I don't think every day should be constant games, but some days the games put the topic into perspective.  Students are becoming increasingly difficult to reach by just teaching out of the book because of the vast amount of technology at just an arms reach.  They look for ways the information can be applied and that's what seems to help them the best.  Games in school can help with this as long as they serve the intended purpose and that is to teach.

Week 1 - Introduction

Hi. My name is Lindsey Patterson. Seeing as I am just starting this blog, I am going to tell those of you reading a little about myself.  I grew up in Fulton, MS and currently reside in Amory, MS.  I have been married for two and a half years and it has been wonderful.  I also have a seven month old little girl named Collins.  I currently teach Pre-Biology, Botany/Zoology, and Physical Science at Amory High School.  I really love my job and my co-workers.  When I am not in the classroom I am on the tennis court.  I have played tennis most of my life and love to teach the sport to others.  I have my professional coaching license and hope to do more with it in the future.  I graduated from Ole Miss in 2010 with a Bachelors in Pharmaceutical Sciences.  In October I started going back to school to earn a masters degree.  I decided I wanted to further my education so I can teach at the junior college level.  This is also where I want to put my coaching license to good use.  I would love to eventually teach and coach tennis at the junior college level and hopefully will be able to in the near future!