Readings - Week 12 - Beyond Technology

And once again I read an article that makes so much sense yet includes information that I haven't thought about. How true is it that a school can't simply buy and install technology and think that it is going to make huge changes. As the article, Beyond Technology mentions, there are a number of things that have to occur in addition to the buying and installing of technology. Of all the reasons the author listed, the one that I liked the best had to do with teacher training and motivation. There are still a large amount of teachers who prefer to teach in a traditional method and are unwilling and uncomfortable moving to more of a constructivist methodology. Personally, I can name more teachers at my school who prefer the traditional style than those who do not. I don't think thought that this can't be changed, or that there can't be an alter in the ways that teachers are teaching. The authors strategy's for implementing and using technology were great explanations as to how the transition can be smooth. The one that stood out to me most was:
Strategy 3: Invest in staff growth. The most powerful strategies to promote staff enthusiasm and competence are informal. Instead of falling into what I call the "software trap," we should offer a rich menu of learning opportunities that match the diverse styles, interests, and skill levels of our teachers.
If there is an adaptation to accomodate the differences among teachers and their teaching styles, then it would be so much easier to implement and use technology efficiently.

Readings - Week 11 - One Computer Classroom

Hey was this article written just for me? I thought I was the last person on the planet to have only one computer in their classroom!!! :) I found the article pretty useful, but some of the suggestions I already do or can't do. For example, I already use the computer as a Presentation Station. I begged, and finally received, an average (spelling???) so I can present on the TV. The only problem with this is that sometimes things are too small and my 35 students have a hard time seeing from across the room. I really like the idea of a Learning Station, but we are restricted from allowing students to use our computer. Administration, and our tech coordinator, have been pretty hardcore about student's using teachers computers. I am not quite sure why, as I have never been given a solid explanation. It is very frustrating only having the once computer (which by the way was built in the ice ages and I am lucky if it crashes less that 3 times a day). I liked the suggestions in Article One, but unfortunately don't think they work for my situation!

Readings - Week 10 - Authentic Assessment

Yet another term that I have not heard; authentic assessment. Although I am familiar with the concept, I never knew what it was called. And once again, I totally agree with it! As a new teacher, I sometimes wonder if the 50 multiple choice question test I just gave my students really is a reliable indicator of what they have learned. My overall guess now, especially after reading Authentic Assessment Overview, is a big fat NO!!!! I most like the fact that it shows students learn how to apply their skills to authentic tasks and projects. I also like what the author said about authentic assessment, that it does not encourage rote learning and passive test-taking but instead, it focuses on students' analytical skills; ability to integrate what they learn; creativity; ability to work collaboratively; and written and oral expression skills. Isn't that what is really important anyway?

Readings - Week 9 - Information Literacy

Just a few days ago I received a memo in my box from our librarian that stated teachers should not accept Wikipedia as a reputable source for students when they are researching. This is the first time I have seen something printed out and given to all teachers in regards to information literacy. It is truly overwhelming how many websites are out there for any given topic. Students do carry the mentality that if it's on the internet it must be true. I think this is because they don't really understand hpw the information gets there in the first place. It was scary to read in the article, Authenticating Online Information, that less than three in ten secondary school kids (27%) say they take the time to confirm that the information they find online can be trusted (Thank God I am not an English teacher!!!!). How hard it must be as a teacher to determine what's legitimate and what's not with so much information out there. This is where the importance of teaching our students how to properly search comes in key. If students are first introduced at a young age how to find appropriate and credible information, and teachers keep on showing them as they get older, I think a lot more students that 27% would take the time to make sure what they found was legit.

