Post #9

First, let me just say that I'm very impressed with the doctor's use of his iPhone to help his patients understand what he's explaining!  

I like the ideas for using video in class.  I hadn't gone much beyond the idea of filming presentations and skits.  To be able to record the students' responses to show them later or to send home to parents would be excellent, especially when tracking progress.  I also like the idea of putting the emphasis on learning rather than a grade by asking the students what they are doing and recording their answer.

Finally, I greatly support the concept of a student recording themselves solving a challenging math problem and explaining each step.  From personal experience, I can say that teaching someone else a concept GREATLY strengthens my confidence and ability in that topic.  Explaining a tough math problem and recording it with the added incentive to show the video to parents would be very helpful.

Reflection #6

I think it's pretty safe to say that technology is becoming a more and more integral part of the classroom.  Students work with technology all the time, and often are just as tech savvy as the teachers.  I think now, teachers must embrace this, and use it as a teaching tool.

Should computer activities only be used as a reward?  I don't think so.  I think teachers should do their part to help integrate technology for their students.  Make sure they can use Word and powerpoint.  Teach them to blog.  Teach them to GLOG!  Instead of just putting up with change, embrace it.

Glog!!

Reflection #5

Computer games in class...good thing or bad thing?  Sure, the kids like it, but is it actually a healthy and worthwhile method for teaching, or is it just a way to keep the kiddos occupied?  

Education computer games seem like a grand idea!  They help kids practice certain concepts, and the variety in games ranges from music to math to most any subject necessary.  Students like them - chock full of colors and animations, and maybe even characters from their favorite TV shows.  My curiosity, however, is if there is any negative effects.  I remember when the "Baby Einstein" movies came out.  They were touted to be a great breakthrough in early education, but then research started surfacing about possible destructive qualities.  Researchers questioned the possibility that brain development could be somehow effected by young children watching too much TV.  

I don't know the answer to this question.  It's simply a curiosity.  In the meantime, then, I think moderation would be the best policy.  Interpersonal activities and games are probably more beneficial anyways! :)

Post #8

After a little research, I found the reading resource game page on the PBS Kids website.  This website offers games featuring various PBS kids shows, which highlight different reading and writing skills.  The site is very colorful and seems user-friendly, in that it's easy to select the game, as well as determine which PBS show the game is based on and the skills highlighted in the game.

It could be a bit of a stretch using the website in a music classroom, especially due to the reading, writing, and literacy emphasis the games have.  However, there was one game about creating a band, and other games that can highlight cross-curricular skills.  Reading is as important in music as in any other subject, and therefore has a high priority in my classroom. 

Reflection #4

I realized today that technology, used in a classroom, is only effective if the teacher is prepared.  I know, I know, it's not a terribly unique or innovative thought, but it's important.

I spent a little time thinking about how one of my classes often feels unsettled and slightly disorganized.  It always seemed to happen when the professor wanted to show us something on the screen or play an excerpt from a song...really, anything that involves *technology*!

The professor is slightly abstract and makes quick decisions about showing us a document rather than having everything set and prepared before coming to class.  This definitely gives the class a disorganized vibe, and while it's workable, it's not ideal.

The moral of the story?  Technology works best if you know what you want to use and are prepared to properly use it.

Reflection #3

Laptops in class - yes or no?  I can't decide.  There are quite a few pro's and con's!  

Pro's: 

• Neater note taking
• Easier organization
• Digital record keeping
• Centralized location of notes

Con's:

• Hard to copy diagrams into a word document
• Temptation to check Facebook or do other things
• Distracting to yourself and other students

And the list goes on.

Some professors discourage or completely outlaw electronic devices of any type in their classroom, while others encourage them.  Each professor has their reasons for either choice, but I think ultimately, it comes down to the class.  For example, a laptop in a biology lab or a painting class would be fairly useless.  In a Bible history class, however, a laptop might save your wrist a lot of strain from the copious notes.  

