Jenny+M

Day 1 Morning:

1. What are your feelings about video games in general?

-Well, in general, for myself, I'm not much of a gamer. I personally cannot sit still long enough, or pay attention long enough (or, I haven't found a game that holds my attention long enough, anyway...) to complete any game that I've ever tried. I am interested in them- I would LIKE to be able to play them, complete them- for that feeling of accomplishment, I suppose, but it completely depends on the type of game. I am NOT interested in the "Resident Evil" type games- I don't like the "shoot-em-up" stuff; I am more interested in logic puzzles, though-provoking, brain-stimulating, educational-type games. As a child, I never played many video games, other than the occasional "Frogger," or "Pac-Man," so I think that has a lot to do w/ my aversion to them today. I like the cutsie little kids' games, and I do, for example, like the Nintendo game "Kingdom Hearts-" which is more of a "puzzle-type" game, where you're on a mission that doesn't involve any blood, guts, or gore. That's my personal stance on video games, I guess...

2. What are your feelings about video games as learning tools?

-As learning tools, I think video games certainly have their place. In today's world of multisensory learning styles, I think many children benefit from this type of educational tool. I teach Exceptional Children, and I've seen, in the clasroom, how computers and games are extraordinary for children who have learning difficulties, which is the reason I have signed up for this workshop. I want to get my kids, readers or not, interested in learning- no matter how I have to do that. If they're going to play on the computer, or play video games anyway, I may as well try to get them involved in some educational aspect of that.

Day One- Midday:

1. What brings you here?

-At first, I have to admit, I was drawn in by the lure of the money and the computer. Honestly. In thinking more about it, however, I must say that I think this is a really good idea for my particular caliber of students... As I mentioned earlier, I am an EC teacher, and I feel like this will be a beneficial program for my disabled students. There is so little that makes my kids feel successful, academically, and I think that this might provide that boost for them.

2. What are you excited about?

-I'm excited about being able to bring a fun, educational experience to my disabled population.

3. What are you concerned about?

-I'm concerned that, as when dealing w/ any technological component, that there might be too many gliches to create a consistent, educational experience. I don't want to spend all my classroom time troubleshooting; I want the kids to be able to get in there and enjoy the game, while learning, as well.

__//**Day One- Afternoon**//__: Shut down/ power off:

Today was good, I'm just worried that the server/ internet issues might cause delays in our progression. We had several moments of some serious down-time, and I hope that everyone is still as "gung-ho" about everything as they were when they got here. I feel bad for Dr. Annetta and his crew bc so many things happened today that were minor little setbacks; I hope he comes back!!!

I'm very excited about the new laptops...curious to see what kind they are- not that that matters of course, just a matter of curiosity...

//__**Day 2- Morning**__//:

1. How do you use technology in your classroom?

-I actually use technology in my classroom daily, whether it's simply internet searching (which we do frequently, for various classroom projects and topics daily), interactive websites w/ my students, or using the SmartBoard and its tools for daily lessons overhead. The kids love it, it gets them out of their seats, and it makes them feel successful, no matter what they're doing. It's funny, because the kids actually know more about some of the technological tools than I do- they each have "gaggle" accounts, and some of them have "wiki" pages, and are very eager to share with me their projects associated w/ each.

__//**Day 2- Midday**//__:

1. How does the technology you currently use enhance your students' learning and your teaching? How do you know?

-I think my students' learning is enhanced by the multisensory techniques offered when using computers or other technological equipment, such as the SmartBoard. All students learn differently, and in my classroom, especially, with such a diverse array of ability levels, technology assists them and myself in bringing as much oppurtunity to them as possible. How do I know? I know because they are interested, and when they are interested and engaged, they are learning (much to their dismay sometimes, I'm sure :)... )

//__**Day 2- Afternoon**__//:
 * Shut down/ power-off**: Reflect on anything that happened during the workshop today-

Well, today was informative, but Ashley and I didn't have working computers, so we had to tinker around w/ Martin's computer... sharing is hard, when none of us quite sure what's going on and what we're supposed to be doing... We're hoping that tomorrow when/if we get the new laptops, they'll be equipped w/ the correct software so we can get up and running more effectively. I feel like we've been watching a lot, and haven't been able to get too terribly "hands-on..." I'm pretty confused right now about a couple of the features, but I think that in time, I'll be able to work all that out. I think I just need to get onto a computer that I'll be using permanently, and play around w/ it...

I'm still excited about this, I can't wait to see some finished products- I am concerned, though, that this might be a really time-consuming thing, as far as step-by-step, having to put EVERYTHING into the game, piece by piece... We'll see what happens...

