Technology

Implementing Technology
Technology is meant to aid teaching not replace lecture . In my classroom technology is a tool in presenting my lesson, for example I use PowerPoint to present my notes and if I refer to YouTube for a video it’s only once or twice ,three times at most. I don’t want to saturate my class and lecture with multimedia because instead of it being a medium for instruction it becomes a distraction (something I don’t want).

Some examples of traditional technology would be what I call R2-D2( Overhead projector), LCD projector and printers , the first machine is used to make wording on a transparency appear larger, a Liquid Crystal Display is a type of video projector that displays images and computer data on a screen or some other flat surface. An emerging technology is Smart board which is interactive learning and involves your sense of touch. The two other links pertain to labs that my class has completed, these links demonstrate how multimedia, can be shown in a classroom without being a distraction.

When it comes to technology the best thing to do is not to be apprehensive. The reason why is state this because if you let your reluctance keep you from learning something new you could possible miss out on a an amazing learning experience. Technology isn’t as scary as you think, tip 1& 2 make Google and YouTube your best friend. Google can help you find an answer to just about anything and YouTube can demonstrate that answer with helpful tutorials.

I use various sites and software to develop my lessons, before I can actually use it I put it through a series of test, I make sure that I only use sites where the extension is edu, gov, ed or org. Next I make sure the site or software has been updated and has a homepage explaining the origins and the developer. Next I check to see if the software is free and I run it through a program that makes sure it’s not a virus. I browse through the site making sure the information is accurate and relevant. I want to make sure my resources are correct because if not the lecture looses all accountability, so I make sure my sources are solid.
Below are 2 links to podcasts of Labs we have completed in my Biology Class


Oxygen Lab http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEcBQurjUQ4&feature=related
Meiosis Lab http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5g5hjZNLpQ&feature=related

Me, My Class and Time

My class
I can say there is rarely a dull moment and this is the first year where I have had all seniors. I know it took them a while to get adjusted to my teaching style and for me to get used to their constant chatter but in the end this was one of my most productive tears since I began in the teaching profession. My students are amazing and have so much optimism, positivity and ability to this society. I wish them all the best in their endeavors especially the graduating seniors.

About Me
The first reason why I wanted to become a teacher was because I saw how efficient my first grade teacher was with managing her classroom. I saw how she would snap her fingers to get our attention, or, how she would put her index finger over her lip (which signified to be quiet) and overall the class would obey her commands. I saw the complete control she had over us, everything she asked of us we( her students) were subjected to do. It was like she was controlling us but, with our own consent, it was as if she had some unforeseen power. I wanted this unforeseen power, which I later learned was authority. I soon realized that this justification for wanting to enter this profession was selfish and teaching is a selfless careerI start with this anecdote because being in the field of education is a learning and growing process when I initially decided to teach I didn’t have all the answers or always knew what to do but I learned from my own disappointment. Learning is a trial and error process and sometimes to learn you don’t have to be the one to have the answer there is someone who might just know.
I went to Broward College and graduated with my Associate of Arts I entered the college of Education at Florida Atlantic University (F.A.U.) and finished my undergrad there with Cum Laude and a Teaching degree. I began teaching at my old high school, Stranahan High school as an intensive math teacher. My degree was in Science so I wasn’t accustomed to 80% of the students going up a level. I taught intensive math for two years. At the time I was getting my Masters degree online from F.A.U., a good portion of the time I had to stay up till five completing the work and had to be at my school three hours later so it was very hectic to say the least. I graduated with my Masters in 2013. I was upgraded to 9th grade Biology. In addition to teaching high school I started teaching online educational/ Biology classes at Miami Dade and Broward College. My heart desire was to be a Professor at a University so once again I enrolled myself in classes this time for my Doctorate I decided to go to school full-time however after about three weeks I realized that I would have to work and go to school so, I decided to take my
Doctorates online.
A word to the wise do not take your doctorates online unless, you live on your own island and have no other responsibilities and can afford to solely pay for your education. After 30 grueling months I could proudly call myself Dr. Rebecca Haynes. One year later I was upgraded to Advanced Placement Biology in which I am currently teaching. I love my job, yeah granted, I sometimes have behavior problems, we have to teach F.C.A.T. and the faculty meeting that was supposed to last ten minutes took up my whole lunch break , I still love what I do.

My Philosophy of Education

is this, I believe all students are able to achieve if they put their mind to it. The way a student achieves this is by teachers, coaches, parents and guardians encouraging and supporting them. The only time a student cannot achieve if they are unwilling to learn, learning does not necessarily mean acing all assignments, it means taking the knowledge inside the classroom and applying it to real life situations.

  Students are a product of their classroom. If a teacher views a students as a delinquent or  incompetent, this mind frame will project in their teaching style. This includes but not limited to , lack luster teaching, inability inability to help a student and overall complacency. Therefore, I believe all students (whether their in my class or not) have the ability to learn . My high expectations of my students enable me to teach efficiently and effectively despite what may be going on in the classroom. As an educator I not only believe in my students abilities but also my ability as a competent and effective educator.  

As I got older I grew with more knowledge of the profession. I realized that there was a huge gap between the rich, the poor, and the middle class. The wealthy could afford the best schools, the private tutors, as well as any resource(s) that could get their little “ducky” into Harvard. However, the poor barely had enough money to pay for where they live, let alone a luxury such as a secondary education and what about the middle class who live from paycheck to paycheck. Despite these ailing circumstances I saw the middle ground as a good education; deciding that educating today’s youth would foster excellence for tomorrow’s future. I made the conscious choice to champion for children, adolescents, and teenagers who could not do so for themselves. There are children in America, those of who aren’t able to go into town meeting halls and champion for a better, more effective education, an education that teaches them for the present and prepares them for the future, an education that can set them free from the doldrums of their life and open their eyes to a world of possibility. My teaching style is can best bed described as informative, relevant and interactive, although fun is optional I try to at best to make it mandatory. My learning style is multimodal, I learn many different ways an d a good majority of the students in my class are the same way so, I incorporate different learning styles into my lesson.

My Classroom activities
A good portion of my time is spent lecturing because it is a college class. However I implement projects into the curriculum to make the information from the text book come alive and make it relevant to today’s problem. A good portion of my time is spent lecturing , lecture is made real and interactive when students work in groups to complete labs. Students work in groups of 4, I give instruction on the lab they are going to do that day and around the classroom there are stations they go to. Stations may consist of the materials they need such as Petri dishes, student balance beam, chemicals, graduated cylinders etc. Students follow the instructions on the paper and record their data and turn it in at the end of the class, sometimes the lab cannot be completed in the class time allotted so students are able to stay after, not exceeding the two hour time limit. Student are required to clean up the stations if not they are held after class to do so. Students are required to read about the lab in advance, if they have any questions they are welcome to ask me.





















Teaching style