Readings Week - 8 - Laptop Lessons

The article Laptop Lessons was interesting to read. Stephen J. Valentine, the author, made a lot of good points and revelations. The section where he talked about being at home on a Monday night with his laptop on his lap and having a student chirp in to chat made me realize that could be a common form of communication in the not-too-near-future. Personally, I think that's great! If a student sends me an IM during the evening inquiring about an assignment, I would be thrilled that they were actually doing their homework and cared about what they were to do for class!!! I think that laptops are a great tool for the classroom - I can think of so many ways that I would use them, but on the other side I also understand the frustrations Valentine mentioned. Broken connections, failure to print, and crashing computers can definatley hinder the learning and teaching process!!

Readings Week 7 - Understand By Design

I had never heard of Understand by Design until this class. After reading the article and going through the PowerPoint presentations, I agree with this method of teaching. I think that I most like the "real-life" aspect. In the article, Understanding by Design and Backwards Design, the author stated that the new information that the student is engaged in learning focuses on "real life" or "authentic" tasks that require problem solving, creative thinking, and critical thinking. I like the idea of a student taking information and applying to his/her real life. I do this a lot in my class with my American Government students. A lot of the content we cover directly applies to their life; such as being a good citizen, their Constitutional rights, and registering to vote. This is what I like most about teaching government - the fact that they can relate the content to their own lives.

Readings Week 6 - Technology In Social Studies

I was elated to see readings that specifically show how technology can be implemented into a social studies plan. One of my biggest irritations with my district is that they seem to think that technology cannot be used in history classes, and when it comes to adding resources to classrooms, history teachers are the last to get technology. For example, math classes already have SMART Boards and next to get them is the science department then the business department, the english department and then, finally, us! I really enjoyed the lesson shown in Integrating Technology in the Social Studies Class. I liked the idea of having students create comic strips based on Supreme Court cases - that's such a great idea!!!

Readings Week 5 - WebQuests

I think a good point was brought up by Bernie Dodge in Making WebQuests more Exciting that a lot of WebQuests are just busy work in electronic form. I had never really thought of that before, but once I read it a light bulb went off in my head. Somethings I think we believe that we are appropriately implementing technology by using WebQuests or Launch Pages, but just because studnets are using a computer doesn't necessecarily mean that it's a meaningful and educational lesson. We need to appropriately use technology in our lesson planning; WebQuests such be inspiring not just clicking and reading. After reading what Dodge said, it has inspired me to be more creative in creating WebQuests.

Readings Week 4 - Curriculum Mapping

I think that curriculum mapping is a great resource to have, especially for first year teachers such as myself. My department uses a curriculum map which has made my lesson planning so much easier than if I were to haven been just given a textbook and told to go for it. The organization of a curriculum map is what is key for me. Having such an organized guide to what is being taught is a great way for virtually anyone to see what is going on at any time. The author of Roadmap to Success: A Curriculum Mapping Primer also points this out by saying that members of an educational community can look at the school's curriculum map to discover when and if specific content is covered. This helps to reassure interested parents when specific information will be taught. I couldn't agree more.

Readings Week 3 - Tech Intergration

In the article, A Multimedia Odyssey: One teacher's journey into technology integration, I really liked the story told by the author as to how technology was integrated throughout the past ten-fifteen years. I especially liked the Rules of Thumb section, as the author was very frank about what to expect. * Set up a well-coordinated system with other teachers. * Share ideas constantly. * Be aware of Murphy's Law. * Prepare for more planning time than ever before. As I find ways to implement technology into my lessons and my curriculum, I find that these Rules of Thumbs are very true. The one that holds most true for me is the increase in planning time, alhtough I feel that is is very worth it!

Readings Week 2 - Constructivism

When reading the article, School Reform: What Role can Technology Play in a Constructivist Setting?, I relate as a teacher to the author; especially when she wrote that the ideas and interests of children drive the learning process. I also agree that as a constructivist, teachers are flexible; sometimes they are the giver of knowledge, but often are the facilitator. I, in my first year of teaching, have found that stepping back and taking the role of a facilitator has worked very well. Student have varying learning styles and by allowing them to apply their own knowledge to their learning inturn allows them to learn at an appropriate pace for their ability.