Changed Views

I will use technology in my classroom to promote higher order thinking, and to enhance the quality of educative opportunities for the students. Technology can be extremely beneficial if integrated delicately. In other words, it is the responsibility of the educator to incorporate the use of technology, whether it be a webquest, powerpoint, podcast, blog-in such ways that stimulate, encourage, and engage the students. Technology can be a useful medium through which both students and teachers can interact and communicate to each other.

My views on technology have completely changed over the past seven weeks. I was initially against using technology in the classroom beacause it is rarely integrated in useful, beneficial, and interesting ways. However, from taking this course, I have realized that as the world is advancing so quickly, it is our job as educators to prepare and instruct students how to use this technology to their advantages, but also use it to our advantage.

I now see technology as an integral part of education because it has the ability to push student's learning even further, as it allows the students to create extensions of their internal thoughts and ideas. Podcasts, webquests, and scavenger hunts for example, allow students to enjoy what they are creating, and what their classmates are creating. Ultimately, my feelings have changed completely in regards to technology, in that I respect it being used in the classroom if done so effectively and interestingly, and plan to incorporate it into my classroom in the future.

Invoke Appreciation, For Creation

I think the most important way to deal with copyright issues is to first explain to the students what those issues are and how to avoid them. I would first explain to them that copyright is a form of protection, in that it protects the creators work when that work is being used without permission. I would then explain the importance of crediting an idea.

I would go on to tell them about the fair use policy, but then personalize the information, relate it directly to the students, so that they may come to terms with having a great idea taken from them without being credited. Most importantly, I would want to evoke the students to feel a sense of respect for an individual's creation, and their own creations, so that those ideas do not become detached from its creator in an unfair and unjust way.

Clean Up The Mess

Wow, besides feeling completely overwhelmed at how much there would need to be done to alter the dynamics of the classroom, I would first and foremost communicate to the students that there would be some very big changes in the classroom that would be quite different from what they were used to. I would talk to them about change and how it's often difficult to come to terms with and adapt to, but that most often change can be a positive thing and open up new worlds of knowledge and understanding.

The first thing I would do in the classroom is change the seating arrangement from rows to groups, introducing the students to a cooperative learning environment where they would be working with their peers. I would then focus on group discussions so the students would be able to experience what it is like to engage with the class, and build on each other's ideas, but also to show them that by hearing each other's questions, rather than just voicing the question to the teacher, benefits everyone.

From here on I would plan lessons that would apply to all of the multiple intelligences in the classroom, and differentiate my teaching styles. That is, I would incorporate hands on activities where the students are not just answering questions, but creating projects and tactile products that demonstrate the student's understanding of the concepts.

The given scenario of a more traditional teaching approach goes to show how far our education system has come. However, such an environment closes the students out to so many possibilities. This scenario is one that you might find in the early 40' s or 50's, thank goodness.

Making an Effort

I feel that in order to stay on top of the latest trends in education and technology in education as a student and after I graduate, I must motivate myself to seek out and learn continuously. Because there is some new technology craze sprouting up all the time, it is important to weave a 'technological investigation' throughout my every day life.

Thanks to the world wide web, there are opportunities for which to seek out such information on these latest trends. I feel that if I make continuous persistent efforts to find out more, than I am most likely to be able to stay on top of the ever changing technological and educational world around me. I can not expect to acquire such knowledge sitting on my couch wondering about it. Staying on top of these rapid changes calls for active seeking.

Below are a few resources I came across, all of which are helpful, directive, and extensive in providing information on the latest trends in education and technology.

http://www.educause.edu/resources/16011
http://www.nea.org/technology/new-resources-technology.html
http://www.sun-associates.com/resources/stuff.html#general
http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/te0cont.htm

Teaching With Change

The video we watched help me to recognize how drastic the technological shift really is. All across the world nations are progressing further and further away from print literacy. However, I also feel that the United States needs to kick it in gear as China is quickly surpassing us, at least educationally. That is where teacher's come in. As educators, we need to prepare the children of America to participate in a competitive, digital society and world, and monitor and guide this growth. Change is overwhelming, and often a scary thing, especially when it is happening all around us. However, as human beings we have to learn to adapt to the ever changing environment around us, and as educators we must teach our children to adapt.

To Go Along With Previous Post

here is a video.

Challenges when Integrating Tech. How to overcome

Technology in the classroom should be exercised with delicacy, as there are many challenges that stand in the way of succcesfully integrating it into the classroom. Technology can be a great way to inspire creativity and critical thinking in the students. However, it can also be overwhelming, boring, over extensive, and it may neglect to generate higher order thinking amongst the students.

In order to overcome such challenges, I feel that technology should be used as a communication tool betweeen teacher and students. For example, a power point should not merely present information with bullet points, but rather it should offer ample opportunity for the students to engage with the information and the teacher through guiding questions or solving problems.

Ultimately I think it is easier said than done. However, the teacher must be a master of judgement and be able to integrate technology in such ways that it provokes reciprocal communication, and so it helps students look beyond the classroom with a more global perspective.