5/29/2014 - Read the first chapter and it had some initial information on the incredible advances in the worldwide web and introduced the tools that we will explore during this course. Tools include blogging, wiki's, RSS, aggregators, social bookmarking, online photo sharing, and audio video - casting. Ended by explicitly stating that one of the most important jobs for an educator while teaching with technology is to instill responsible behavior in students. Students need to be protected, depending on their age, and need to learn what to avoid.
While working in class we learned how to clean up google drive and explored elements of our google + profiles. The most interesting part of my explorations were in google communities. Never even knew it existed! National Geographic Education Community: yes, please!
Much can be extrapolated from the information in chapter one. A general synopsis might include an emphasis on the change in technology over the past 2 decades in the development of the world wide web. Additionally, the direction the text takes highlights the potential in the classrooms as the teacher is now able to access much more information to provide to their learners in multiple ways.
ReplyDeleteChapter 1 What I’ve learned so far…
ReplyDeleteThe immediacy/current/up-to-date/of-the-moment news, research and information on people with disabilities is readily accessible (the information is up-to-date because it is being contributed to by so many)...For use by/contributed by teachers/those in the medical field/parents/children themselves
Sharing curriculum/individual forms/newsletters/photos/forms indicating child’s day+routine+behaviors can all be sent via email to families/child’s specialists or doctors (instead of a phone call, fax, or physical papers sent home that can get lost or be overwhelming) leads to much more efficiency and a documented record of communication
Learning first/teaching second: important to remember as I learn about technology for my classroom
Note on how to apply to my teaching: must remember confidentiality/permission etc!!
Chapter one was a broad overview of what the rest of the book was going to look like. It started out by giving a brief history of what the internet is and how far we have come. Upon talking about where we are now it started to talk about how as teachers we can use the Web as a great learning source. The concept of the read/write is a very exciting transformation that is happening on the internet and can be very beneficial in a classroom. Politics and particularly the Obama campaign benefited a great deal from people being able to post their opinions and conversations grew out of it. It talked about how our students are growing up in a society where the internet is no big deal and not a new thing, so they already have a lot of knowledge about it. Almost every student I work with will talk about the internet. Teachers are having to learn the new world of the internet to be able to really foster some great learning that can come from this amazing tool. Global conversations can be made.
ReplyDeleteIf you really wanna see everything I noted and wrote about Chapter #1 here is the link:
ReplyDeletehttps://docs.google.com/a/pacificu.edu/document/d/1vwh2MXPcgiKww8B7xmIDestf7aDbL_zyPcxUGGaVtfM/edit?usp=drive_web
If not, and I don't blame you, here is the summary:
Increasingly children are exposed to more and more screen time. Children are fearless when it comes to exploring technology and trying new things on their devices. Technology is really an extention of who this young people are, and teachers, for the most part, have been unwilling to change practices in order to adapt to their changing classroom population.
There are many aspects of fusing classroom learning and technology to consider. Student safety and privacy and responsibility is probably the most important aspect to tackle right out of the gate. Including parents in the classroom plan is extremely important. Do parents want their child's name, picture, or age on the Web? Do kids know what to do when they come across inappropriate content? Providing a place that is safe where students can maintain integrity is crucial.
Another point that was made, almost as important as safety, is allowing your passions to guide your practice. We are, after all, not only teachers. We are outdoor lovers, art collectors, baseball fanatics, mothers, fathers, knitters, bakers... allowing passion to guide your technological endeavors will motivate a person to learn more, dive deeper, and find real treasures. Then, with a foundation of tech knowledge, you can start guiding your practice!
All in all, I know that I need to abandom many pre-conceived notions that I have about teaching and technology and start taking baby steps towards a more diverse and open-minded practice.
Baby step #1...here we go!
As I read Chapter 1, this is the quote that captivated my thinking, “… every person with access--will have the ability to contribute ideas and experiences to the larger body of knowledge…” (Richardson, 2010, p. 4). As an educator, I think it enthralls to the importance of collaboration between teachers and students, which is pivotal in teaching and learning. What I see my role being as technology becomes part of my classroom, is of a, facilitator. I want to create an atmosphere where each student feels comfortable to demonstrate and enhance his/her skills.
ReplyDelete