Second Life

I just created my person. I am SarahJean Smithson! lol. Honestly, I am not a fan of that website. I am just not into things like that. Maybe when I find out more about it, I will be more interested in it, but from my experience with it, I do not like it at all. It's superficial and wierd. I have several questions about it. Overall, I am not into it at all.

My Thoughts on ACU Using The iphone.

I thought that the use of the iphone at ACU's campus was very interesting. It is a great way to integrate technology. The iphone allows students to find their way around campus, receive messages from instructors, update classes, check emails, attend classes online, order food, and get the latest events happening at school. I have mentioned several advantages of having the iphone, but I assure you there are countless others. USM uses the computer for the student's to access SOAR, and it uses the Go Gold card to put refunds on. Well, ACU uses the iphone to take care of everything. Student's even receive important updates or notices on their iphone like USM student's get Eagle Alert's on their cell phones. I think the iphone is a great idea. I would love to have iphones for the student's at USM.

Concept Mapping: Animal Kingdom Classification

Animal Kingdom Classification

I. Mammals
are vertebrates that have hair, and the females have mammary glands that produce milk for their young. Mammals are also warm-blooded.
A. Elephants
B. Dogs
II. Reptiles
are cold-blooded vertebrates that breathe with lungs and have skin covered in scales. They are amniotic egg layers, though some give birth to their young.
A. Alligators
1. Alligators love to sunbathe!
2. Alligators are meat eaters!!
B. Turtles
III. Amphibians
generally spend part of their lives in water and part on dry land. Their skin has no scales but it is soft and moist. They are cold-blooded.
A. Frogs
B. Toads
IV. Birds
are the largest number of tetrapod vertebrates, are warm-blooded egg layers and are unique in their covering of feathers. Believe it or not, some birds are flightless. For example, the penguin and ostrich.
A. Bluebirds
B. Doves
V. Fish
most are cold-blooded, entirely aquatic vertebrates that have paired fins, torpedo-like bodies, and lay eggs.
A. Goldfish
B. Tropical Fish
VI. Insects
are animals that have exoskeletons. They have six legs that are in pairs and most have wings. An external skeleton of chitin supports their body structure, which is comprised of three parts: head, thorax, and abdomen.
A. Insects
B. Beetles
VII. Arachnids
are insect-like arthropods with bodies comprised of two parts, the abdomen and the cephalothorax, which contains the head and thorax. They have four pairs of legs. They do not have an antennae or wings.
A. Spiders
B. Scorpions

Using Technology in the Early Childhood Classroom

I definitely support technology in the early childhood classrooms. The article, "Using Technology in the Early Childhood Classroom," has very supportive views of why technology should be used in the classroom and why it should be used with limitations. It is important for students to learn how to use technology at an early age because it plays such a huge role in our society today. Children need to able to engage in using what the "real world" utilizes everyday. When it comes to learning, there is nothing more "attention-getting" than having students learn by using television, movies, computers, and videos. Moreover, cameras and ipods are also great tools to use in the classroom. The computer programs today are very sufficient when it comes to teaching skills of reading, writing, and arithmetic to students. The advantages of technology is that almost everything being taught the students can see and hear. The use of technology in the classroom should be limited because students need time to interact with the teacher and other students. Interacting with others is very important. It is one way in which students learn to become social, develop personalities, likes and dislikes, and so forth. Students should not have to depend on technology to get the content across. Technology is a great resource to use when teaching, but it should be used to enhance what the children have already learned.

Kneas, K,M., & Perry, B,D. (2009). Using Technology in the Early Childhood Classroom. Retrieved February 2, 2009, from 'http://'teacher.scholastic.com/professional/bruceperry/using_technology.htm.