Technology in the Classroom

Technology can be used in a variety of ways to enhance students’ education. However, it is important to note it cannot fully replace a real human teacher. Computers cannot understand or care the same way a real teacher can but the resources provided by computers and other technology can add a lot of resources and help to a teacher’s arsenal.

First of all, the World Wide Web provides teachers and their students with an almost infinite supply of information.  Teachers can find all kinds of help in planning lessons and teaching content while students can find vast amounts of informative research for projects. Second, computers give teachers access to new and interactive ways to teach as well. An example of this is webquests. Technology also provides students with creative ways to portray what they learned. For example, instead of writing a paper on a topic, they might make a documentary of it or blog about it.

This semester, my repertoire of teaching strategies and techniques has grown significantly. For example, I knew nothing about webquests or how to use podcasts in an educational setting. I also learned how to find good teacher resources such as blogs by respected educators and how to keep track of these using Google Reader or Delicious. All in all, I am very satisfied with all the educational resources that have been revealed to me as well as those I have discovered on accident this semester.

Teacher Webpages

A teacher webpage is a website utilized by a teacher. It typically gives some of the teacher's personal background as well as giving students, parents, and the community an update on what is being taught in the classroom. Teacher webpages also usually give the teacher's contact information and resources for extra help outside of class.

One advantage of teacher webpages is convenience. They give a lot of information in one easy to find online location. Another advantage of teacher webpages is that it gives parents a good way to follow what is going on in their children's academic career. There are however some disadvantages. For example, not every student may be able to access them.

I plan on using my teacher website the same way most teachers do. I will probably list the assignments due in the future as well as give parents a way to contact me. I will also probably list the rules and expectation of my classroom.

This is the link to my instructional tech video

Podcasts

A podcast is a media file put on the Web for people to download onto their computers or portable devices (e.g. IPod, IPad, etc.) for a variety of reasons. For example, podcasting is often used for entertainment, news, and education. Many of these online files have video put some are audio only.

Podcasts can be used in a variety of ways in the classroom. First of all, they could be sources of extra help outside of class. If a teacher posts podcasts about what is taught, a student having trouble with homework could look find these online for extra help.  Second, podcasts of lessons could keep students up to date on content if they miss class. Third, podcasts could be used in a whole class setting if the teacher is not in class. Teachers could also assign podcasts as student projects.

There are many advantages to podcasts, some of which I just mentioned. Another is that they can be accessed from almost anywhere by anyone because they are online. There are however some disadvantages to podcasts. Shocking as it may be there are some people, even today that do not have internet access at home so some students may not have the same access to podcasts.

Ethics in the Classroom

Ethics are a collection of moral standards and principles that governs a person's life.  Ethics can be based on a faith or religion or it may not be.  There are many people with a code of ethics that do not follow a particular religion.  Some standards seem to be universal.  For example, lying, stealing, and murdering seem to be considered unethical by almost everyone.

I believe it is important to have a strong code of ethics in the classroom.  Obviously, sharing one's religion is often out of the question but a teacher should have good morals for several reasons.  First of all, students should be exposed to ethical role models, especially if there are none at home.  Second, I believe someone who lives by a code is easier to follow and respect than someone without one.  Any teacher will tell you it is important to have the respect of your students.

Being an ethical teacher has its benefits.  As previously mentioned, having ethics often leads to the respect of students and colleagues.  However, there are also some cons to leading an ethical life in the classroom.  For example, the state or district may require a teacher to teach something he or she does not believe in.  This can lead to some incredible controversy.  Should the teacher teach what he or she is asked to or should one stick to the code of ethics?  Difficult questions like this come up often for anyone concerned with ethics.

Virtual Tour

A virtual tour is an interesting way for educators to teach students about places that are either impossible to visit because of distance or lack of access.  These virtual "field trips" are nice because schools can give numerous trips every year to all of their students for little or no cost while real field trips can be very expensive.  The simulations also give students great access to things they may never see.  The obvious drawback to this otherwise bright idea is that looking at pictures, watching videos, and reading information about a place or thing is still not the same as experiencing it in the flesh.

As a teacher, I think I would have students use virtual tours as a form of research and also as a free time activity.  The creators of these virtual tours typically have first hand experience with the subject so they get students closer to the information than say an encyclopedia entry written by someone who has never actually experienced something firsthand.

