Blog Post #C - Chapter 3

(Edward) 

       "What can you teach with technology that you cannot teach just as well without?" (Maloy) This is a great question raised in Chapter 3 Transforming Learning with Unique, Powerful Technology. It made me realize that not every parent will want their children using technology all the time. I was reminded that we must always be prepared with an answer so we are not thrown off guard. As educators we must know why we are using the teaching style we are using and be confident in it.

       "First, students use computers to do what they cannot easily do on paper. Second, students encounter types of problems that occur in the real world or problems of personal interest to them. Third, students integrate knowledge of technology (how to use computers and game-playing machines) with academic content (how to understand the science, math, history, or language arts material that is embedded in the structure of the game)." (Maloy)

       "Technology facilitates a vision of education based on the idea that when students work together, they will acquire skills and exchange knowledge in ways that create and sustain lasting learning." (Maloy) I personally know this to be true. In high school I was apart of the Journalism Academy. Within this Academy, we were taught how to use different computer softwares to make our online journal top notch. I made many close friends within that Academy and we taught one another different skills that enhanced one another's work. Without my classmates I wouldn't have been able to acquire half the knowledge I know about Photoshop and Adobe Indesign.

       Within my journalism class I discovered that my favorite aspect of the software was the limitless designs I was able to create for my journal entries. I was able to use technology to be creative, I was able to do things on the computer that I physically could not do with a pen and paper. In Chapter 3 they used the term "Redefining Creativity...For students in schools, computers transform the process of expressing ones ideas creatively using writing". (Maloy)

       For those of you who have seen the show Bones this thought reminded me of the character Angela Montenegro. Technology is being redefined and refined to be used across a very wide spectrum of different uses. In the show Bones Ms. Montenegro is an artist at heart, but she uses advanced technology to do facial reconstruction, murder theories, and much more. Within this particular show it displays a characters love for art shining through a technological lensed.

       Technology isn't just for the scientist and mathematicians, technology is also for the artist, musicians, and writers.


Resources

Edward, A (2015, September 24). A Parent Teacher Conference. Created with Bitstrips http://www.bitstrips.com/r/WDP0Z

Maloy, R., O'Loughlin, R., Edwards, S., & Woolf, B. (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education Inc.
                                                                  

Blog Post #B - Chapter 2

Chapter 2 Understanding Educational Technology Issues and Trends, opened my eyes to a few ideas I had not thought about prior.

         I grew up with technology in the classroom, but not the way students of today have. I went to school before the iPhone was invented, before iPads, and swiping things. The only technology we used consisted of overheads and laptops, and if we got to use laptops it was a very special day. Today some schools are getting iPads for every student and using technology that I could only have dreamed about. In many ways the students of today are very different than my generation, but we also have similarities. Although the technology has changed through out the years the people have not. There are still different types of learners today just like there was ten, twenty, fifty years ago. Below in the Prezi that I included you will see different types of learning styles. By knowing these types of learning styles you can incorporate technology in ways that are geared toward these specific learners.

         (Roa) (Learning Styles) (30 of The Best) (Edward)
     
         As I continued to read Chapter 2 I wondered if every lesson plan could benefit from the use of technology. I've decided that if the technology enhances the lesson than every lesson can benefit, but if we use technology in one of our lessons just because, then I don't believe that it would be beneficial. I believe that as teachers and humans in general we should do our jobs with purpose. Technology is cool, but it is meant to be used as a tool, "to solve problems, and extend the human capabilities". (Maloy)

          It was also brought to my attention that although I know many things about technology there are still plenty of things to learn.  I had no idea how many apps and websites there were dedicated to learning, but as I've read this chapter and done my own research I've just begun to realized the limitless amount of technological tools we have access to today.

          The one challenge I found after reading Chapter 2 is that when I become a teacher, how can I help solve the problem of unequal access to technology, because some families are blessed to have multiple technological devices at their disposal while others are not so fortunate. I thought about teachers who get to school early and say late just so students can use the schools resources. I think that that is a star, I would like to be part of a change that makes it easy for students to have easier access to technologies of all kinds.

Resources

30 of The Best Educational Tools for Auditory, Visual, and Kinesthetic Learners. (2003-2015). Retrieved from http://learningpath.org/articles/30_of_the_Best_Educational_Tools_for_Auditory_Visual_and_Kinesthetic_Learners.html

Edward, A.  (2015, September 18). Learning Styles Within Our Classroom. Created with Prezi  https://prezi.com/your/

Learning Styles. (2015). Retrieved from https://www.time4learning.com/learning-styles.shtml

Maloy, R., O'Loughlin, R., Edwards, S., & Woolf, B. (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education Inc.

Roa, A. (2013, January 4). TEACHBYTES. [Blog Post]. Retrieved from  http://teachbytes.com/2013/03/26/8-tech-tools-for-logicalmathematical-learners/

Blog Post #A - Chapter 1

Blog Post #A

I am a 21st century student, and after reading Chapter 1 I hope to become a 21st century teacher. I’ve been playing with all things technological for as long as I can remember. A favorite family story at my house that we share is how I taught my grandparents how to use the VCR, way back in the 90’s when VCRs existed. My grandparents had been babysitting me, and I asked if we could watch a movie, my grandparents said that was fine, but they didn’t know how to work the VCR. I remember telling them I knew how to do it, but they wouldn’t let me. So they called my parents, who were at a friends house and asked how to work the VCR. My dad laughed and said let Alexis show you, she knows how to work it. At four years old I was using technology.

In Chapter 1 it talked about how 21st century students spend around 10 hours and 45 minutes on different technological devices when they’re not at school. At first that blew my mind, then I started to think how often I use my phone, laptop, and television, and the hours added up quickly. It also made me think about how income affects the technology that I have been able to familiarize myself with throughout the years. Growing up my family was in no ways rich, but we were comfortable. My family has always had a computer, television, and phone on hand. I’ve grown up with MP3 players,iPods, video games, robotic toys, and digital cameras.

This chapter made me think about the way I would like to incorporate technology into my future classroom one day, as well as how different teachers in my past have used technology to help us learn. When I was in third grade, my elementary school got its very first SmartBoard. I remember going to our science elective class and learning science with the aid of the board and just thinking how cool it was that it was a board and also a computer. I remember being so excited to go to science because I might have the chance to use the SmartBoard.

Another way teachers have used technology in my past has been to play games such as Jeopardy, so we could study, and have fun at the same time. We’ve watched educational videos, YouTube shows, and illustrations. One teacher uploaded her Sign Language videos to a website so we could continue to study at home, all of these aspects took teaching and learning to a new level.

I know that as the world and generations become more tech savvy I will want to incorporate as much tech as I can into my classroom. I don’t want to ban technology from my class, I want to teach students how they can use technology to better their education, and better themselves. My first goal to becoming a tech savvy teacher is to  understand my digital identity, although I believe that will come with time as I get a handle on what my future students interact with the best.

I found a website that lists different ways to use different types of technology in the classroom, especially through apps.

http://www.iheartliteracy.com/2014/06/technology-in-classroom.html




This video I included asks kids about the technology they use in their classes and what they imagine classrooms in the future will be like.