New thinking I took from class today

During discussion I learned that when we present it would be good large amounts of small group discussion, but at the same time balancing large group discussion. Keep directions very clear, really keep an eye on time management. Balance your responsibilities. Make sure to use your teacher voices.  Be cautious in making generalizations. Sharing you own perspectives can be powerful.  Try to have student to student discussion, not going through the teacher at every step, in my mind this could be formed as some sort of debate.  Something else that I took away from today is that when using technologies like Smart Notebook, don’t just use it to use technology make sure that it actually is beneficial to use it instead of for example a whiteboard.

Reflection Rethinking Education in the Age of Technology Chapter 3

I think that the chapter of the skeptics made some very good points. I thought that the first part of the chapter showing all of the quotes of different educators from the past making comments on new technologies was particularly powerful. I think it illustrated the point well that there are always going to be people that want to resist change particularly in the regards to technology. Everyone seems to hold on to the way they do things and don’t want to let go or feel threatened by change. I can see this as a major problem for implementing new technologies in the classroom particularly in regards to getting teachers and administrators on board. One thing that I came into the chapter knowing, but was reinforced by reading was that one of the difficulties with implementing use of computers in the classroom is cost and therefore availability. I can see how it could be a problem trying to use computers heavily with limited availability to students. I really hadn’t thought about it previously how much extra time of instruction is wasted simply by having to move students from the classroom to the computer lab for when computers would be needed. Additionally I think the issue of cost is paramount. I can see how difficult it may be, now particularly with limited funding, to lower the ratio of students to computers. The way schools were described as just in case learning and technology as just in time learning was a really good descriptor. I think it may be really hard though for schools to switch over to a more just in time learning approach, and I really think that to be completely that way may be flat out bad. I think that a common knowledge base is important for people to have in order to be able to relate things to each other. I think if a total just in time learning approach were used it may be hard to explain from person to person. However, I can see the value in the just in time learning that technology fosters. With so much knowledge at everyone’s finger tips you need to be able to know how to find information, quickly and efficiently.

I think what I will do in the future as a teacher after reading this is to keep up with the idea of embracing new technologies and not fight it as some of the educators described in the reading. The other thing I will try to do is help find alternative ways for my school to obtain technology items. I have heard from other professors that there are tons of grants that can be applied for that can help to get things like Smart Boards and laptops into your school without having to worry about additional tax burden on your local community. Another thing I hope to do is try to work to show students effective ways of using technologies to obtain information, and work more like a guide for them without feeling miffed that my place in the process of learning may have change.

New thinking I took from class today.

What I learned in class today was some tips on how to be more effective during the discussion presentations. After watching the first group went today I was able to take some positive things from theirs to incorporate into my own. One of the things was making good connections with your audience another was making sure that when my group presents we should be sure to have backup plans in case something goes wrong; this would include both for multiple links or in case of technology or time issues. Another thing I got out of class today is a good resource for making lessons the Smart Exchange website.  Inside the site there were premade lessons for multiple different grade levels and lessons.

Reflection to Rethinking Education in the Age of Technology Chapter 2

After reading chapter two on the technology enthusiast’s perspective I think that the authors made several interesting points. I can see the comparison they made comparing the increased use of computers to in or society to other revolutions in the past like the industrial revolution in the way they change how human society works. I think that comparison brings a sense of gravity to how much things have changed and how the world is a different place. Going along with this, it is changing how people interact in society and therefore learn. I really liked the section of the chapter the discussion of using simulations with students to help them learn. In the past I have used a few simulations in courses to demonstrate concepts, for example I had worked with a piece of modeling software in an ecology course in which we manipulated creatures in a tide pool to identify keystone species and the cascading effects their departure made on that tiny ecosystem. I can see, more so now, the value of those types of simulations in providing learning by doing and discovery learning. Another thing that this chapter discussed that I hadn’t thought of the scope of is in the use of more complex games to use in the classroom. Beyond things like Oregon Trail which was pretty rudimentary I hadn’t explored the concept of using too many games in class. I think that there may be some difficulty in convincing administrators that World of Warcraft and Command and Conquer have any place in schools, but I really liked the idea being a person that grew up on video games.

I think that this new thinking will influence my teaching by looking at the material that I plan to teach and see how I can use some these in my future classroom. Some of the biology related modeling software and investigations I thought sounded like they would be great to use in my future classroom. With regards to the idea that computers are vastly changing the way society I think that when I am teaching that will make me consider if the tools I use and how I present things appropriate for the future world that my students will be living in.

