Created by Online Education
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Friday, December 25, 2009
Educational Technology.....Goals.....Future....
In looking back to the last few months in my master's program I have found many interesting things. The latest course has really helped me to try new things, and to allow others to help show me new things also. I may know alot of things about the latest technologies, but there is still lots to learn! To increase student acievement with technology I am going to utilize the 21st century skills within the classroom. By having projects that students have to collaborate on, and work together on, students will gain more experience and knowledge of the skills necessary for the future work environment. Even if we are not using technology, I can still prepare my students for the skills and attitudes necessary for the future. I am laying the ground work for future teachers to add in the other components that students will need.
One goal I am looking to accomplish in the next couple of years is to have mp3 players for students to listen to reading. I believe that students need to hear good readers and follow along in their books. I am writing a proposal in DonorsChoose.org to ask for the materials, as well as from families for the players, books, and supplies to continue having the mp3 players available. Another goal that I would like to attain is to utilize more web 2.0 tools within the classroom. By having a class website, wiki, and blogs that students contribute to, students can take more ownership and responsibility for their learning.
I have really enjoyed a class that I was able to try out the technology, but also to hear the pedagogy behind them!
One goal I am looking to accomplish in the next couple of years is to have mp3 players for students to listen to reading. I believe that students need to hear good readers and follow along in their books. I am writing a proposal in DonorsChoose.org to ask for the materials, as well as from families for the players, books, and supplies to continue having the mp3 players available. Another goal that I would like to attain is to utilize more web 2.0 tools within the classroom. By having a class website, wiki, and blogs that students contribute to, students can take more ownership and responsibility for their learning.
I have really enjoyed a class that I was able to try out the technology, but also to hear the pedagogy behind them!
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Podcast....Technology and Students
Here is the Podcast I created. I interviewed four fourth graders and how they use technology. It was very interesting to hear their thoughts on how they use technology and what they want to use technology for. Even students are wishing that everyone had a computer!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Digital native or Digital immigrant?
This week we focused on the debate over digital natives and digital immigrants. Dr. David Thornburg and Hall Davidson discuss the differences and what characteristics each have. Digital natives would be people who grew up with technology all around them, they have been immersed in technology from the beginning. Digital immigrants would be older generations who are not as accustomed to technology and it is still very new to them. I also watched a video about millennial and neomillennial learning styles from Dr. Chris Dede. I was very interested in his thoughts about how these types of learners are developing.
Here is my discussion post with my opinion about the debate.......
Before watching the debate between Dr. David Thornburg and Hall Davidson, I felt that students were born with many different learning styles. Listening to Dr. Chris Dede speaking about the millennial and neomillennial learning styles had me thinking more about how our brain is originally wired and how learning styles develop.
In the debate over digital natives and digital immigrants, I agree with Thornburg in his point about how age should not determine whether someone is a digital native or a digital immigrant. I believe it depends on a person’s experiences with technology and where their interests lay. I am one of the younger teachers who had an Apple IIe in my classroom, and a few years later a computer in the home. I grew up with TV’s and games available with many restrictions. I am in the under 40 club of teachers. Many of my coworkers who are the same age, are not interested in technology. Technology is a challenge to them and they are not interested in using it unless they see ways that it can easily fit into their teaching style. It is always a debate with them about new technology available and how it can be used. Often times, they will let me show them things and how I’ve used it, and even the successes of my students, and yet they are still hesitant about bringing it into their classroom. They are curious about it, but not comfortable enough to utilize it. There are also staff members who are above the 40 mark who have absolutely no interest in technology, yet try it, and those who go above and beyond to input technology into their classroom. The technology coordinator for our building is over 40 years old and she is enthusiastic about technology and how it can benefit students. She is always the cheerleader for trying new things in the classroom.
When Dr. Thornburg began discussing how “education is still frozen in a precomputer world” and how methodology is still a paper-based mindset, I wanted to scream. This has been a frustration of mine in the last few years. To move out of this paper-based classroom is incredibly frustrating with limitations from administration and parents. There are so many things I would like to try to work on with my students, but I do not know how much I will be able to accomplish because of these limitations. I will continue to encourage and challenge all of my students and their various learning styles, whether it is digitally, paper based or (hopefully) both.
Here is my discussion post with my opinion about the debate.......
Before watching the debate between Dr. David Thornburg and Hall Davidson, I felt that students were born with many different learning styles. Listening to Dr. Chris Dede speaking about the millennial and neomillennial learning styles had me thinking more about how our brain is originally wired and how learning styles develop.
In the debate over digital natives and digital immigrants, I agree with Thornburg in his point about how age should not determine whether someone is a digital native or a digital immigrant. I believe it depends on a person’s experiences with technology and where their interests lay. I am one of the younger teachers who had an Apple IIe in my classroom, and a few years later a computer in the home. I grew up with TV’s and games available with many restrictions. I am in the under 40 club of teachers. Many of my coworkers who are the same age, are not interested in technology. Technology is a challenge to them and they are not interested in using it unless they see ways that it can easily fit into their teaching style. It is always a debate with them about new technology available and how it can be used. Often times, they will let me show them things and how I’ve used it, and even the successes of my students, and yet they are still hesitant about bringing it into their classroom. They are curious about it, but not comfortable enough to utilize it. There are also staff members who are above the 40 mark who have absolutely no interest in technology, yet try it, and those who go above and beyond to input technology into their classroom. The technology coordinator for our building is over 40 years old and she is enthusiastic about technology and how it can benefit students. She is always the cheerleader for trying new things in the classroom. When Dr. Thornburg began discussing how “education is still frozen in a precomputer world” and how methodology is still a paper-based mindset, I wanted to scream. This has been a frustration of mine in the last few years. To move out of this paper-based classroom is incredibly frustrating with limitations from administration and parents. There are so many things I would like to try to work on with my students, but I do not know how much I will be able to accomplish because of these limitations. I will continue to encourage and challenge all of my students and their various learning styles, whether it is digitally, paper based or (hopefully) both.
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