Prompt #10

For this post, I decided to discuss English/ Language arts (chapter 8 of Technology Applications for the Digital Classroom).  There are a vast number of ways to use online resources to teach this core subject. One of them that I really liked was the idea of using blogs and wikis in the classroom - http://www.slideshare.net/meganpoore/using-wikis-and-blogs-in-class-345547. I think this is a good idea because it lets students think creatively and express their own thoughts (through blogs) and learn how to collaborate with each other while using technology (through wikis).

I also really liked the artistic approach to teaching ELLS- Students whose first language is not English make use of their first language to develop competency in the English language arts and to develop understanding of content across the curriculum" (Technology Applications for the Digital Classroom).  Through this website, I learned several ways that art can be used to teach writing to ELLS. I especially liked the idea of having them fill in the blanks of song lyrics while listening to songs. I think this is a good idea  because it will peak student interest as well as deelop their listening and  writing skills. http://www.slideshare.net/JayneBognar/jayne-bognar-an-artistic-approach-to-teaching-writing-to-el-ls

This chapter showed me that there are a huge variety of different ways to make learning Language Arts fun, while using technology and being creative with it. I will definitely use these resources in the future when I plan my own lessons.

Prompt #9

For this post, I will discuss issue #2 of Chapter 6 of Technology Applications for the Digital Classroom. This issue discusses Wikipedia and whether or not students should be allowed to use it for research. I believe that Wikipedia should not be totally out of question for research. It can be a good starting point, especially if it has it's own sources that students can trace and use. As long as students know that some of the information on the site may not be true, they can use it to determine which information is credible and back it up with research.

Prompt #8

For this post, I will discuss Issue #15 of Chapter 6 of Technology Applications for the Digital Classroom. This issue discusses student "screen time" and whether or not it should be limited. The pro side of the issue argues that too much screen time causes a lack of engagement for students in other activities. The con side argues that there is a misunderstanding about what screen time really involves - that it can be very productive and engaging.

I think that there should be a balance between these two arguments. Students should not be simply scrolling through facebook or playing video games that don't engage their brain. However, technology can interest them and allow them to use their knowledge in many different ways, and I don't think that this should be limited.

Prompt #7

I believe that many of the new technologies being developed will be  integrated into classrooms in the future. However, I think that many of these things may take a while to be used in classrooms even after they are developed. I think that fairly soon, cloud computing will be used for a lot of tasks, and so that students may collaborate much more on a classroom and even global level. In general, I think that cloud computing leads to many of the other new developments that are being created. This will likely cause an explosion of new products that can be used with cloud computing - such as e-languages, game based learning, and even a collaboration of information about "kites around the world"

Prompt #6

Although it is obvious that technology has changed drastically from centuries ago, sometimes I forget just how much technology has changed even in my own lifetime. This chapter of Technology Applications for the Digital Classroom showed me that not only have new inventions appeared during this time, (such as ipods, tablets, smartboards) but existing technology has developed and become even more useful. Technology has definitely been integrated much more into society and the classroom since I was in elementary school. In many classrooms, smartboards are used instead of whiteboards, and powerpoint presentations or other computer based teaching tools are used. A lot of people use technology in their day to day use a lot more, including children and adults. The internet is used a lot more to find out about news than a newspaper, and people stay connected with each other much easier through twitter, facebook, texting, etc.  Overall, I think that technology is changing even more rapidly, and that as a future teacher, I must learn to adapt and integrate this technology at the same pace.

Prompt #5

According to Chapter 3 of Technology Applications for the Digital Classroom, there are 5 ISTE standards for teachers. These include: Facilitating and inspiring student learning and creativity, Designing and Developing Digital Age Learning Experiments and Assessments, Modeling Digital - Age working and learning, Promoting and Modeling Digital Citizenship and Responsibility, and Engaging in Professional Growth and Leadership. These standards are closely related/ connected to the standards for students. I think this is important because teachers' interests should match up with their students, so that they can all develop and make the learning experience the best it can be for the students. Teachers should also be good role models for their students for how to use technology with proper etiquette.

I plan to use technology to be a good role model for my students for the etiquette of technology. I will also use technology to develop more creative lesson plans that incorporate the use of technology in the classroom for my students.   This will encourage them to think in different ways and give them other options to be assessed beyond a paper test that forces them to regurgitate information.

Prompt #4

In the third chapter of Technology Applications for the Digital Classroom, six ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) are discussed for students.  These standards include: 1. Creativity and Innovation, 2. Communication and Collaboration, 3. Research and Information Fluency, 4. Critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making, 5. Digital citizenship (using technology ethically), and 6. Technology operations and concepts. It is important to integrate these standards in the classroom, not only because this is what students are used to socially, but because it is how the classroom itself and the way we teach in changing. As Alvin Toffler noted, the way that we teach must change because the economy and workforce is changing as well. By teaching students the proper ways to use technology, they will be better prepared to the digital world in the workplace. They should be able to think creatively and work with others and develop new things, rather than simply regurgitating information. Students are moving into a modern world that requires creativity and innovation, rather than requiring them to be prepared for factory and farm work.

Prompt #3

Upon reviewing the Pew Research Center's research as well as the video provided in chapter 3 of Technology Applications for the Digital Classroom, I realized that present day teachers need to teach a lot differently than in the past generations. It will likely be easier for me to teach using technology than someone who is a "digital immigrant". Because I have grown up with the use of technology, I think I will be able to relate better to my students, and understand how they can learn. I understand that multitasking is a big part of our world today, even with regards to the classroom. Although I hope to teach early elementary school where cell phones and  ipods as distractions hopefully won't be as much as a problem, I still need to realize that these children are constantly exposed to technology too. To prepare them for the digital world, I will integrate technology into lessons, and make sure my students are stimulated and interested. The digital world needs people to be creative and innovative, and developing new ideas. If I can keep students interested with a variety of media, this will hopefully encourage inquiry and creativity that they can carry with them as they get older, and as technology changes and develops even more.

Prompt #2 : Bloom's Taxonomy

I believe that  Bloom's Taxonomy as applied to technology and education today is a little outdated with regards to some aspects. One of the main things that the original version is missing is the thought process involved with creating. Technology can be used to learn about new ideas, develop them and create new ones. This becomes especially true the further we go into the future and become more reliant on the use of technology.

 However, I do think that Bloom developed some good ideas that can be altered for classrooms of the 21st century. I agree that people can use different levels of thinking at certain times, and that different ways of thinking can be appropriate for different activities. A teacher should be able to encourage students to think in many different ways, with the use of many different materials including technology.

I agreed with Andrew Johnson's video where he described different action words to describe each level of thinking. This can help students (and teachers) to be more creative and innovative, again which relates to technology and the development of new things. Although a student may not always be able to be creative because of the nature of the material, they should be able to think in different ways and use many different kinds of thinking when they have the opportunity to do so.