ch. 8 Response

Designing with Technologies

Learning by Designing In and Out of Schools
I was not familiar with anything involving designing before reading this chapter. I also had never thought of using designing in the classroom. I do agree, though, that designing is a lot like problem solving in that both involve trying to find a problem and then creating a solution to solve the problem.

Drawing Design Ideas with Computer-aided Design Software
Computer-aided software makes designing much easier than using hand drawings. They can be more in depth and easier to understand for the viewer. I do not have much experience with these sorts of programs. My only experience with computer-aided software was AUTO-CAD which I used when I was working at an architecture firm in high school. I definitely remember that it was much easier and organized to work with this program than with pencil and paper. I think using these programs in schools does seem interesting and I tried to look up more information about Pro/DESKTOP on the website and was unable to find too much. However, I did get to see some pictures of students in a class using it and it looked like a very engaging class. Although this does seem good for students, I do not know that I would use this in an elementary classroom. It looks very complicated, but perhaps I could use some designs made by high school students about things I am teaching in my elementary class.
I thought SketchUp was a very interesting program and one that I, as an adult, would enjoy using. However, I think this software is still too advanced for elementary students.

Testing Designs and Building Mental Models with Simulation Software
I think that using simulation software to build models that would possibly be too complex or expensive to actually build is a good idea. I think these are more appropriate for upper elementary and beyond. I do believe that I started learning about simple machines in my late elementary years and I did have difficulty understanding them. I think if I was able to build and see a simulation of the simple machines, I would have understood them better. I would use these types of simulators in my classroom in this way.

Developing Programming Skills While Designing in the Media Arts
Before this class, I knew nothing about programming. Now that I have been exposed to Scratch, I feel that I know a little more but not very much, However, scratch has helped me open my mind to the idea of young children doing programing. I do not know that many other programs are this simple, but at least this one could be useful in the classroom. I would use Scratch in my classroom for group presentations or projects. Students could work together to present ideas. I also would have my students use Scratch at the end of a unit to make a game that reviews material learned in that unit.
I still do not know very much about iStopMotion, but I am sure I will get to learn more about it as I create my own later this semester.

Designing Music with Composition Software
I do not know anything about composing music, with or without technology. However, I am starting to learn how to use Garage Band and am becoming more knowledgeable about how to use programs like this and others in the classroom. Impromptu is a software that can easily be used by young children to design music. I think designing music can be fun and engaging for students and could possibly help the more music challenged (like myself) become more musical. However, I think time is so limited in the classroom that I am not sure that I would be able to incorporate programs like this in my classroom on a regular basis. However, if I did have the time, I would use it to expand on my students' knowledge of music. I would also use it with young elementary students to work on patterns.

When I first started reading this chapter, I thought nothing would be useful for the lower grades. However, as I read on, I realized young children can design with technologies. As I continue to learn more about this, I will become more inclined to incorporate many of these programs in my classroom.