Computers/Internet to teach economics

As technology is strongly increasing throughout the world, it is even increasing in schools as well. Many schools are beginning to use iPads, laptops, nooks, etc. Teachers generally use the internet to help students with researching. Computers in schools are also used for different assignments such as a writing assignment.


Computers and/or Internet can be used to teach economics as well. It can help for researching different strategies and trends. For example, it can be used to search the different strategies and find data for data presentations in economics. Presentations can be the easiest way to teach economics and to do that you need use of a computer and the Internet.

Another example that has to deal with this is our own schools library database. People use this to search and research things. This can also be used to search facts and information for economics, social studies, English, and many more different subjects.

http://www.childtrends.org/?indicators=home-computer-access

- There is a link which includes a chart of the estimate of people using internet or computers at their homes.

Bullying

Here is a video on bullying that was filmed in my own high school I attended:

Bullying is a serious thing that occurs everyday throughout the world. One of the main types of bullying is cyber bullying which occurs through the internet or through cell phones. People need to recognize the serious facts about bullying. Most of all, parents need to recognize. Their child may be being bullied and they don't have an idea. Most children who are bullied are quiet about it. They get scared and do not know who to talk to, generally because they are being threatened in some type of way. Many schools are now putting together different bullying events to try and decrease the amount of people who are bullied each year. Bullying will never come to a complete end, but if more people take a stance against bullying, it can decrease it. Bullying NEEDS to be recognized. Children or other individuals who are being bullied should not have to go through being scared or threatened, or even talked about every day of their life. It is not right.

Here is a good website for anyone 13 years of age or younger who may be bullied daily. Some helpful tips:
http://www.takeastandtogether.gov.au/under13/being-bullied/

Here are different ways to take a stand against bullying:
http://www.serve.gov/?q=servegov-blog-article/five-ways-take-stand-against-bullying

Reflection of the first day of fieldwork at BDMS

In my past blog I had included my thoughts and experience from Artifact bags.

I feel Artifact bags are a great way to teach students because it gives them a chance to understand a topic and share their own belongings that go along with their specific topic.

Like I had already shared, my groups topic had to do with banking and savings. Each group member had brought in their own artifacts that had to do with this topic of banking and savings. We had brought these artifacts with us on our first day of fieldwork at BDMS.

There are four different groups and each group had a different topic. We each went around the classroom and shared our artifacts with the students. For example, my group had shared my checkbook I had brought, a wallet another group member had brought, check receipts, and a fun hamburger piggy bank. Students really enjoyed this. We included a fun artifact as well (hamburger piggy bank) so they can have fun while learning. We asked many questions with our artifacts such as, "How many of you have seen your parents with a checkbook before?" Many students had awesome answers such as that they have their own checking accounts. I was very surprised and excited to hear all the students input on this topic and how much they had known about it already. Showing them our artifacts was fun and important for their education. This can give them ideas to do their own artifact bag for a certain topic in the future.

Artifact Bag reflection

I really enjoyed the activity using the artifact bags. Dr. Smirnova had brought in many facts that she had shared with all of us students. She had brought in many different artifacts like her birth certificate from Russia, a porcelain napkin holder that had a great story along with it, and many other essential artifacts. All students then had to bring in their own artifacts that had to do with their unit plan topic. My topic had to do with banking and savings. I included my own piggy bank to show saving money. I also included cash, and a checkbook. This helps show students the different things that go along with banking and savings.

I thought this kind of activity is essential for young learners because it gives them a chance to learn a specific topic while seeing actual artifacts from people. This helps make learning fun for them in my opinion. Artifact Bags are definitely more essential in teaching social studies or history courses because you can bring in things from relatives or your own belongings that deal with a specific topic.

Piggy Bank

Check Book

Week One Reflection

The first week of class was very interesting and enjoyable. I enjoyed learning new tools that have to do with technology. Learning technology is essential so you can teach different techniques to young learners. I enjoyed making my about me and seeing everyone else's about me as well. I liked learning the different websites that students used. Coming into this course I knew there was going to be a lot to know. I feel if you just stay up to date with the work and focus it won't be as overwhelming. All in all, I feel this course will help prepare us best for our future as teachers.