"Reflection #1-6"

1. One instance where technology has been beneficial to many students, and me personally is Panopto. This is where class lectures and notes from the professor can be recorded and posted online. As an athlete, this has been very helpful to me in season when many classes are missed due to away games. Now when I am on the road, I can watch the class lecture and receive the notes that I’ve missed when I get a chance.

2. When observing a PE classes this semester, my professor was able to start and stop music from his iphone. This was a valuable tool for him, because he didn’t always have to run over to the stereo to stop or turn down the music. When he wanted to stop the class, he could do so by simply stopping the music from wherever he was in the gym; and the students were even conditioned to stop and listen right when the music was paused.

3. I was observing another PE class at Munroe High School, and the PE classes were doing step-by-step yoga over a projection screen. The students followed along with the yoga instructor on the screen. This is very valuable, especially in a unit like yoga.  Since yoga and it’s movements are very specific, it is nice for a teacher to have the students follow the instructor on the projective screen, while he/she can walk around correcting and assisting with the positions.

4. In my educational psychology class, our professor conducted an anonymous class survey with a program over the SMART Board.  This was a very efficient way for him to conduct a procedure and gain information in a study. He would ask a question and give us answers listed A to D, similar to a multiple-choice exam. The question and answers would be pulled up on the SMART Board as well, and we as students had a remote we clicked to answer. The results were tallied immediately, which gave the class the ability to discuss the results right then and there. This was an enjoyable class from the students’ point of view, and an efficient one I’m sure from the professor’s.   

5. In many classes nowadays, it is normal to have the teacher/professor lecture with visual aid.  Usually with a PowerPoint presentation, the teacher is able to lecture with his/her notes and resources already there for them to use. This makes the lecture flow better and is more engaging, compared to watching the teacher try and lecture while handwriting notes; or have no notes for the students at all, having them go off of what they only hear and catch of the lecture.

6. Other benefits of technology are the programs for distance learning. Many people now have the ability to receive an education from certain schools without actually living in that area. With the technology to observe class lectures online and e-mail assignments in, etc. citizens these days can receive an education from the comfort of their own home. This is very beneficial for students with children, or who have difficulties getting to a school, or citizens who want to receive an education outside their native/residing country