Reading about the Technology Enthusiasts' argument about the role of technology in teaching and learning made ways of integrating technology into the classroom entirely more clear to me. The enthusiasts argure that this changing world is in need of an adapted schooling process to prepare students for the world they are entering. They argue that computers are not utilized in school in an effective way that allows students to interact with technology. Students need to become familiar with using technology to communicate, interact within communities, and tackle real-world problems in order to thrive in this changing society.
I now see the importance of providing students with situations where they must use computer tools to solve complex problems. This goes beyond simply placing computers in schools. There are several learning environments that can be provided to encourage such skills. As a future teacher I will use the methods that were highlighted in the chapter to put students into learning situations where they use tools to solve problems. Such applications include Just-in-time learning where students can find what they need to know to accomplish a task, customization where students can choose individual preferences, learner control, interaction where learners can receive immediate feedback and learn the consequences of their actions, scaffolding learners to suport them with carrying out difficult tasks, games and simulations that enable learners to pactice skills needed in the real world without real consequences, multimedia, publication, and reflection so learners can reflect on their process and compare their performance.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Digital Booktalk
Today I created a digital booktalk using P.D. Eastman's "Are You My Mother?" I enjoyed working with my friends to plan and film this video. I exerted a great amount of energy designing costumes (with a limited amount of resources), deciding how to narrate, filming, acting, and editing this piece to make it into an exciting booktalk. Making this booktalk entertaining and easy to understand took a lot of work. Since it was my first time using Movie Maker, I also had to take my time to explore this tool in order to edit my video.
Completing this task provided me with a valuable experience. I was not proficient in creating videos before this assingment, in fact, I had never attempted this task before. Now I am confident in my ability to plan, execute, and edit my own videos using various pieces of technology. I used my Olympus digital camera to film the video in segments, and the Movie Maker tool to edit the final product, then posted the film on youtube.com for others to see.
This course task has increased my knowledge and experience with filming and editing videos. I am now able to use the available technologies to complete my own videos and share them on the web. As a future educator who uses technology to their advantage, this assignment has increased my confidence to try new tools to help me complete my tasks. Making videos would be an interesting way to allow elementary school aged students to create, share or present their knowledge and experiences. I can also see using videos I have created to present concepts or ideas to my students. I am now capable of teaching these techniques to my future students.
Completing this task provided me with a valuable experience. I was not proficient in creating videos before this assingment, in fact, I had never attempted this task before. Now I am confident in my ability to plan, execute, and edit my own videos using various pieces of technology. I used my Olympus digital camera to film the video in segments, and the Movie Maker tool to edit the final product, then posted the film on youtube.com for others to see.
This course task has increased my knowledge and experience with filming and editing videos. I am now able to use the available technologies to complete my own videos and share them on the web. As a future educator who uses technology to their advantage, this assignment has increased my confidence to try new tools to help me complete my tasks. Making videos would be an interesting way to allow elementary school aged students to create, share or present their knowledge and experiences. I can also see using videos I have created to present concepts or ideas to my students. I am now capable of teaching these techniques to my future students.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Day 2, Exit slip: What I learned in class
In class today we continued our discussion about the role of technology on teaching and learning. The idea of working to integrate technology in to classrooms, even early childhood rooms, is becoming much more feasible to me. I see the importance of being an active learner and teacher at the same time. After discussing the short film, Growing Up On-line from Frontline, I have increased my awareness of the necessity to inform parents about technology to decrease the fears that exist around children accessing the internet.
Today I also learned a bit more about a new piece of technology that I had heard about before but was not extremely familiar with. Jeff presented a example of a contemporary issue in educational technology which was the use of Kindles to replace textbooks. I find this topic very interesting and can see many benefits from the use of this tool. I think that in the near future students will be utilizing this piece of technology, therefore it is important that teachers and parents become savvy with this tool.
Another important concept that I learned today was the difference between learning WITH technology and learning FROM technology. Learning with technology involves interactive activities where students use technology as a tool to promote their learning. While learning with technology students are given the opportunity to access, analyze, and synthesize information. Learning from technology involves situations where the technology is the teacher. Both of these situations are important for students to experience in school.
