Multiplying...

        The scary truth is that I have always had trouble with multiplication. Math in general has always been my weak area. Till this day it takes me a lot longer than the average person to complete a problem. I know I am capable of doing any problem, it just takes a lot longer for me to process the problem so quickly. Anytime the teacher gave us 5-15 minutes to complete a do now that was as "simple" as 3 problems it scared me inside. No matter how good I was at doing the problem it seemed like I could never finish either before or around the same time as my classmates.

        I remember always having a laminated multiplication chart. I carried that baby around like it was life or death, I needed it more than it needed me. It was very embarrassing to pull out my chart, so I tried to take sneak peaks at it. Of course I didn't have the option of using my chart on tests, so my test score depended on how well my memory was working. As I got older I repeated over and over and over to myself those certain multiplication tables I couldn't seem to keep in my head. Eventually I memorized more than I had previously knew, but even today I couldn't say probably half of the chart with out actually doing the math.

        I wish I could have known at the time to look online for some help in this particular area. I consider myself tech-savvy, and if I would have cared a little more about math I would have just goggled math games. I found this neat website that helps you with your 2-10 tables, as well as 11-19 tables. on this website you can drag the equation to the right answer, you can simply type in the answer the equation, or you can tale a test on the equations. I think this is an easy site to navigate and I honestly believe I could have used this when I was younger, and its never too late to learn so I can still use it today. I also like that there is an app for iPhone and iPad users, although you could still use it on a tablet if you just pulled it up from the internet.

       Overall I think this site would be a great help for students that need a little extra help learning their multiplications tables.

Navigating Child Life Apps

One of the most vital technologies that a Child Life Specialist has in their emergency kit is their Ipad. The Ipad has become a staple among Child Life Specialists. However, with all of the apps available on the App Store it can be difficult to narrow down which apps are appropriate for the department you have been assigned to and the age group you will be working with. This website Child Life has a compilation of every app that a Child Life Specialist could ever need.

I think that this website could be used for CLS and teachers alike. If you are looking for a specific app to teach a recently deaf child some basic sign language you can simply search for "sign language" in the websites search bar and all sign-language related apps will pop up. 

Then once you choose the app that you're interested in you can click "view". This button will pop up a variety of helpful materials. It has a rating for that particular app so you can see what other users thought of it. It also has a comments section, which is the best part. CLS, teachers, or any other educator using the website has the ability to leave a comment for everyone else to see. So, if someone figures out a different use for the app then the intended use they can leave that comment. The view window also allows you to see the last time the app was modified, to make sure it is not out of date, and can take you directly to the apps website. The app is also broken down into categories based on who the app is most appropriate for. Some of the categories are: Parents, families, medical reference, pre-school children, etc. 

For a better experience with the website users can create an account through their hospital or school so that their most used apps are saved in a convenient way. While the site is primarily set-up for CLS, I think that teachers could also benefit from its use because of the wide variety of apps available. They have everything from apps for autistic children, medical words in Spanish, to simple distraction games like Angry Birds. 

Educational System------Learning with Computer

Students in K-12 are encouraged to use the laptop in class.

Someone thinks that students may play computer games at classes. The computer rather than teachers may absorb their attentions in class. Obviously, these problems were solved.

One of the elementary school's students tells me that they are allowed to take a laptop to school because they have to do their assignments and teachers may teach them via their own computers. The school only permits students to have very basic functional laptops at school .The operation system of computer usually is Chrome (The cost of this system with other software is much more less than others.(Page 7)) which is not compatible to almost all of games, even no "Mine Sweeping". This operation system solves the problem that students may use the computer to play games installed in hard disks. There is no doubt that some courses need Internet access. Teachers may ask them to submit class attendence via their own laptops or do some interactive games via Internet. However, Some people may think that they may play games on Internet. The best way to solve this problem is that just admit limited websites which relates to learning. In this way, technology really enhances students' learning efficiency and grades.

Nowadays, we cannot block the advanced technology. Every coin has two sides. But if we utilize mobile devices with a limited way or with a proper method, the technology will promote the wellbeing of mankind, especially for kids and children. A search(Page 5) shows that the effency of teaching will increase 25% because of sharing resources with each other between leptops. Besides, The reliability of Chromebooks which aim to use in the field of teaching is higher than other systems(Page 12). In some courses, everyone uses their laptop in class.Although trial sometimes means the failure, we cannot give up the trial. By the same as popularizing mobile devices, it may occur some problems towards students. But after modifying or updating device-using system, the career of education will stand in a higher point. Everyone will get benefits from this new educational system and our society will be more well-aligned.

Why Educational System in American is better than China?------Digital Divices

Last Saturday, I was invited to have a dinner with an American family. They are pretty kind to me. I was interested in the system of education in America. So I chatted with child who is 6th grade at a private high school.

He told me that a class only maintains 20 students. So teachers could teach students with different methods in various ways. This small class satisfies each person’s personality, such as introversion person, outgoing person and so forth. Obviously, this is the innate character of education which means that teach different students with different ways.

