UEN Part One & Video Reflection

What: This week, we have been learning about the numerous uses and tools UEN has to offer. We set up a UEN account and created a page layout that would be an effective communication tool between us and students.
So What: With technology becoming such a huge part of education, I think using UEN is an awesome tool that can be used to post assignments, gather lesson plan material, and communicate with parents. In class, we went through several of the tools available through our UEN accounts and it was awesome to see the kind of information that is free for teachers with just a few clicks of a mouse.
It was also really interesting to see the kind of programs that are available through Pioneer Library. This website could definitely be a great collaboration tool for creating projects or activities that you can share with other teachers. As a teacher, it will be very helpful knowing that I don't have to create my own worksheets or projects for every subject.
While creating my own homepage, I couldn't help but think how helpful it would have been for my teachers to have resources such as this. It was always difficult to stay caught up on homework or daily assignments when you were absent because there was no way to know what had been covered in class that day without contacting the teacher. I definitely think programs like UEN can help to change that.
Now What: I think one of the biggest benefits that can come from using a website like UEN in education is improved communication between teachers, parents, and students. I think the best thing a teacher can do to contribute to their students' success is make sure they are well informed. I know that once I start teaching, I will want to utilize many technological tools in order to make my communication with parents and students is the best it can be.
UEN could be a great tool to use with other teachers in your school to share lessons that worked well for them or to provide solutions to questions that can arise in the daily classroom. By using this information from colleagues, we can ensure that our students are on the same page and learning at similar paces. Using UEN cannot only help you do that, but it can help the parents of your students to understand more about you and the style in which you are teaching their kids.
I think the more I learn about UEN, the more I will love using it. I can already see what a functional tool it can be in the classroom and I know that it would be very beneficial for communication. It is lessons such as this one that make me more excited to teach and make me believe that by using technology, I can provide a great educational foundation for my students.

Video Response: I absolutely love this video. I actually watched this speech the day it was given and it still gives me chills every time I hear it. I believe deeply in what Obama is saying when he highlights the importance of fulfilling your responsibilities as a student. I have always believed that you only learn what you want to learn. It is crucial to hold our students responsible for themselves. We can provide the tools for them to succeed, but we must also emphasize the importance of using these tools in the best way they can. I love when he talks about how everyone is good at something and how we must strive to find out what that is through education. I think a speech like this, especially coming from the President of the United States, can have a huge impact on students today.