Blog 7

Curriculum integration is so necessary in education. A curriculum is all of the knowledge, experiences, and skills that students are expected to learn. In other words, curriculum can be referred to as lesson plans that involve all areas of learning. Integration involves the incorporation of technology (software and hardware) into curriculum in order to enhance learning. Curriculum integration is also known as technology integration and provides the opportunity for all learners to administer their skills. It provides learning material to kinthestic learners by providing hands on material. Visual and audio learners can also benefit from curriculum integration. The ASSURE model is known as one of the best instructional models to aid teachers in making lesson plans. It involves Analyzation of the learner, Stating objectives, Slecting methods, media, and materials, Utilizing all materials, Requiring learner participation, and Evalulation. The ASSURE model emphasizes that it doesn't matter as much to which program you use when making plans but rather what your content and organization consists of. Over the years, research has provided a means of improvement for education as a whole. Learning Theories involve research, observation, and a "framework for interpreting" all conditions of teaching and learning. Some of the various theories are: Behaviorism, Cognitivism, and Constructivism.

This week I mastered my skills in power point. I hadn't used this program since high school and I am really glad that we are extending our lessons in class to three weeks of it because out of every assignment that we have used, power point seems like it is used the most in teaching. I can remember teachers in elementary, middle, and high school using power point. It is such a great program and aid in the teaching profession since it provides a bit of entertainment to learning. Students have to have some kind of way to keep their attention and really make them apply the material they are learning.

This week has been kind of a downfall in the education major. Two education classes that I am currently enrolled in have been such a negative damper on my motivation to become a teacher. Numerous comments have been made by a lot of my fellow peers regarding the fact that these intro classes have made them reconsider if teaching is really what they want to do. I think that the university needs to reevaluate their teachers and really draw in some individuals that can provide motivation. I can honestly say that I haven't learned one bit of usual information in one of my classes that has everything to do with education and the other has had many racial issues involving the teacher and how she treats the students. I just think that there is such a high importance in providing students with enthusiastic and knowledgeable teachers to the introduction of their majors because without this many are being discouraged in an area that is in such high demand.