Compared to China, there are more than 60 students in a class because of the dense population. This leads to every student absorbs knowledge in a same method. As a result, most of students don't have their own opinion but a same rule that teachers told toward a certain problem. Obviously, everyone is unique. We need to obey the rules that teach students according to their own aptitude. However, until now, there are more than 60 students in a class. That is the main reason why most Chinese will not be leaders after they have the advanced education.

We cannot deny the dense population in China, but we can use the advanced technology to change this situation. Mobile era is coming now so students and teachers need to seize the opportunity to create a new method to teach students. Just as professor said that a better way for schooling is using the computer wich can access Internet to enhance experience of learning and to satisfy each student's need.

Cheating In The Classroom Only Cheats Yourself

A friend slips you a note with the answer for questions 1-5 and tells you that the test coming up in your next class is simple and not even difficult. Now that you have the answers written down by someone who has taken the test, you don't even have to worry about doing well on it.

This may have been a scenario from a school setting back some time ago, when paper and pencil was the prevalent method that students used to help themselves and others to cheat on their studies and classwork. These days, technology has changed all of that and in fact has made it easier for students to take advantage of "alternate" methods to get the right answers on an exam or to write out a lengthy report. An article I came across talks about this issue of students and cheating in the educational setting. There's many different methods covered in the article that range from printing off an already written paper to websites that let users type in the math problems they have and the answer will be given to them without having to do the work. Some students even hide the cheat answers in their graphing or pocket calculators.

So even though there's many "alternate" routes that can be taken to get the correct answers or the perfect paper in a class, are they really worth it? Let's think about this one for a second. Sure, the instant satisfaction of getting an "A" on an exam or a 100% on a math test would be exhilarating, but does it really sustain the feeling? In a sense, a person is only cheating them self when they do these things because let's say in the future if you need to know the material for a surprise quiz or even a position in the field of work that you choose, you won't know how to do it and the lack of knowledge about it will show. Depending on the field, many employers will test your skills on the subject matter of the position that you're trying to get. How can one expect to get the job if they can't pass the initial skills test? On top of that, there's the obvious consequences of being caught. Failed assignments, exams and other types of punishments for cheating. Along with all of that, there's no replacement for the feeling of knowing that you worked hard for what you earned.

The causes for cheating could be numerous. The increased pressure in modern academics, peer pressure to want to get the highest grade possible, family pressure to make them proud, self pressure to get into the best university possible, etc. The reasons are numerous and near limitless, but in my opinion, there's no substitution for putting in the time, effort and hard work to learn the material that's being studied. There's the old saying "you reap what you sow", in this case of doing the right thing and not cheating on education, there couldn't be a better example.

About what?

About what?

Sometimes I find grammar in a foreign language difficult, like what is the perfect past tense and why would I use it? When having questions about French grammar I often turn to a website called French.about.com. It is useful for those little questions. For example I was writing a paper in French and a sentence did not sound right to me. I looked up the verb I used on google, then a link with the website was the second link I clicked on it and it showed me a list of verbs like the one I was using that need a preposition after it. Another time I used about.com was when I was reading for a literature class and I forgot my book, they had the whole story on the web. About.com has other sections like math, science and social studies. I find it useful because the give in depth answers about topics and resources for students and teachers to use. 

Online Classes Are Easier Than Being In The Classroom, Right?

I was recently talking with someone who started their school semester classes again for the Fall semester and we got to talking about what classes exactly that they were taking. They were proud to point out that a couple of the classes that they decided to take were online classes. They proceeded to tell me that they took them because it would make things easier that they can do the work from anywhere there's a computer and internet connection and that they could also do the work anytime they wanted to, day or night. Then, the next thing they decided to relay to me took me a bit by surprise, they told me that also took the classes online because it would be much easier than if they took it in a classroom based setting.

Sure enough, they were pretty disappointed when I told them that regardless if it's in the classroom it self or an online course, the workload and expectancies are not going to be any different. Just the format itself is going to be different. To prove my point to them, I showed them a website that backed up my claims as well.

I was able to speak upon the topic of online classes with them because I also had online classes in the past. I knew from firsthand experience that the classes are (usually) just the same as being physically present in the classroom, but in some ways it's a little more difficult. Some of the things that are different is that you really must be self driven and have the motivation to complete the assignments, collaborations, online meetings, etc. When you don't have anyone in person to push you to make sure the things get done, it's very easy to lapse into a "I'll do it later" mode, which is quickly found out not to get you very far. In my opinion, you also must be very organized and inclined for self learning. You'll be presented with the material for the class and you must organize your time accordingly to accomplish it.

I do believe online courses absolutely have their benefits as well. If you are self driven and you have the inclination to take it upon yourself to learn what's presented in the course, it can work out great in your favor. I also think that it's an amazing thing that with the online courses, they allow a student (and teacher) to hold class no matter where someone is located at. Someone could be out of state on vacation or any other matter and still be able to hold class on schedule.

Keeping all of that in mind, it's important to remember that while online classes can certainly make things easier, the classes themselves are not always easier. Technology has allowed education to be accessed by many more people than without it and that doesn't change what's expected to be learned and taken away from the subject being studied.