As a pre-candidacy teacher, this blog post is a collection of my favorite technology tools to be presented as a fulfillment for EDUC 315: Technology Tools for Teachers. This presentation includes links to 3 valuable education websites as well as a link to the Educational Technology GLE's from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction. Five visuals serving different purposes are included in this blog post because they are meaningful to me in the area of teaching and/or technology. Concluding this presentation is my Conceptual Framework visual with a descriptive essay. These pieces reflect my philosophy of teaching as they are influenced by my life experiences and observations.
As a service project this quarter, I helped coach a fabulous group of young people called the Awesome Onions. This is a Lego Robotics team that learns together, works together, and has a lot of fun. I learned a lot and hope to continue working with and learning from the Awesome Onions throughout the year.
1. Purpose Games is a website where learning games can be created and used for free. Teachers can set up weekly quizzes for their class and even create tournaments to throw in a little challenge and healthy competition. Purpose Game quizzes can be integrated into almost any subject.
 |
| http://www.fractuslearning.com/2013/04/04/design-your-own-game/ |
2. Pinterest is like a bulletin board in a website form. For educational purposes, this is fantastic because there is a plethera of ideas out there and educators can choose whatever they'd like to replicate or use and "pin" it to their board. Pinterest as a tool for the educator, is home to crafts, activities, lesson plan ideas, and much, much more.
 |
| http://www.classroomjr.com |
3. Google Earth is a virtual globe used for learning, exploring, connecting, researching, and having fun. It's an excellent, realistic tool to have in the classroom for students to learn about the world they live in and use modern technologies to do so.
 |
| Picture by hdwallpaper2013.com |
Google Earth is an incredible technology tool that can be used for many different purposes. The way in which it inspires me most is in the realm of teaching. The world is an enormous place and the amount of learning available is unending. God’s creation is vast and it’s at our fingertips to explore! Google Earth provides a way to explore it by learning facts about cities, landscape, culture, climate, and travel. Even the vast outer space can be explored and researched using Google Earth. Through the amazing sites it offers, learning activities, and virtual travel, I believe Google Earth is an excellent tool that can be integrated into any subject.
Google Earth provides historical imagery in the 3D Viewer menu by choosing the “clock” button. Using the time slider, students can view interesting place marks throughout history. In a history class, students could be assigned to choose a location and research several historical facts. They could compare them to the same location today by looking at the pictures provided by Google Earth. There are also links to informational web pages containing historical facts.
In a science class, students could use the 3D viewer to see the realistic terrain of specific areas like the Grand Canyon or the rocky terrain of a Utah desert. Hilly and mountainous terrain is well portrayed in the 3D viewer so students can get a reasonable feel for the terrain even if they’ve never seen it in real life.
One of the most valuable features of Google Earth for students is planning a trip or a specific route to, from, or through a chosen place. As a teacher, I could assign a trip for the students to plan. This trip would be through a city or country the class is currently studying. They can pin point locations to spend the night, log the costs, find activities to do during the day and decide modes of transportation. Planning a trip is an extremely valuable and practical experience for students.
I plan to incorporate Google Earth in any future upper-elementary class I teach. The satellite footage is extraordinary and I would hope that it would peak the curiosity of the students to want to learn more about the world God made and the people in it.
 |
6th grade classroom at Kilimani Primary School, Tanzania. This classroom is an example of one with a complete lack of technology.
Question for thought: Is technology necessary for successful learning to occur? What are its benefits? |
 |
Maasai Women watching a video of themselves singing on an iPod touch, Tanzania.
Question for thought: How can technology be used in schools to raise awareness, respect, and interest in other cultures? How can technology be used to partner with schools around the world to create and connect students forming one world-wide learning community? |
Conceptual Framework
“It is the work of true education to
develop this power, to train the youth to be thinkers, and not mere
reflectors of other men’s thought. Instead of confining their study
to that which men have said or written, let students be directed to
the sources of truth, to the vast fields opened for research in
nature and revelation. Let them contemplate the great facts of duty
and destiny and the mind will expand and strengthen.”
(White,
Education p. 17)
“Be
imitators of me, just as I am of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1 There
are two perspectives represented in this photograph. The scene
captures a tree that’s grounded firmly and, though the water isn’t
completely still, it provides a reflection that is crystal clear and
connected to the original. God calls us to imitate Him; to reflect
His character. As this water reflects the tree, we also are to
reflect our Father. Reflection is also defined as a period of time
taken to think, ponder, and consider. The school of Education stands
for excellence in thought, generosity in service, faith in God, and
beauty in expression. In order to obtain all of these aspects of
education, the process of reflection is vital for both teachers and
students.
True
education must train students to think and reflect on what they’ve
learned, not simply to glean information from other human sources. In
order to foster excellence in thought, the teacher must learn to,
first, reflect on their relationship with God. They must also reflect
on the effectiveness of their methods of teaching, as well as their
example and relationship with students, faculty members, and
families. In a similar way, students must be taught to reflect on
their learning, the way they treat others and themselves, and their
personal walk with God. Until students develop a pattern of
reflection, they will not reach excellence in thought.
Generosity
in service lends itself to a reflection of Jesus’ earthly work. The
School of Education at Walla Walla University stands for service to
others as a reflection of Christ’s attitude of service. The school
displays service that is visible through the actions of teachers.
Teachers should encourage students to make choices throughout the day
to serve others. The school supports and provides organized service
opportunities for students to experience group service.
As
an Adventist institution, faith in God is a consistent, underlying
value of utmost importance. As educators walk with God, their fruits
will be apparent and their actions will reflect their faith. The
Walla Walla University school of Education encourages students and
pre-candidacy teachers to stay connected to the source of Jesus
Christ so they may reflect His character clearly. Faith in God is
like a torch passed on to the students so they may also learn to walk
with God and reflect His character to the world.
“Do
you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a
fool than for him.” Proverbs 29:20 Before words and actions may be
expressed with beauty, time for reflection must take place. Hasty
words and actions only result in negative effects. When time isn’t
taken for reflection, words, thoughts, and actions are released
without filtration. Expression in this manner can break down others
and cause for rash decision making and hasty words. When teachers and
students reflect on what they believe and on what they’ve learned
and taught, the expressions that may then come fourth are
thought-through and beautiful.
