1. EDUC 215
Fall 2011
Mark Boatman

2. • Personal Information ….…………………………………………………………………………………………………. 3
• Teaching Goals ..……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 4
• Role of Technology ..……………………….…………………………………………………………………………….. 5
• Technology Use in my Classroom ..….…………………………………………………………………………….. 6
• Word Processing ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 7
• Telecommunications ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 8
• Spreadsheets ..……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 9
• Presentation Software ………………………………………………………………………………………………..... 10
• Internet Uses ..………..……………………………………………………………………………………………..……… 11
• Recommended Sites ..……………………………………………………………………………………………..…….. 12

3. • My name is Mark Boatman and I’m
25 years old.
• I have been married for 2 years to
my beautiful wife Morgan, and we
have an energetic Border Collie
mix named Finnley.
• I’ve always lived in the Pacific
Northwest
• I graduated from the University of
Idaho with a B.S. in Anthropology
in 2008
• I love the hiking, playing the
drums, and watching Jeopardy.
Table Of Contents

4. • My immediate goals after entering the
teaching profession are not as specific as
some of my other goals, but will encompass
what I want to accomplish throughout my
career.
• I hope to hit the ground running as a new
teacher, promoting an academically
engaged learning environment, with critical
thinking, a desire to participate, and shared
knowledge as the cornerstones of my
classroom.
• I am currently in the process of attaining a
second Bachelor’s or possible Master’s
degree in Education.
• Until recently I was unsure of whether I
wanted to teach at the Elementary of
Secondary level, but I’ve tentatively decided
that teaching Middle School would provide
its own exciting challenges and
opportunities. I have always had a passion
for history and government, and would love
to share that passion with Middle School age
students.
• Once I become an experienced teacher I
would strive to become a department chair,
and work as an intermediary between fellow
teachers and administrators.
Table Of Contents

5. Technology has become commonplace for
teachers and students in today’s schools. It is a
vital tool that can help the teacher to be more
efficient in a technical aspect, but also to connect
with students in fresh and relevant ways.
Technology can help reinforce a lesson and also
potentially distract from a lesson. An effective
teacher knows how to integrate technology into
the classroom in a way that keeps students
engaged and fosters and positive learning
environment. Technology is constantly evolving,
which has its benefits and drawbacks in today's
classrooms. Computers, software, and the world
wide web provide faster and potentially more in
depth information, which with the correct
guidance is right at the fingertips of the
student. A potential drawback would be if you let
the influx of technology to distract from everyday
instruction. I believe the challenge for a modern
teacher in incorporating technology into their
teaching format, could be to have a balanced
approach (technology is useful in some aspects, Bloom’s Taxonomy: Technology
but not all), and to keep up with the students on
technological advances.
Table Of Contents

6. The use of technology in the classroom is very
prevalent in today’s classrooms, and will probably
be even more prevalent when I begin a career as
a teacher. I believe that when technology, such
as computers, television, websites, document
cameras, etc. definitely are beneficial tools for
the teacher and promoting academic learning
when used at appropriate times. Although
sometimes frustrating, computer have expanded
the possibilities for today’s teachers. One such
benefit is the ability to store and save lessons and
resources from years past, which allows teachers
to compile and improve upon lessons taught
previously. I believe that technology not only aids
in an academically engaged classroom
environment, but also promotes a fun interactive
atmosphere for students. As a teacher I will try
to have a multi-dimensional approach striving to
integrate the use of tablets and iPads, various
software, E-books, video recording and editing,
internet resources, and Webquests. Ideally, in my
classroom technology will be used to promote
competent, responsible, better educated
individuals, with a foundation for future success.
Table Of Contents