Growing Up Online Reaction

I think this Frontline video has shown me that technology’s role in young people’s lives is larger than I thought before. I think that what social networking sites and other formats have given young learners an alternative place to express themselves and find places to belong. The example of the “goth girl” who had an alternate reality online was interesting in the way that she used MySpace to become someone new and also used her creative side in photography. To me and kind of reminds of when some people go off to college and create a new them, they go by a different nickname and create a new persona. In this case the online world was the place for reinvention. Relating to the idea of reinvention one person on the program described the internet as a place where young people can try on “different hats” as place to go through different personas to try on. I think that also has some parallels to going to a new place and being someone different. I also thought showing the two educators with differing views on technology in the classroom was a nice piece. Spark Notes was something that I had used when I was in high school and I used it a few times when I got lazy or forgot to do an assignment, but it had always seemed kind of a cheat. The teacher that didn’t really see it as cheating was a bit surprising. I can see from his standpoint how using the resources available to maximize time and effort is a skill that young people will need in the future, but from the standpoint of teaching literature like the English teacher presented it really defeats the purpose. Both sides were a bit too polarized, I think there has to be a happy median where technology is embraced, but the same time students shouldn’t lose themselves in it.

I think what I’ll do as a future teacher from this new thinking is in general keep more open minded to what my students are doing and embrace the technology they use as something valuable. I think by getting interested in what students do online would help in understanding them better and connect with them personally. I could use that to gain their trust, and with that show them that I really do care since that is an important step in teaching students. In regards to using things like Spark Notes I am keenly aware at techniques on how to use online sources to “cheat” my way through assignments.  I have taken classes with online quizzes and “Googled” my way through them without actually opening a book or looking at notes, so I know some of the tricks. Originally I had thought of just finding ways of stopping things like that from going on my classes, but I think I will try to keep aware of those tools out there and design assignments that also use those tools for learning. For example by designing synthesis questions that have students use a Spark Notes like site for a review or as evidence for a view.

Blogs, Wikis chapter 1-3 reflection

I think one of the main things that I got out of reading chapters one through three, in regards to my views on technology and learning, was the whole idea of a flattening world in terms communication of ideas. In that flattening, a world is created where everyone is an author and a critic simultaneously. Blogs, in my mind are kind of a form of peer reviewing. People post ideas and thoughts they have on various things, for example from the book the kid about the kindle, and much liked a peer reviewed article they present evidence for their views by placing links to other information that can be used to back up their claims. It is in way a form of research. I think this in a way could help students learn and develop critical thinking skills and through commenting gain skills in using constructive criticism to improve the quality of their work. Another way that the information has impacted my views on technology and learning is that my eyes were opened that the differing levels and age groups that blogs could be appropriate at. I really hadn’t given much thought to younger students in the elementary age groups using blogs, but I found it interesting how it could be used as a beginning into blogging. One concern that I had thought of before reading these chapters, was the question of student safety on blogs. Knowing already some of the dangers that can be online, it was interesting to see how some of these issues were addressed. I feel that has changed my opinion to leaning towards the thinking that blogs can be safe in a school setting. Lastly the fact that using blogs can open the classroom to input from the outside was a really new idea that I hadn’t thought about previously. Bringing in that outside input from people whether it be parents, professionals, or other students I think could make discussions a whole lot more interesting and relevant to students. I think it could really show students that there is real world applicability to content that is being used in class.

From some of the material in these chapters I could find some real value in terms of what I could do in my own future classroom. Using the blog site as kind of a home base for students is something I would like to do. From my own previous experiences from classes at the college level I have particularly liked having all the class material in a central place for easy access. Additionally, I think with students running some aspects, for example answering and discussing questions with each other could work really well. Another thing I think it would be really good for is for students who maybe don’t like to ask questions in class or face to face but could, without embarrassment ask questions on blog. It would be good as a teacher to get additional feedback to what students were getting out of classes to finds way I could improve upon my own performance.

New thinking I took from class today

One piece of new thinking I took from class today was the varying opinions my fellow future colleagues have on how technology is going to impact future schools. It was really interesting to here everyone's different opinions on whether technology makes teaching more difficult or not. I was in the camp of making it more difficult but I could could agree with the middle of the ground group more so now because there are plenty of resources it provides but is definitely necessary in preparing students for their futures.

Website Credibility Procedure

After looking at the websites provided for class, I found that it was a bit difficult to sum up exactly what kind of process to go about when evaluating websites. In the past when evaluating websites I kind of go with the gut feeling, if it seems right, and most of the time that works. To break down that process of “just seeming right” as an actual procedure or students I would have them ask themselves a number of questions.

