EME2040 First Blog Post

 Welcome to my first blog post for EME2040!

    My name is Chloe Secunda, and I am so excited to be in this class. I am a freshman here at FSU majoring in Elementary Education, and I live in Bryan Hall on campus with my one roommate and two suitemates. I was born in Hawaii but moved to Florida when I was three. I love the beach so much since I basically grew up on it, so being in Tallahassee is a bit difficult for me, but even so, I still love it and all the people I've met so far. My goal after graduation is to be a teacher for third grade at the school I graduated from in Vero Beach. It is a small private Jk-12 school on the river and has the most family feel out of any school I have ever seen. I hope this class will help me be a better teacher in the future. 

    The high school that I graduated from was very technologically advanced, with Apple TVs and projectors in every room, also requiring MacBooks for every student since almost all of our work was done on the computer. On the daily, we used Google Docs, Gmail, Blogger, FlipGrid, Google Slides, and many more. In the lower school, the children are given iPads with specific apps and resources on them. So I am familiar with Apple, Microsoft, and learning apps that children use. I also was a nanny for a school year, along with a weekend babysitter, and both of the families I worked with had electronics that contained fun learning games that we would often play together.

    Personally, I still use almost all of the resources that I used throughout high school. However, I didn't mention before LearningAlly, a website where you can download and/or buy books on audio. I have dyslexia, so when I was in high school, the academic learning lab at my school supplied me with this option - which helped dramatically. Another online resource that helps me immensely is Grammarly, which I use every single day. You can buy and add a subscription to your computer that checks over your words, grammar, punctuation, and more depending on what version you purchase. I've purchased the most expensive one, helping my essays, emails, and whatever else I'm writing sound the most professional. Off-line, I take lots of notes in my daily planner. Taking notes and making lists of things I need to get done throughout the day helps me feel more collected and organized. I plan on continuing to use all of the same resources that helped me through high school in college as well, probably adding more on my way! 

Title: "beach"
Author: "barnyz"
License: CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

Blog Journal #2

    Throughout school, I have used both Word and Google Docs. I was not introduced to Google Docs until freshman year. After using Google Docs, I found it much simpler to use, along with the fact that everything is saved in one spot and won't disappear, which is fantastic. Although I do not find a dramatic difference between the two softwares, I have been using Google Docs throughout high school because it was required for my classes, so I have gotten very used to it. Along with that, I also favor the physical design of Google Docs over Word because it is easier, or simpler, on my eyes focus. 

    The standard that is most important to me personally is the "designer." This standard of teaching is when teachers listen to what the students want and what they are hoping to learn and going from there. Furthermore, this style of teaching accommodates learning differences, engaging in deep, active learning. I believe this method is essential because teachers should be engaging their students in a fun, mind-awakening games when technology is involved. When the technology being used is not engaging for what the students enjoy, it becomes harder to remember and learn.     

    If you are a digital native, you are a person who has grown up using computers, phones, social media, the internet, etc. There is a noticeable difference between "digital natives" and adults who are not confident in using new technology. I attended a very technologically advanced school, and the teachers were trained to use the devices but sometimes had trouble, which would be where the students stepped in and told them what to do. However, some teachers have introduced me to technology that is very useful in school. For example, my high school showed me a program called Learning Ally, an audible book company for learners with dyslexia. Instead of the standard audiobook, you can also follow along with the text, highlighting and saving information on your way. It is strange to think about what the future might be like because although I think I am very advanced with my use of technology, my future students may think of me the way I do now with my older teachers who have trouble with specific devices.