7. • Microsoft Word is a tool that we all use to some degree both in and out
of the classroom, and I hope to utilize the program for many different
things when I become a teacher.
• I will use it for some of the more obvious reasons such as creating
lesson plans, writing up announcements, creating agendas, contacting
colleagues and administrators.
• Besides obvious student uses such as drafting papers and reports, I
learned that I could have students use it for creating brochures and
visual aids, creating outlines, and give them immediate feedback on
ongoing papers using the comments tool. Word Processing
applications can also be used to expand vocabulary in any written work,
using the Thesaurus function
• I like the idea of creating certificates of achievement for students that
complete a certain task or grasp a certain concept.
• Another great idea would be to have students create a newsletter to
reflect what they are learning at the time in the different subjects. It
could be formatted to look like a traditional newspaper, or make it
dramatic and eye-popping like a National Enquirer. This project would
allow the student’s to look back and analyze what they have taken
away from the class as it progresses, which would in turn allow me to
evaluate if they are paying attention and grasping what is being taught.
I would also have the students present the newsletter to their parents,
so that the parents know what their child is learning.
• In my classroom students will be able to use Word to broaden their
knowledge of technology, and how certain programs like MS Word can
be used in various avenues.
Table Of Contents

8. • An avenue for the use of telecommunications is to create a class website or
blog. This would allow students and parents immediate access to class
content, maintain an open line of communication, showcase students’
work, and provide a focus and extra dimension to teaching.
• Websites like YouTube, National Geographic, PBS, and other streaming
video sites can reinforce a particular lesson.
• Another learning opportunity is to access newspapers and articles via the
internet. I would start off each week with “current events”, with an article
related to each content area.
• Webquests are one way to use the internet in education. They promote
group inquiry and collaborative learning, with division of labor among
students who take on specific roles. They can help students in critical
thinking and achieving greater analytical skills.
• Another beneficial use is through Social Media outlets, which provide a link
to people around the world (such as Global Schoolhouse) I think a good use
of Social Media would be to utilize the global link of various cultures
around the world such as, using Facetime to link your classroom with one
from another country. This would allow your students to learn and interact
with students from around the world, and create a global learning
environment.
• Email can be a teacher’s “best friend”, with the ability to stay in contact
with students and parents. It can also be used to consult with an expert or
fellow teacher about a particular topic or lesson.
Table Of Contents

9. • Spreadsheets are a great way to
organize and track data.
• Students would also utilize
spreadsheets in my classroom for
categorizing and tracking
information, such as documenting
aspects of the weather each day.
Using functions such as charts and
graphs, students would be able to
see how aspects of weather fluctuate
from day to day.
• I would use spreadsheets for
recording grades and then calculating
percentages for final grades.
• Another use would be to compile and
track an inventory list of class
materials and supplies.
• Another “real world” application for
students would be to allow them to
create a mock budget to learn about
income, purchasing, and consumer
science.
Table Of Contents

10. • Presentation tools such as PowerPoint or Prezi
provide a great way to deliver a lesson, and recall
information throughout a lesson. Also, I would
provide outlines of my PowerPoints to students so
that they could add any notes they thought were
useful.
• A fun group project involving PowerPoint, would be
to have the students create a class presentation
with each group contributing a few slides.
• I would love to be able to use a document camera
or interactive white board in my classroom. There
is nothing wrong with overhead projectors, but new
technologies such as these are more user friendly,
save time, and are more interactive.
• I would also utilize digital video for projects such as
preparing a class newscast on an event, either
current or historical, with students presenting the
material, and then sharing the newscasts on the
class website for parents to see.
Table Of Contents

11. Table Of Contents

12. Site 1 Site 2
• Education World is a very informative • Inspiring Teachers focuses on
website containing various resources motivating, encouraging, and training
for teachers.
new teachers.
• The website is very interactive, and
content is broken down into Teachers, • The website includes different
Administrators, Lesson Plans, resources based upon level of
Technology, Professional Development,
and ED World Community experience in teaching.
• My favorite aspect of the website is the • My favorite aspect of the website is
ability to connect with other educators access to free teaching tips newsletters
via video, forums, blogs, etc. I also like
the free newsletters that address and the “Classroom Resources” tab.
various topics in the teaching realm, – Includes website and book
and the “Teaching Tip of the Day”. recommendations by subject.
Table Of Contents