The first thing I would have them ask, “Does the website first off look professional?” Most of the time a more professional looking site indicates some level of time and money spent that could indicate factual material, this is not always necessarily the case, as shown with the tree octopus and explorer websites but it would be a start. The next thing I would have them ask themselves, “Does the material in this website appear to have an obvious one sided bias being expressed in it?” For example, looking at the Martin Luther King website there was quite an obvious viewpoint that was being expressed throughout it. Next I would encourage them to read the information on the site and ask to themselves, “Does this seem legitimate?” What I mean by that is does the material seem real? Looking at the explorers page after reading a bit about some of the explorers some of stories were just ridiculous, for example, Champlain owning a hockey team in the 1600’s. I think the biggest piece of advice to is think critically while evaluating websites, don’t always trust it just because it looks good, and when in doubt check other sources. Those sources could be using other known reputable sites, books on that subject, or asking a teacher or other adult that may be able to help in evaluating the credibility of that site.

Chapter 1 reflection Rethinking Education in the Age of Technology

Chapter 1 impacted my view on technology with regards to teaching and learning in a couple of ways. I think that it really showed me that a lot of learning and gravitation toward technology does not occur in the classroom. Many of these stories illustrated that those that really enjoy using certain aspects of new technology will, with and without guided support , use and seek it outside the classroom if it is not provided for them. Since most of the students today and in the future have grown up in a time with high amounts of technology at their fingertips for them the best way to reach them in their learning is to use these tools as a way to hold their interest and to make material relevant to them. Growing up I can remember as a student in elementary school what a treat that using computers was, it was something exciting and cool that most of my classmates seemed to enjoy as well. Some of the best teachers I thought were those that really got us into using various computer programs for projects or just for fun in even things like math drilling games. I think another message that it I got out of it is that schools are lagging behind in addressing the increased amount of technological literacy that our world requires for students to be successful in the future workforce and also showed that in the past and present their has been some struggle with change.  In response that I think more energy and effort needs to be placed on using technology in the classroom to be effective as teachers.

This new thinking will impact my future teaching mainly by keeping open minded about using new forms of technology. In that I mean that I should keep up with it by communicating with my students and seeing what they are using and to gauge what they find to be relevant.  Another good way to do this is by being proactive and attending workshops to see what others are doing hand how they are using and handling new technology in the classroom with their students.

What new thinking I took from class today.

Some new thinking that I took from class today would be reinforcement of the idea of keep everything as a resource. In this case it was used through the idea of saving links via delicious.  I had heard from other courses that it was a good idea to save everything, but that was mostly in a hard copy way of thinking of things. Another thing I took from class today is the idea of collaboration to find good resources. Again Delicious was the tool that was talked about that could do this in using tags that other users have used to find good resources rather than relying on google or other search engines.

What technology means to me

1) Technology to me, simply, is a tool.


2) What integrating it in the classroom looks like is educators use technology in an effective way to assist them in meeting learning objectives in their classrooms. An example could be using graphing calculators to illustrate different transformations of functions. A bad example is using a piece technology just to use it whether it is related to the lesson objective or not.

Digital Autobiography reflection

I feel I exerted a fair amount of effort on this task. I decided that I wanted to use it for making a video on my vacation because I thought it would be a good way to do the assignment and have something cool to show my friends that went along on the trip. I checked out and tried a few of the different online options before deciding on Animoto. I did a lot of tweaking of it. One of the toughest things I found while working with Animoto is that in order to fit into the 30 second time frame in the free version you had to really adjust what text and photos were really important in getting the main message of the video across. Even though it was just a video on a trip there were certain aspects that made it amazing that I wanted to get across.

I think the value of this course task is getting people to try new things that they haven't been exposed to before and showing that there are a number of tools online free that can be useful to educators. I for one have only been exposed to picture and video editing tools that are loaded on my computer and not online. Another value may be in exposing some students that are not as tech savvy as way to “wade into the waters” of using technologies such as the ones used.

I would say this exercise impacts my future teaching in showing me that there are number of free and simple tools that are out there for me to use in my future classroom. These tools could be used by me in finding new ways to present material to classes or utilizing tools like Animoto in class projects with my students. I think in a high school science class open ended projects like this that allow the students to use multiple options could help in getting students that wouldn’t normally be interested in science to get into it more. This could be especially useful in a district that does not have much in the terms of software but has Internet access. Another way that it might help me in my future teaching is thinking outside of the box a bit more. There have been plenty of projects I have done doing autobiography type style but this is the first that really was a more open format.

Take a look at my video. Summer Trip Out West Video