Today I also learned a bit more about a new piece of technology that I had heard about before but was not extremely familiar with. Jeff presented a example of a contemporary issue in educational technology which was the use of Kindles to replace textbooks. I find this topic very interesting and can see many benefits from the use of this tool. I think that in the near future students will be utilizing this piece of technology, therefore it is important that teachers and parents become savvy with this tool.
Another important concept that I learned today was the difference between learning WITH technology and learning FROM technology. Learning with technology involves interactive activities where students use technology as a tool to promote their learning. While learning with technology students are given the opportunity to access, analyze, and synthesize information. Learning from technology involves situations where the technology is the teacher. Both of these situations are important for students to experience in school.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
My digital autobiography
Creating my digital autobiography was a fun experience. I enjoyed the time to be creative and to reflect on an important personal experience from my past. I took my time to choose photos that accurately and completely describe my journey through Europe in only 30 seconds...this was a difficult task in itself! I had trouble picking and choosing between some of my favorite pictures. I also took my time to choose the appropriate text to go along with the pictures. I had to go back and edit my video a few times because certain images and texts were cut out since I went over the time limit. Overall, I enjoyed using animoto to create my video. It was easy to use and navigate the site. One aspect of the video making tool that I really liked the way it customizes your video according to the music you choose.
Completing this task was a valuable experience because I was able to try something new. Educating myself about a piece of technology that I was not previously experienced with was both frustrating when I approached difficulties and empowering when I figured out how to overcome those difficulties. I value completing this task because I learned to create a video, something that I have never learned to do before, by myself using the technologies that are available.
My future as a teacher will be impacted by my experiences in completing this task in terms of my ability to approach new technology without inhibitions. I must admit was nervous to create a video. Ieven put it off a few days even though I knew it would take time for me to reach success. As a future educator I will need to familiarize myself with new pieces of technology all the time. I will now be more prepared to embrace new technologies that present themselves to me and will be confident in my abilities to figure things out!
Completing this task was a valuable experience because I was able to try something new. Educating myself about a piece of technology that I was not previously experienced with was both frustrating when I approached difficulties and empowering when I figured out how to overcome those difficulties. I value completing this task because I learned to create a video, something that I have never learned to do before, by myself using the technologies that are available.
My future as a teacher will be impacted by my experiences in completing this task in terms of my ability to approach new technology without inhibitions. I must admit was nervous to create a video. Ieven put it off a few days even though I knew it would take time for me to reach success. As a future educator I will need to familiarize myself with new pieces of technology all the time. I will now be more prepared to embrace new technologies that present themselves to me and will be confident in my abilities to figure things out!
My reflections on the video Growing up Online
It is easy to see how growing up online has caused parents who are and are not technologically savvy to become worried about the saftey of today's youth. There are many threats that are present within the online world such as sexual predators, cyberbullies, etc. Also, access to the interenet is available to all students. Even those without home computers can find access in libraries, internet cafes, and even at their friend's house. This unlimited access means that technology plays a major role in the lives and learning of all students. Importantly, most students do not access this technology for educational reasons, but for social networking purposes. It would be beneficial for parents and educators to comply with the fact that technology use is growing and will not be a passing trend. Teaching students to use technology for educational puposes would allow students to participate in technologies in school as well as out of school. As a future educator and parent I will try my best to not over emphasize the negative side of the online world. Rather, I will try to provide education on ways to use the internet as a resource and a method for positive self expression. With this approach youth will not become wary of adults who accuse them of not being aware of the dangers of growing up online.
My reflections on the preface and chapter 1 of Rethinking Education in the Age of Technology
While reading the preface of Rethinking Education in the Age of Technology by Collins and Halverson I was confronted by an issue that seems obvious upon hearing it, but has never really crossed my mind. Technology is such an integral part of education and learning and the lives of modern students, but strong incompatibilities exist between the use of technology in life long education and in traditional schooling. Access to technology impacts learning in a major way, but most students have limited contact with technology in school. In fact, students have a great deal more interaction with technology outside of school. The preface also suggests that without the successful integration of technology into schooling, students will be likely to seek education elsewhere. This is an important realization for Americans to make because this possibility is very real. The tradition of attending school every weekday would not be necessary if access to education was just as easily achieved at home through the use of technology. This situation has already occured many times when adults decide to take college courses online in order to complete their degree requirements from home. Therefore, understanding ways in which technology can be used within the classroom and embracing changes in public schooling is a necessary first step to take.