__//**Day 3- Morning**//__:

Describe your teaching:

In my classroom, as I've mentioned, I have quite an ecclectic mixing of EC students; it is a cross-categorical classroom, ranging in abilities from very, very low, to high-functioning behavior problems. I have the same kids, pretty much all day, and I teach math, science, and social studies. My partner, Melissa, teaches Language Arts to the same students.

I am not a fan of lecture/ notes, although sometimes I do use that method, just to give the kids practice w/ that kind of thing, but mostly, the way I teach is what some people would consider non-traditional, though more people are teaching like that today. I use the internet, I use movies, I use outside activities (for example, my class collaborated w/ the AIG students this year on a Bluebird project; we incorporated math, science, and writing into our activities...). I use a great deal of humor in my class- I am a very approachable, hands-on teacher; I have an amazing rapport w/ my kids- they can talk to me, they are comfortable in my classroom... all of that contributes to my teaching style, I believe.

//__**Day 3- Midday**__//:

My students learn best when truly engaged, motivated, and interested. Each student learns differently, of course, and when approached w/ multisensory techniques, each students' potential can truly be reached. I have students who do well w/ individual tasks, students who learn best kinesthetically, students who learn best by rote memorization, students who learn best by experiencing... all styles are represented in my room. It is definitely best, though, to provide the class w/ examples of each, to address each childs' needs.

//__**Day 3- Afternoon**__//:
 * Shut down/ power-off:**

If Dr. Annetta had any hair, I feel fairly certain he would pull it out. He was supposed to get a phone call this morning regarding the status of the laptops, and after lunch, he was still sitting here- no notice from State re. the computers at all. He finally got the call about 30 minutes ago (it's 2:21 pm now-) and has left to go see about them. We're hoping that these computers are equipped w/ the fastest and most effecient stuff, so we can get to work w/o any more snafus, in the most timely manner.

Today we learned how to put more into our games- this time, Dr. Park showed us how to incorporate quizzes into our games. After that, we learned how (by watching and by sharing computers w/ each other) to add sound clips- Dr. A was right- he DID lose us after we were taught how to add sound. Everyone was eager to play around w/ the sound files for quite some time, which proved to be rather hilarious; we are, after all, talking about middle school teachers, here- teachers who enjoyed sitting around listening to barf noises, burbs, and other nasty bodily functions...it was great :)

I cannot wait to get my computer! It will be nice to be able to have my own to practice and tinker on...

//__**Day 4- Morning**__//:

1. What do you do well when connecting w/ your students?

-I think my strength when connecting w/ my students is my ability to relate to them, in many ways. They are comfortable in my classroom; they are able to come to me w/ problems, concerns, stories they want to share- but they also know that I am firm and consistent, and they know what their boundaries are. I feel that I am connected with my students appropriately- I can "parent" them, be their friend when I need to be, and maintain a level of professionalism that is necessary in the classroom.

2. Do you have any concerns about connecting w/ your students?

-No, this is actually an area where I feel fairly confident. I would like to be able to reach the kids who just don't seem motivated, and I plan on working on this this year, but other than that, I am comfortable w/ my level of connection w/ my students.

Day 4 Midday:

1. What interests you in video games as a form of teaching?

I think the draw for using video games in the classroom is that, simply, they are fun. Most kids that I've seen (all the ones I've ever taught, with the exception of maybe one or two) enjoy playing games, whether on video game consoles or computers, and if learning can be incorporated into something fun that they're all interested in, then I'm game (hahaha...)

Day 4- Shut Down/ Power-off

Today was more productive, albeit more frustrating, for me, anyway. I'm very overwhelmed, and I feel like I'm way behind all the other participants. I keep getting bogged down w/ the little stuff, and can't decide where I want my game to go, what scenery I want, what characters, what plot... all of those things....I'm going to put some thought to it tonight and see what I come up with.

Day 5- Morning:

1. How do you see this game as a tool for connecting w/ your students?

I see this game as a tool for connecting w/ my students because I think this is a high-interest tool for them- they will be engaged, motivated, and willing to learn if they are interested in the tool they're using.

Day 5- Midday:

1. Who supports and who benefits from your participation in this project?

-I think we are supported by several people- our county, our administration, the folks at NCSU, of course, and I feel that we'll have the support of the other folks at our schools, as well. Who benefits? Well, we do, of course, and certainly the students. They will enjoy these games (if we can get them to work consistently!!!), and they will definitely learn from them.

2. What other technology do you wish you could use or have support for? -I don't think that there's other technology that I wish we could USE, necessarily, I just wish that the technology we're currently using would cooperate with us. I don't know if it's a Lee County issue (I know it's not the computers- they are AMAZING) or a Steam issue, or Virtuoso- I'm not savvy enough to know from whence the problems originate; I just know that little buggy things keep happening that are preventing us from utilizing this type of program to its fullest potential. That part is frustrating...