Malicious Software and Spyware

As my time in educational technology comes to a close, I am reflecting upon how much I have learned in this area. I have not been exposed to much online communication tools being used in the classrooms. Therefore, I tend to think inside of the box when thinking on how I will use online communication tools in my own classroom. It's not that I don't want to use more technology in my classroom. I just wasn't aware of how many ways I could use technology in my future classroom. I had used the basics: PPT Presentations, word documents, and some educational websites. For this class, I had to create a blog and a webquest which forced me to step outside of my box. Now that I am more familiar with these resources, I am gladly going to incorporate them into my teaching! I also became more familiar with DTP, PPT presentations, educational websites, spyware, and ways to grow as a teacher in general! I have been exposed to so many more educational technology resources, and I will gladly use them in a future classroom to improve my teaching, motivate and engage my students!

This week, we discussed malicious software and spyware. My personal computer's hard drive was almost attacked by several viruses. I was unaware that the security on my computer had ran out several months earlier. We had been downloading onto our IPhones from Itunes, and allowed my computer to be exposed to several viruses. My computer suddenly began blocking me from the internet. Something started popping up about not being protected, and showed several viruses! I immediately took my laptop to a friend that knows how to deal with these things. He installed new virus and spyware protection! He told me I was extremely lucky, because my previous virus and spyware had been out for a very long time!! He believed downloading the music had let the viruses in!

While at school Thursday, I spoke with our tech person about the virus and spyware on the school's computers. I was told we had the same virus and spyware the state of Kentucky had. I believe it is Malware. Each student and faculty member has a username and password, so the school knows who has looked at what. Also, certain sites like Facebook, Myspace, YouTube, etc... are blocked. All computers are scanned periodically for viruses. So far, this has worked very well! There was an issue last spring with some software the state was using. The spyware was reading it as a virus and was blocking all computer use. Since we use the same as the state, it affected us too.

Educational Software

On September 1st, I will start my new position through AmeriCorps at a local elementary school. I will be pulling 4th graders out to help pull up their reading scores. For this week's assignment, we were to evaluate software we have used, seen used, or will use in our classroom. I decided to search for educational software that I can use in my upcoming position. After searching several sites, I found one I thought to be age appropriate, cost friendly, and one that would fit my educational goals for my students.
This software is The ClueFinders Reading Adventure for ages 9-12. It is a 2 CD ROM set to help 3rd - 5th graders with their reading comprehension, spelling, vocabulary, grammar, and critical thinking skills. In this software, students are to save a dying planet by uncovering the planet's secrets and collect useful clues to unlock the mystery. This software looks like it would be very appealing to my 4th graders. This software uses the A.D.A.P.T learning technology where they believe each child learns at a different pace and has a unique set of abilities. This software constantly monitors the student's abilities, adjusts difficulty levels, provides help and tracks progress. This software only cost $14.95. I have not seen this software used, but if it does all it says it does it will be well worth the $14.95. I viewed other educational software, but they were more expensive. I will only be working with a small group or one on one. I believe this software will be sufficient for the educational goals I will have for my students this year.

WebQuest

This week, I was asked to do something I had never done before! I actually had never even heard of a WebQuest! I was really dreading the unknown here! Now my WebQuest is complete, and I am very glad I was required to once again step out of my box! WebQuests could be very useful in a classroom. WebQuests require higher order thinking, and they get students out of the textbooks and using technology! I love to see students learning using resources other than just their textbooks.
I just got hired as an AmeriCorps worker through EKU at Monticello Elementary. I will be working with 4th grade students who are at low reading levels. I am not certain what else my job entails, but I wanted to create a WebQuest designed for this grade level. So, I spoke with a 4th grade teacher I will be collaborating with. One thing she suggested would be a WebQuest on Kentucky, since 4th grade is when students start learning the most about their state. I was looking through the textbook and saw the different regions of Kentucky section. Although I have lived in Kentucky all my life, I really don't know much about the other regions of Kentucky. I know your basics...what each region is known most for, etc... However, as an adult living in Kentucky for almost 30 years, I should really know more about my state. I'm sure I learned about Kentucky as a young student, but it apparently did not leave much of an impact! I believe a WebQuest encouraging students to learn about the regions in Kentucky, compile a Power Point Presentation and presenting it to the class would make more of an impact than reading about regions in our book. I hear students often complain they are so bored! There is nothing to do in Monticello! That is how I came up with my task: Students were to research the different regions, and then convince their parents to move to another region. Of course, their parents would need a job, so it had to be a region their parents would be able to move to. The students were to write a persuasive letter to their parents convincing them to move. Or, hopefully the students learned more about the region they lived in and decided to stay where they were. The title of my WebQuest is "Is the grass "bluer" on the other side?" I chose bluer instead of greener because of Kentucky being called the bluegrass state. The URL for my WebQuest is http://questgarden.com/107/99/1/100807174644/

Online Communication Tools

Since I don't have my own classroom yet, I always use my student teaching experience as reference. I am ashamed to say, but I did not use any online communication tools during my student teaching! Honestly, the thought never crossed my mind! No other elementary classroom teacher, that I was aware of, used online communication tools either. I wasn't even aware that elementary students had email access. In my 3rd grade classroom, the students only used the computers for Accelerated Reader, and some research on topics I was teaching. Only a few of my students requested to do that! Once a week, the elementary students went to a computer lab where they were taught by their "specials" teacher, during our planning time. Technology is very limited at the school I student taught at. As a matter of fact, I went online to access their AUP agreement for this week, and realized their handbook was not even posted online! So, I found a hard copy from last year. In this handbook there is no mention of an AUP agreement. At the beginning of the year, parents sign release forms for their students to be photographed, videotaped, and the right to email. I could not find any AUP agreements like the ones we all had posted this week!
I am very thankful for this class! I have really learned a lot when it comes to technology. Technology was a weakness for me when I started back to school for undergraduate. Mostly, because I had not been exposed to using technology a lot in the classroom. At the end of my student teaching, I felt like I had changed that weakness into a strength. For the most part, I have. During my student teaching, I actually taught my cooperating teacher a few things about technology. Fortunately, this class has helped me to think outside of the box. There are so many more ways I could be using technology in the classroom! I am continuing to turn this weakness into a strength!