Chapter 1 of the book explains ways in which the current status of education is in the midst of a dramatic change. This change is a result of the "information" or "knowledge" revolution that is currently in effect thanks to the rapid increase of available technologies. This revolution changes traditional perceptions of schooling because people can now decide what they want to learn, where they want to learn, and how they want to learn it. In addition, this knowledge revolution is gradually transforming work puting emphasis on skills of accessing, evaluating, and synthesizing information. There is a significant gap between the technology that is available inside and outside of the classroom, thus many students are moving their education out of schools and into more choice arenas. The authors bring up some undeniable truths about the way technology is genrally viewed in schools. Cell phones, video games, and other technologies are viewed as distractions and traditional classrooms are often uncomfortable with the prospect of embracing new technologies. I find it helpful that the authors take a neutral perspective on the role of new technology expressing both benefits and fallbacks of the knowledge revolution. It is important to acknowledge how this increasing ability to personalize one's education might give an advantable to those who can afford the best technologies. With this information we can begin to avoid widening this gap and create equal opportunities and access for all.
This reading greatly impacts my thinking on the role of technology in learning. I am much more aware about the necessary changes that must soon take place within schools. With out a successful integration of technology into schools our current methods of schooling will be compromised, and the gaps between access to technology with become wider. Technology has a significan role in the everyday lives of modern students, thus it has an equally significant role in schools. This new thinking will greatly influence me as a future educator. It is apparant that the current tendency for teachers to avoid instead of embrace new technology is not successful. It is important that teachers stay up to date and use technologies that can provide access to education inside and outside of the classroom.
Chapter 1 of the book explains ways in which the current status of education is in the midst of a dramatic change. This change is a result of the "information" or "knowledge" revolution that is currently in effect thanks to the rapid increase of available technologies. This revolution changes traditional perceptions of schooling because people can now decide what they want to learn, where they want to learn, and how they want to learn it. In addition, this knowledge revolution is gradually transforming work puting emphasis on skills of accessing, evaluating, and synthesizing information. There is a significant gap between the technology that is available inside and outside of the classroom, thus many students are moving their education out of schools and into more choice arenas. The authors bring up some undeniable truths about the way technology is genrally viewed in schools. Cell phones, video games, and other technologies are viewed as distractions and traditional classrooms are often uncomfortable with the prospect of embracing new technologies. I find it helpful that the authors take a neutral perspective on the role of new technology expressing both benefits and fallbacks of the knowledge revolution. It is important to acknowledge how this increasing ability to personalize one's education might give an advantable to those who can afford the best technologies. With this information we can begin to avoid widening this gap and create equal opportunities and access for all.
This reading greatly impacts my thinking on the role of technology in learning. I am much more aware about the necessary changes that must soon take place within schools. With out a successful integration of technology into schools our current methods of schooling will be compromised, and the gaps between access to technology with become wider. Technology has a significan role in the everyday lives of modern students, thus it has an equally significant role in schools. This new thinking will greatly influence me as a future educator. It is apparant that the current tendency for teachers to avoid instead of embrace new technology is not successful. It is important that teachers stay up to date and use technologies that can provide access to education inside and outside of the classroom.
Day 1, Exit slip: What I learned today
Today I am taking a lot of new learning away with me from class. I have gained information about technologies that I have not had experience with such as podcast, wikis, etc. I also am leaving class today with a changed perspective on the role of technology within the classroom. Though I was aware that technology can be used as a useful tool to make learning more accessible to students, in the past I perceived that it would be more of a challenge to include technology than to avoid it. I am excited to learn how to embed the use of technology in the classroom since the daily lives of children and adults are affected by technology in this modern world. Finally, I am taking away a new perspective on how technology can be utilized in early childhood classrooms with especially young children (e.g. 2-4 year olds).
My initial respons to the role of technology on teaching and learning...
The role of technology in teaching and learning is to make things easier in the classroom. With technology lessons are conducted more smoothly with the help of smart boards, computers, and other similar tools. Computers are tools that are used in everyday life to aid in sharing, communicating, and learning new information. Certain types of technology can help students who may be struggling in one area or another. For example I have seen computer language programs being used to help English Language Learners during center time. Also, assistive technology can help students with disabilities that need support in communication, motor, and/or cognitive abilities. Technology can be used to help teachers make learning more accessible to all students.
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