Learning Styles

35% Visual Learner

41% Auditory Learner

23% Kinesthetic Learner

I agree somewhat with this assessment although I would have switched the percentages for visual and auditory learning. I have always learned very well through visual and auditory means but typically prefer visuals.

Questing in the World Wide Web

The world of technology provides a variety of instructional tools for educators. One such tool is something called a webquest. A webquest is a learning activity in which students fulfill a task assigned by the teacher that takes place completely online. There are many different types of webquests for all the content areas and some may be accomplished in a short period of time while others may take weeks. I could see myself using webquests in my own classroom in a few years. I am currently working on one that helps students understand the advances of ancient cultures such as the Romans. These versatile tools could be used to teach content or as an enrichment activity.

There are many pros to using webquests. For example, they involves students in their education and makes them active instead of passive learners. Also, they provide a level of depth and interactiveness that can be hard to duplicate in a textbook. However, like all tools, they have limitations. First of all, webquests would be difficult for students that have  little experience with technology. Second, they take a lot of time for the teacher to make.

Should Schools Supply Computers to all Students?

There are definitely some benefits to schools supplying students with their own computers.  For example, it gives all students equal access to technological resources. Crazy is it may seem, there are still students without computer or at least internet access at home which puts them at a disadvantage. If the school provides everyone with a computer, this gap is closed.

There are, however, some issues that should be considered before providing every student with a computer. First of all, are these computers only to be used only in the classroom or are students allowed to take them home? This is a big deal, especially when dealing with younger or irresponsible students because of the amount of money invested in the computers. This leads to another issue; what happens if a student breaks or loses his or her laptop? Is the student responsible for replacing it or will the school take care of it? Schools providing students with computers is a good idea in theory but there are many logistical issues that need to be considered other than just how to pay for them.

K12 Online Conference 2010

I recently listened to "The Life Practice Model: a real life example" on the 2010 K12 Online Conference. I found this particular presentation very interesting because it was made by a high school freshman named Colby Ratzlaff. In this session, Colby gives a first person account of a former student of Turning Point Learning Center which is a public charter in Emporia, Kansas. At Turning Point Learning Center, students are taught through the use of technology (each student is given a laptop for the year) and by being put in real life situations. For example, Colby says that one year the school received a grant for new furniture so the teachers divided the students into teams that were to come up with reasonable ways to spend the money and design their learning environment. The young presenter said he loved this project because it gave him the opportunity to design in three dimensions using Google Sketchup, free modeling software offered by Google. Other members of Colby's group were responsible for keeping track of funds, interior design, and documenting information. Some other projects he mentioned were a model cell that filled a room, a model skeleton, and a garden.

I found this presentation very interesting because Turning Point Learning Center actually puts many of the methods educators know to be effective into practice. The idea of learning through experience is far from new but few educators are able use it effectively because the often high number of students, time constraints, or other factors. One issue I have with Turning Point's method is the computer usage. I would like to know how they keep students on task and away from all the distractions that come with computers.

My Personal Learning Network

My Experience with Podcasts

This is my first attempt at a podcast using Ipadio.com

55908_20110126015118.mp3

Integrating Technology into my Area of Teaching

As a future middle school teacher I will be licensed to teach in two different content areas (Social Studies and Mathematics). Technology can be useful in teaching in both of these areas. There are a variety of math programs, such as Maple, that can help make seemingly dull subjects more interactive. The Geometry Sketchpad helps students measure angles, make tessellations, discover connections between various geometric entities, as well as other things.

Computers can also be useful when teaching Social Studies courses. They can be used for research along with word processing and a variety of other programs. For example, students can use software, such as Movie Maker, to produce reenactments  of historical events. Teachers can also use programs such as Powerpoint to help them with lectures and make class more engaging. All in all, computers are becoming more and more integrated into education.

Technology and Education; Perfect Match or Doomed for Divorce?

In my own experience, technology has been extremely helpful in education.   There are vast resources to be found on the ever-evolving internet that help students with resources for papers, projects, etc.  Teachers can also find incredible resources online that help make even the most dull topics interesting and it also helps them share what works with colleagues.  Technology like the Smartboard have also helped education significantly.  These gadgets are becoming more and more advanced and help teachers involve students in lessons.

There are some negatives when mixing technology with education.  For example, students often have trouble distinguishing between good and bad sources when researching online.  Also, using technology in class can be distracting.  I will be the first to admit that I did not always follow directions precisely when working in the computer lab and I know classmates that also did some web-surfing when the teacher's back was turned.