Christina+H

Day 1 Morning 1.What are your feelings about video games in general? I am reluctant to buy into the video game era. Generally, I believe that video games decrease a person's ability to be creative. I also believe that they are addictive and if not managed properly can become all consuming. It was not until this year that we have allowed video games for our children. This Christmas they received a Vtech gaming system. I am now rethinking my opinion of games and we do let our children play xbox, playstation and others when they are visiting other families. We have enjoyed family time together playing video games and I believe that my children are learning but we do limit the time that we play.

2. What are your feelings about video games as learning tools? Although, in my personal life I tend to shy away from video games I believe that as a learning tool they can be very effective. We are in a day and time where students are used to the high tech world and using video games will touch "high tech students". Life moves so fast that our students are looking for us to pick up the pace, educational video games will do that.

Day1 Midday 1. Why are you here, what brings you here? Honestly, the ability to have a computer to utilize in my classroom that will allow me to use all sorts of media is a real plus. Additionally, I need to use computer technology in my classroom and this will give me some "cool" ways to integrate technology. Also, it is much easier to work on computers in a one week session than to try and spread it over afternoons during the school year.

2. What are you excited about? I am excited about having my own computer and learning how to prgram games that will be useful in my classroom. I am hoping that my game when finished will be something that my students will enjoy!

3. What am I concerned about? I am concerned that I will be unable to make all the technology work at once and it will crash in front of my students. I also want ot make sure that the game I create is something they will enjoy. So many times we create things for our students and they think they are trivial and do not really enjoy what we created.

Day 1 Afternoon 1.Shut Down/Power Off Things today were a little slow but I had some time to experience what we are trying to create. One of the things that I think is hard is to create a game that will excite my students but will also fit into the parameters of the software. I was somewhat frustrated at the amount of time it takes to download software and the complications that exist in technology. I found Dr. Arnetta and his staff to be very helpful and ready to help at anytime. I am looking foward to getting started.

Day 2 Morning 1. How do you use technology in your technology? I have tried numerous types of technology but not as often as I like. I have used the internet connected to an LED projector for the whole class. I have used the internet with the students to research, play review games and look at differnet interactive websites. I have tried to use United Streaming but have been unable to make it work. I have also used gaggle with my students to save projects so that they can work on the projects at home and school. I have also traveled to CCCC and utilized the more advanced microscopes and tools in the lab.

Day 2 Midday 1.How does the technology you currently use enhance your students learning and teaching? How do you know? I think it is difficult to assess what students are learning through the use of technology. I think right now that technology provides the icing on cake in my instruction so that it becomes another type of way to reach my students. I feel that using the internet for research allows students to search more materials in less amount of time. Also, my students tend to go further when we use technology, find more depth on their own rather than me having to push as hard. I think that the use of technology increases the motivation as well as enthusiam of my students. How do I know? They score better on assessements, their journal entries are more complete, and they seem more involved in the classroom as a whole.

Day 2 Afternoon 1.ShutDown/Power Off I am learning that the art of creating video games is a lot of trial and error and patience. Additionally, it takes perseversance to get activities in the game working. I learned how to move, rotate, find my starting point, add movement and much more. One thing I am realizing that I will need to draw out my game and do alot of preplanning before I actually get to creating.

Day 3 Morning 1.What is my teaching style? I am a more "traditional" style teacher. I generally require my students work on vocabulary, then I utilize the lecture and question format, after we usually review and then towards the end of the week I have them complete a hands on activity. Throughout the week I try to tie in other small hands on activities and demonstrations. Throughout the nine weeks I also utilize literature texts and movies. At least once during a semster they have a project that requires research. This year my studnets worked ona science project. I am moving towards more hands on activities and utilizing real world text in my classroom this year. Additionally, I would pull articles from the newspapers for students to read and respond to.

Day 3 Midday 1.Describe how your students learn best. Lots of repetition in a variety of formats.

Day 3 Afternoon Shut Down/Power Off I learned how to program sound today! Really cool! I actually had the sound work in my world but after the glory of adding sound everything else I seemed to do crashed the program. I am uncertain of why it was so difficult to make the objects work without crashing the computer. One of the things that keeps me going is seeing other teachers creations. There are some who have moved further along because their computers are crashing. I worked on the intro. storyline and am looking forward to working tomorrow morning. Another positive is everyone is so helpful! Ia m lookking forward to tomorrow.

Day 4 Afternoon 1.What do you do well in connecting with your students? I like to think that I listen and try to find their interests and then capitalize on their interests. I try to talk about current events, sports, movies and other media to get an idea what they will enjoy. Middle schoolers are a little harder to capture as they are more caught up in realtionships than high schoolers. On the whole I really try to build a realtionship with each of my students. I am learning to find small things to peak their interest. I also work on building parent relationships so that I can find that niche with my students.

2.Do you have any concerns when connecting with my students? My biggest concern is finding the motivating factor for my studnets. I teach about 100 students and each student is different. That means I could have 100 different motivators. I think motivation is the key to teaching.

Day 4 Midday 1.What interests me in using video games as a form of teaching. It is a great media to interact with my students. I fully believe that by the end of this project my students will be giving me ideas and I won't be able to keep up. It is the hottest thing out there right now I want ot step up my teaching and I think this is the way.

Day 4 Afternoon Shut Down/Power Off I have finally learded how to make sounds and move people. Yeah! I think this is going to be great but takes lots of patience. I am quickly learning what worlds to use and which ones not to use. I am enjoying the little victories right now. Again everyone is very helpful. The other thing I am realizing is this is not an instant gratification project. There is going to be a need to pace yourself and just keep working at it a little at a time.

Day 5 Morning 1.How do you expect to see this game as a tool to connect with your students? I love the idea. Video games are really growing on me. As I work with the program I am gaining confidence. I can definitely see this as becoming addictive. I am excited to watch my game grow and to use games in the classrom. I am also going to look for other video games that I may be able to use with my students.

Day 5 Midday 1.Who supports and who benefits from your participation in this project? There seems to be support from all levels in this project. The guys from State, Central Office staff in Lee County our school sites, all of the computer guys. I feel like there is alot of support for this to work. I think everyone will benefit from this project but especially our students. 2. What other technology do you wish you could use or have support for? We are talking about a mobile laptop cart at East. I think that would be great! I have an easier tiem working in my classroom than in the computer lab. I would also like to have the use of a smartboard but I need to learn how to use it. Additionally, I would like to upgrade our micrscopes. We could also use some electonic balances I would love to have a color printer that accepts memory cards so that would could print pictures in class form activities we particpate in. i.e.-trips to the water treatment plant, CCCC, Temple Theatre, beach

Day 5 Afternoon Shut Down/Power Off 1. I really enjoyed the workshop. Today I made huge steps. I actually made objects move, I made music louder and softer. I put a room into my space and actually rotated it to face the start. I could go on and on. It still looks very simple but I am learning how to manipulate things and move throughout the world. I am excited about what the future holds.