#3 - ELA n' Chill

The ELA standards are important and useful when sharing information properly. Specifically, the standards under "Consuming" Tech standards RI.7 "Multimedia" Informational Text are what I am most comfortable with. As a teacher I would use charts, graphs, audio, digital, and other forms of media to answer questions, analyzing information, and even posing questions. A part of the ELA standards that I feel would need more preparation is RST.7 “Multimedia:” Science/Technical Subjects. Providing and displaying quantitative data in an appealing way would be difficult for me and would require dedicated time before any topics.

In my classroom I would probably use media technologies that students are familiar with. Youtube is a medium that I would use to show videos on certain topics, explain difficult concepts, and keep students entertained, as well as make learning a lesson refreshing. I feel like hearing my voice ramble over and over would be annoying and boring. Another program I would use would be online educational programs like Blackboard or Reading Odyssey. These programs are for educational purposes, and provide students extra practice while at home.

While working on the newsletter I actually learned a lot of features I was not familiar with before the assignment. I found a way to make writing a letter way easier which I know will be very helpful in the future. I also learned how to create page boarders and customize effects to my liking. I love how I was able to learn such tools on Microsoft Word because it can be useful in future assignments and in the classroom.

What I did not like about it was the fact that it is a little bit tedious, and if you make one small mistake your whole letter is ruined.

#1 - Digital Native or Nah

Computers have quite a strong influence on everyone, anywhere. There are constant updates and new technologies that continue to be released that improve everyday life a little bit more. In particular, the classroom environment is constantly changing and influenced by new computers and technologies. These tools are important in a school environment, specifically in a student's educational experience. Computers are a major part of a student's education because they make it easier for a student to learn, find information, and communicate to the teachers and colleagues. For example, a computer helps connect a student from any county or state, or even country to any teacher, anywhere with simple computer programs or applications. They are also a tool that's important for teachers as well by using programs that help explain a topic, make a topic more interesting and easier to comprehend, as well as provide an easy and accessible communication system.
The ITSE standards are an important part of becoming a teacher because the better you are at engaging the students and improving their learning experience the more successful of a student they will be and the more you provide a positive model and an enriched professional practice. It really just encourages you to be the best you can be in technology for the sake of your students, which is important. Inspiring student creativity is something I strive to do and it gladdens my heart it is on there regardless. On the other hand, modeling digital age work might be harder once I am in the field. I only expect technology to keep updating and keeping up with the new tools might be outside my current skill set.
I believe "digital-native"is a reasonably coined-term for people growing up knowing technology; who in fact do not remember a time before computers, internet, and cell phones. It is quite easy to tell the different between a "digital-native" and a "digital-immigrant". Many teachers of mine unintentionally expose their "immigrant" status and us "natives" are they ones to go and fix it. It could either be because they don't know how to work a projector, or a Smartboard, or even the computer itself. Sometimes because they are unfamiliar or foreign with the technology, it takes up class time to fix a  problem which is problematic for both the teacher and the student. Hopefully I become a teacher that can keep up with digital age work and not waste time I could use to educate my students.

#2 - Microsoft, WORD!

As a student growing up in the 21st century, learning about computer programs was a walk in the park. We used it for everything in school, and continue to use them as students or in the professional field or even just for fun. As a student, I've used Microsoft Word for reports, current events, science fair projects, etc. Without Microsoft Word I wouldn't of had a simple way of presenting my school work or assignments. Teachers use Word as well, for rubrics, syllabi, pop-up quizzes, or tests that they have made themselves, etc. The program is easy for everyone to use and could be used on both ends in the classroom.
Copyright is a form of protecting your work and gives the owner the right to determine who uses it while fair use is a part of an act that allows under the circumstances of using information for non-profit educational purposes to use the original work of others and also dictates the flexibility the work has, who could use it and what for. Amongst news reporters and researchers, teachers are also allowed to use this "power", for the purpose of educating students proper information. In the classroom, the proper thing to do would be to inform the students about Copyright, fair use, and plagiarism and explain to them the proper way to use another resource's information. As a teacher, I would bring awareness and educate them on citing their courses, and promote respect for property and work of others.
Along with being surrounded by new computer programs in the 21st century, we are also accompanied by new social media or personal learning networks. I suppose it has taught me to type faster, find information quicker, become more adaptable to updated sources, etc. Personal learning networks could also help me in the future by allowing myself to be more approachable and accessible to fellow colleagues or other associates that could be potential coworkers or help you move further along in your career.