What is media literacy? and why is it important?

What is Media Literacy?

"Media literacy is the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, and create media. Media literate youth and adults are better able to understand the complex messages we receive from television, radio, Internet, newspapers, magazines, books, billboards, video games, music, and all other forms of media." 

Here is a video to help explain it more ----> Media Literacy

Why is it important?

Media literacy is important because we know more about it. Many students have a better understanding when it comes to online media. Some ways they can help a student are, they learn a different type of skill which enhances their thinking abilities and creates participation in the classroom. They are able to relate to Media better than relate to assigned books. Perhaps reading "To Kill a Mockingbird" might seem boring to a student, but maybe reading the same book as an e-Book like the Kindle can maybe make the student interested in the book. 
At the end of it all, it is once again up to the teacher to decide what to teach young students about media literacy. This article, on media literacy helps how a teacher can teach the students. There are many great ways to go about it and just take some time to read if you are looking into becoming a future teacher. 

web 2.0

What is web 2.0?

Web 2.0 is basically websites that use different software or technology than they used to before in older web pages. Websites where you are able the edit pictures, make presentations and videos online, upload videos and create them as well. Google slides is a great tool to create presentations for assignments. Movie maker is another great tool to teach and learn on video editing.  there are many other websites that allow different things to create and use. Another example is cell phones. The majority of people buy their mobile phones depending on what features and how fast the internet is. Mobile phones, like the iPhone for example, are able to browse the internet and take pictures and videos and share them instantly with friends and family. 

Websites like facebook, twitter, google+ and many others are regular websites but use new technology than those of older ones. They can be very helpful with announcing schedules to your students on twitter. Teachers can also use facebook to keep track of assignments and post updates on what needs to be done. Parents can also see what their child is working on in school while they are at home or work.

What is the meaning of technology "affordances" and "constraints" in terms of education?

What are Affordances? Affordances is defined as "the qualities or properties of an object that define its possible uses or make clear how it can or should be used We sit or stand on a chair because those are fairly obvious" So, an affordance is often taken as a relation between an object, or an environment, and an organism that affords the opportunity for that organism to perform an action.Back in in 1988, Donald Norman basically put the word down as a human "machine interaction" 

So, for example, a button that is on a wall will need to be pushed. Or, a light switch needs to be flipped. If a car radio has a dial, then you will rotate the dial to the desired station. This article is a great read. It really goes into depth on affordances and constraints. It can be very helpful to someone like me who is just learning about it.

 
What is the definition of Constraints a constraint is basically a limit or restriction. The constraints are what keeps the affordances at a limit. It is the final product design for the final object. Merriam-Webster defines Constraint as "something that limits or restricts someone or something. Control that limits or restricts someone's actions or behavior"
At the end of the day, it is up to the teacher to help the students stay on track while they are using all of those resources. 

A site that can be helpful in the classroom is google slides

Flipped classrooms

Flipped classrooms can be very effective to a student. The method has become very popular in online classes as well. 
I would definitely used the flipped classroom method on my students. It can be very helpful for the child. The students can help each other as well to solve problems on their own. In this video, it shows how the flipped classroom works. Flipped Classrooms can make the student independent and teach the student to rely on him/herself and trust themselves as well. In this article, it states how you can save time in the classroom as a teacher as well asspend more time with the students. I can see myself giving a link to a video for my class to see online, and doing some work on that video to bring to class the next day and discuss it as a whole. Studies have shown that the method works.  An article that I read about flipped Classroom, they explain it very well how effective it can be. 
I think that as a teacher you really need to know when it is the best time to use the method because it will not work everyday. The teacher needs to be present in the growth process as well. 

Technology in Education

Some important practices for technology in education are the relationships between the teachers and the students and also the parents. Technology in the classroom needs to be used in a way that does not disrupt class. Many students tend to look at other sites without the consent of a teacher. Here is a video that shows how to implement technology into the classroom.

I plan on teaching my students in a way they can incorporate technology in the classrooms. Some students find it easier to take tests on a computer rather than on paper. It can be too intimidating for them. It can help the student learn as well if they are visual learners, and prefer to see things virtually rather than on a whiteboard. It will be easier for me as a teacher to grade and see my students assignments on a blog rather than on multiple papers. Also, it can make the classroom setting really enjoyable and fun for the students.
 
Some of the technology that can be used in the classroom are Tablets, laptops, and Smart-boards. They can all come in handy and be beneficial to the student. In an article I read, it stated how it is beneficial to a classroom.

What is tpack?

What is TPACK?
TPACK is an acronym for Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge.

It is the kinds of knowledge a teacher needs to have in an environment that involves technology enhanced learning.Great teachers now in the 21st century can bring in technology to enhance learning on the students. It can help students learn with the new technology that is all around us now. This Using the appropriate tool to help the students and knowing how to use them, and also when to use them. The teacher needs to learn how to lead the student into learning. There is so much technological knowledge to learn as well as plenty of content knowledge.

TPACK VIDEO  

Here are some sources to learn more about TPACK.



TPACK SOURCE 1

SOURCE 2