Read my Storybird here!
Take a look at this link for my Standards for the project, handouts, rubrics, and podcast!
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
End of Semester Reflection
Coincidentally, I was just reflecting last week on how much I've been learning in this course and wrote a reflection post on it. I think the majority of my learning in class this semester has come with becoming more familiar with all of the online tools available to teachers.
Holy presentation tools, Batman! Seriously though, there are so many different presentation tools out there, from Prezi to Flipsnack, to Vuvox. Not to mention all of the websites that are just plain cool (Storybird, ThingLink, DonorsChoose, etc.). This class has given me countless resources for when I have my own classroom. I've already used many of the tools that I've learned from this class in my other courses, so I can only imagine how helpful they will be when I'm consistently teaching lessons.
Beyond the various tools that I've learned to operate, I've also learned that schools are required to be proactive in teaching technology. This doesn't only include teaching the logistics of technology but also digital citizenship, how to operate responsibly online and with technology.
The NETS-T that I chose to focus on requires teachers to "facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity." It requires teachers to integrate their knowledge of content, teaching, and technology in order to get students excited about learning. As I've been designing lessons and utilizing technology in those lessons, I'm realizing how effective it is. Students get excited about learning when technology is involved. I think this standard is important for teachers to meet.
Holy presentation tools, Batman! Seriously though, there are so many different presentation tools out there, from Prezi to Flipsnack, to Vuvox. Not to mention all of the websites that are just plain cool (Storybird, ThingLink, DonorsChoose, etc.). This class has given me countless resources for when I have my own classroom. I've already used many of the tools that I've learned from this class in my other courses, so I can only imagine how helpful they will be when I'm consistently teaching lessons.
Beyond the various tools that I've learned to operate, I've also learned that schools are required to be proactive in teaching technology. This doesn't only include teaching the logistics of technology but also digital citizenship, how to operate responsibly online and with technology.
The NETS-T that I chose to focus on requires teachers to "facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity." It requires teachers to integrate their knowledge of content, teaching, and technology in order to get students excited about learning. As I've been designing lessons and utilizing technology in those lessons, I'm realizing how effective it is. Students get excited about learning when technology is involved. I think this standard is important for teachers to meet.
Reflection #12
Yesterday, I went on an internet quest to figure out how to embed songs into a blog post. The trek took much longer than expected, but I eventually figured it out. It made me feel so accomplished.
Then I started to think how long the same task would have taken a kid to figure out. No matter how quickly I do something, there will be some kid somewhere who's doing it faster. The same principle works on the other side of the spectrum, however. No matter how slow I am with technology, there's somebody out there who's slower.
Humanity isn't equal in anything, so why should we expect it to be in technology? Kids are always going to be faster at technology; adults will always be slower. In order to master this whole technology thing, we need to have humility and grace. Besides, technology is always developing, so even the most tech-savvy individual will never run out of things to learn.
Then I started to think how long the same task would have taken a kid to figure out. No matter how quickly I do something, there will be some kid somewhere who's doing it faster. The same principle works on the other side of the spectrum, however. No matter how slow I am with technology, there's somebody out there who's slower.
Humanity isn't equal in anything, so why should we expect it to be in technology? Kids are always going to be faster at technology; adults will always be slower. In order to master this whole technology thing, we need to have humility and grace. Besides, technology is always developing, so even the most tech-savvy individual will never run out of things to learn.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Reflection #11
The semester is coming to a close, and I am now realizing how many more technological tools I have in my teaching belt because of this class. From SMART Exchange to Storybird to understanding how to find the NETS, my ability to integrate technology into presentations and teaching has grown tremendously.
Not only are these tools helpful for teaching, but I am also able to use them to spice up assignments in other classes. I just gave a presentation yesterday in which I used prezi.com. I had seen presentations from the website before, but this class really inspired me to try it out for myself. I also was able to integrate portions of the SMART software into a presentation for another class.
As reluctant as I often am to learn new technologies, I understand that, in the hands of a careful practitioner, technology can be a very powerful tool.
Not only are these tools helpful for teaching, but I am also able to use them to spice up assignments in other classes. I just gave a presentation yesterday in which I used prezi.com. I had seen presentations from the website before, but this class really inspired me to try it out for myself. I also was able to integrate portions of the SMART software into a presentation for another class.
As reluctant as I often am to learn new technologies, I understand that, in the hands of a careful practitioner, technology can be a very powerful tool.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Week 14
Technology is always looking toward the future; it constantly develops and becomes obsolete very quickly. Naturally, this leads us, as educators, to thinking about how ever-changing technology will affect education in the future.
Obviously, no one can predict where technology will strike next, but education will most likely align with the current wireless trend. While our globe keeps shrinking due to the ability to communicate instantaneously, our personal, face-to-face interactions seem to be thinning as well. How will this affect the classroom, given that its format is face-to-face interaction?
While our technology seems to be eliminating the necessity of physically interacting with one another, Larry Cuban, in an article he contributed to The Washington Post warns us not to be too hasty in dismissing the traditional classroom: "magical thinking about transforming teaching and learning–dumping teachers and traditional schools disappearing–is close to make-believe even when children have these powerful devices in their hands." Technology, as rapid and engaging as it is, will never be able to offer the same benefits to students as teachers.
Obviously, no one can predict where technology will strike next, but education will most likely align with the current wireless trend. While our globe keeps shrinking due to the ability to communicate instantaneously, our personal, face-to-face interactions seem to be thinning as well. How will this affect the classroom, given that its format is face-to-face interaction?
While our technology seems to be eliminating the necessity of physically interacting with one another, Larry Cuban, in an article he contributed to The Washington Post warns us not to be too hasty in dismissing the traditional classroom: "magical thinking about transforming teaching and learning–dumping teachers and traditional schools disappearing–is close to make-believe even when children have these powerful devices in their hands." Technology, as rapid and engaging as it is, will never be able to offer the same benefits to students as teachers.
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