Week 4 Blog posting Excel

The use of spreadsheets is a very useful tool.  The idea of using spreadsheets in the classroom in order to promote higher level thinking is a great concept.  If a student can learn how to manipulate excel in order to compute the functions that they want, it can open doors in life beyond the relm of school. 


It is a great tool to be used within the classroom.  It can be used to monipulate numbers for grade postings, to teach a student to manage a budget, accounting, and much more.  It can be used in everyday life which makes this program very useful and from my viewpoint nessary on the educational standpoint.


The book mentioned three major functions storing, calculationg, and presenting information.  First, spreadsheet are programed to store information, usually numerical information. Second, and most important, spreadsheep support calculation functions, such as numerical contents of any combination within the cells. Third spreadsheet present the information using graphs and charts, as well as graphics.


If the cells of a spreadsheet are formated correctly than it can do much more that just calculate numbers.  It can be used as a filling system to ceep records of grades of a teachers students rather than keeping a gradebook.

Jonassen, D., Howland, J., Marra, R. M., & Crismond, D. (2008). Meaningful Learning With Technology. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall.

Inspiration

The Inspiration software program was very interesting to me. I have used mapping in an English class to get ideas on what to write about, but did not know there was software to facilitate this process. I think this program would make it very easy to learn. I like the way it helps to create an outline while you are brainstorming. It seems to be very easy to use, at least. I think this program would be very helpful in organizing ideas for response and research papers.

The best kind of writing activities are those that stimulate the mind, cause one to brainstorm for ideas and put those ideas in a logical order.  Being able to utilize computers in the classroom that may have access to the internet can facilitate this effect.  Combining the accessibility with programs such as Microsoft Word can really get the students minds going.  If the students were allowed to submit their assignments via computer or a teacher drop box on a school website, it could make the grading of those papers, easier for the teachers.  This could assist with organizing both the students and the teacher’s time.  If the papers are placed in a discussion board then the class can review the ideas of other students and comment on their ideas as well.

The Inspiration program can be a helpful tool in all levels of education. Technology is something our schools need in the classroom.  This program could benefit everyone in schools at all ages and levels of education.

Jonassen, D., Howland, J., Marra, R. M., Crismond, D. (2008). Meaningful learning with technology (3^rd ed.). Columbus, Ohio:  Pearson.

http://www.inspiration.com/videos/Inspiration

week 2 Blog Assignment

What I think about using blogs?  Using Blogs in the class room is a wonderful idea.  Using Blogs promotes the use of technology for the students in and out of the classroom.
What and how do you think blogs would be useful for education?I think, after reading chapter 6, that blogging can be a great asset to the learning environment and experience for children of all ages and all grade levels in the class room.  The range of possibilities that Blogs can be used for is almost endless. 
The use of technology in the class room is by far not a waist of time.  It promotes the use of the human brain to hypothisize, test, colaberate, and comunicate with others to come to a conclussion on a topic.

I was very interested in the use of Wikis.  The use of them in the class room could promote research of a subject and publishing of combined works.  It is a cool concept.

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Jonassen, D., Howland, J., Marra, R. M., Crismond, D. (2008). Meaningful learning with technology (3^rd ed.). Columbus, Ohio:  Pearson.

Introducing Army SSG (Retired) William Bowers

Hello everyone,
I am Bill Bowers, I am in my 3rd year here at Texas A&M-Commerce studying to be a Special Education Degree. I am a retired Army Staff Sergeant and I am looking forward to a career change, (tired of killing people for a living, just kidding). I am a bit of a jokester and I like to laugh.  Blogging is new to me but I am interested in learning new things.
Bill Bowers