Ultimately, I can't settle on one side or the other of the debate about laptops in class.  I can see good things and bad things about either side.

Post #7

I looked at a Mukilteo Elemtary blog, and luckily found some information regarding math!  Here is what I noticed:

*The teacher posts the homework assignments in a PDF document.  This is great because not only can students easily access their homework, should they have missed school or misplaced the assignment, but parents/guardians know exactly what their students are doing in class.

*The teacher posted links and thumbnail pictures to several math games and resources.  This gives students a safe place to practice math on their own, using a website that the teacher has reviewed.

*The teacher posted PDF links to different math worksheets for student practice.

I think this teacher has done a great job of utilizing technology in a simple, yet effective way that is easy for both students and parents/guardians to access and understand.

Reflection #2

Using the smart response clickers in our last class reminded me of using the same clickers in my Educational Psychology class last semester.  In our class, we used the clickers to submit answers to quiz-style questions while in Educational Psychology, the questions were opinion based...I believe the lecture focused on the issue of morality and ethics.  Thinking about the differences between these classes brought me to thinking about the benefits of using the clickers.

I think the most important benefit of using the clickers in class is that students will be more willing to take risks in answering questions.  For me, especially in the Ed. Psych class, anonymity greatly helped my willingness to be honest in answering these controversial questions.  I think in the regular classroom, then, students will be more likely to answer with what they believe the answer to be, rather than what they think the popular answer is.  Also, they won't have to fear judgement from other students.

All in all, I really like the idea of using clickers as a means to occasionally conduct quizzes and surveys in the classroom.

Links to Comments

Angela's blog

Cassie's blog

Stephanie's blog 
Stephanie's blog #2

Kyle's blog

JoDee's blog 

Jodie's blog 

Drew's blog 

Camille's blog

Chelsea's blog

Post #6

Young people's ability to use technology is amazing.  My 8 year old nephew knows his PSP inside and out, and often shows me how to use the Wii.  I'm almost to the point that if I had a computer problem, I might just call him rather than going to Apple for tech support!  Okay, maybe not that extreme, but I think you see my point.  Kids just understand technology.

I really liked the idea of blogging that this article presented.  For kids to create their own professional looking web product that is available to an audience is key to motivate creativity and excitement in their work.  Perhaps it would also act as an incentive.  I also like the concept that classrooms states or even oceans apart can connect and learn from each other via blogs or websites.

I thought the creativity teachers use not only in creating class blogs and websites, but protecting their students in the process is really amazing.  Using each student's initials or a "code name" probably works really well, but I liked the creativity of having the students upload self portraits or even being identified by a photo of the back of their head.

To conclude, although it's almost frightening to me that kids are so tech savvy, I think it's imperative to educate them about technology with technology at a young age.  Where else will they learn how to use computers or create and maintain blogs?  How else could they learn how social media and networking sites function, as well as how to safely use them?  In a sense, embracing technology in the classroom is a form of evolution.  We, as educators, just have to grow with our students.

Reflection #1

Technology in the classroom is excellent!  Until it fails...and then what do you do?

As amazing as technology is, it still falls short sometimes.  Perhaps the projector light bulb breaks, or the computer freezes...or maybe the program just doesn't work.  Enter stress response!  It's easy to become exasperated and annoyed with the errant technology, inadvertently throwing the lesson plans out the window in reaction to the frustration.  If that happens daily, however, no lessons will be taught!  How can we cope?

In observing various teachers, professors and peers, it seems like they see the most success in following through with their lesson when they are comfortable in front of the class and familiar with their lesson.  They are confident enough to improvise a little, alter the technological segment, or skip it all together.  We shouldn't let the possible failure of technology keep us from planning to use it, though.  

Make plans to use technology, using it to the fullest capacity you can.  Practice using it, learning it inside and out to trouble shoot when problems arise and create lessons such that problems are less likely to occur.  Always know how to "escape" and maybe even have a basic backup plan if the technology fails.  Most importantly, "Keep calm and carry on."