Blog #1

Let’s face it; technology is taking up a majority of the work we used to have to do by hand. It is not necessarily a bad thing; many of the new advances help us to be more efficient and productive as teachers. John M. Keller came up with a great motivation model. The ARCS model was a way in which to keep students interested, aware, and most importantly, learning something. Attention, Relevance, Challenge/Confidence, and Satisfaction/Success are the four main points in helping to achieve higher teaching and learning quality. The ARCS model provides an opportunity for the students to actually have a desire to learn new things instead of just memorization to get the grade. Incorporating technology into classrooms, while using the ARCS method, in my opinion, is a great way to help spread new technology and gadgets in the future of America.
Since my last post, I feel as if I am a whole new person. After spending a couple hours completing the 141 practice problems on SAM, I have already learned little shortcuts and neat tricks on Microsoft Word XP. I have not perfected all my skills, however, I have a better understanding of how to make columns and rows on Word and this skill will be very useful to me as a teacher. Times are changing and the technology we use is changing as well, I think that the SAM practice, and the sample assignment both helped equip me for the next level of computer competency.
When I first got to college, I was an Exercise Science major, destined to be a physical therapist. As a kid, I always wanted to be a teacher and it became more and more real to me. My mom always told me to be something people need, and both Physical Therapy and Education were both high up on my list. With the advancements in technology, I had thoughts that by the time I was a teacher, that schools would be completely digital. However, I know that not every person can teach themselves and teachers are still in high demand. After working at a preschool all summer, I fell in love with being a teacher and am so excited for what is to come. I’m not sure exactly where in the world I want to work or with what age, but I know that I have a passion for working with kids and trying to shape the minds of our future.