Post # 16

There is always some new idea or new piece of information connecting to curriculum that becomes important to teachers. This is why it is so difficult to keep up and even “stay ahead of the game”. It is a blessing to be in the beginning years of my teaching career during this generation. I have information always available to me at the touch of the mousepad, click of a few links and a few minutes of video watching and article reading to gain the new knowledge. No longer do we need to leave our classrooms and go sit in an all-day (or even multi-day) seminar about something education related. Although some of the Professional Development may need to be completed outside of our contracted hours, it is worth it. We became teachers for a reason, at least I did…because we have a passion for it. I am ALWAYS looking to update my knowledge and refresh my skills for my career. It is not always easy, but it will make me more successful as a teacher in the long run. I have used and seen other use webinars, read articles, and watch videos on a multitude of websites. I find that it is almost a normal sight or action to add to our Professional Development via technology.

Post #15

In regards to staying ahead and preparing for future challenges, Gretzky said, “I skate to where the puck is going to be, not to where it has been.” I find that this relates to a teacher with relation to staying ahead of the curve in technology. I have said it many times, “What’s next?” I am always asking fellow teachers, I like this said program, but what else is there. Is there a way to do this activity with a technology tool or program? I have great resources available to me within my building and I try to “pick their brain” as often as possible. As soon as we become comfortable with what we are using and ONLY use these tools, the students will surpass the teacher and we will be left in the dust.

I feel that at the moment, the most important/significant Web 3.0 technology would be within the category of ‘cloud-computing’. I already find it extremely beneficial to use the Google tools within my classroom. I have just begun exploring the possibilities and cannot wait for what the future holds. It is a great way for student collaboration, communication between student-teacher, storing and updating assignments, the unlimited resources available, and on goes the list. I have heard that there is much more to look forward to with the Google technology in regards to education. I know that the company is focusing on school appropriate and efficient technology. I am a firm believer that Google will do wonderful things for education and I hope that I can implement these tools to their fullest potential and grow with the constant updates and additions.

Post # 14

The evolution of technology has progressed as needed by society, and even within the classroom for the teachers and students. It has progressed quite quickly especially within the past few decades. We have always had a need for technology, but it has become ever so important within our generation in particular. From the invention of the first desktop computer to the hand held iPad, from encyclopedia Britannica to Wikipedia, technology has evolved for the need of the user. As we see a need for something, someone sparks an idea and invents/creates a device to fulfill the need. It is that simple. Because we use technology in our everyday professional, adult lives, there is a NEED for technology within the classroom. What good is a college graduate if they cannot operate the technology that is used for their future career? Not only this, but these individuals have to have the knowledge and skills to think critically and solve any problem that might occur with said technology. I am anxious and excited about what is to come in the near and distant future in regards to technology in society and the classroom. What will they think of next?!

Post # 13

I think that core curriculum, classroom teachers can assist in teaching the nine elements of digital citizenship, but I do feel that if there is a technology or STEM teacher that these elements should be taught more directly in this venue. The classroom teachers can model and provide opportunities to practice these tenets, but I feel that the responsibility does not solely rely on us. The way to meld the two is that we can teach our own content, while still incorporating the elements within the corresponding lessons, activities, or assignments. Technology is available outside of school too. We can only teach the students so much, and then it is their responsibility to follow through with the tenets with their technology use.

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Post #12

As I was a student in the elementary level all the way through college, technology was a part of my education. That is not to say that I knew everything, nor do I now. I feel that I have an advantage over some of the veteran teachers though, because I am more comfortable with using and infusing technology into my own education and those of my students.

Even after halfway through this Spring ’15 semester of ETE 665, I have already seen an increase in knowledge of technology for myself. I have learned more these past few months, than I did when I first started teaching three years ago. Because of this, I feel that I am, and will become, a much better teacher for my tech-generation students. I may have been aware of the technology resources before, but now know HOW to use them effectively in my instruction. I not only can use this knowledge in the classroom, but also in my own professional career. I can communicate and collaborate professionally much better now that I have seen what it can do for my students in the real world application. 

Post #11

It is difficult to rank these standards, as I find that they are all important and you must have one in order for the others to be successful; however, this is my list:

1.  The number one standard for my 7^th grade ELA students is the standard of “Critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making” is one of the most important pillars of education. ALL students should be able to complete a task using this standard. I actually did an activity in class on Friday that has to do with moral decision making. As we read The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, I had to make a connection between the decision Tom and Huck of either helping Muff Potter, but risk their own safety; or allow Muff Potter to take the blame, but stay safe themselves. I gave 4 scenarios that would force a student to make a difficult decision. They had to use reasoning for both sides and come to a consensus about their decision. This was challenging because of the differing personalities and backgrounds of each student. What I could have done is then asked students to create a visual representation of the path they did choose, and the path they did not choose. What were there obstacles, and their overall outcome?
2. I find that the requirement of “Creativity and Innovation” is becoming more and more prevalent in the classroom and real world. Part of the Common Core ELA standards is learning to read instructions/directions correctly and therefore create something from those directions. What I would ask my students to do is read a set of directions to a game they have never seen before, play the game, and make a list of difficulties. I would then ask that the students create their own game. The challenge is creating directions that are easy enough to follow, while the game is not so easy that the player becomes bored too easily.
3. "Communication and Collaboration" is a standard that is applied weekly. However, it is not always via technology. When I do incorporate this standard using a technology tool, I usually use Edmodo, or on one occasion have used Google slides. The assignment was a presentation about the change in fashion in the 1940’s. Each group member was assigned a different aspect, did their research and collaborated through Google slides. Over the weekend they were able to communicate via Google slides and create a presentation without actually having to speak face to face.
4. "Digital Citizenship" is something that most students are unaware of. We can tell someone a million times how to act and the “dos and don’ts” of technology use, but until they either experience it themselves or at least get a good visual representation, it is difficult to teach. I would create a technology based scenario for my students and ask them to solve the problem that “they” have just created. Make the scenario real world enough so that it may seem that it could actually happen to them. The point is to show students what could potentially happen and how difficult it is to solve, or how impossible it is to recover from. Then ask students to come up with preventative solutions to the problem. These scenarios could be social media related-i.e. blogging, facebook, twitter, etc. or it could be something such as how to save a document or downloading from a link online that was seen as a “pop-up”.
5.  We cannot assume that our students (especially my middle school students) know how to operate all technology, therefore we need the standard "Technology Operations and Concepts". Although it may seem like they know everything about an iPad, or a desktop/laptop computer or even the SMARTboard itself… that is not the case. An example of what we did at our school, to ensure students could operate and navigate the PARCC program/platform, is we created a scavenger hunt, then had a pilot “dry run” of the test itself. Each class was required to take time for the scavenger hunt about everything from logging on, to how to scroll down in the story, to how to find the compass. It would seem that this was an easy task, but you would be amazed at how many questions we had to answer when it came time for the pilot “dry-run”. When introducing a new piece of technology into the classroom, allowing time for students to explore is crucial.
6. The standards of “Research and information fluency” becomes more in depth, but just as important in the middle school classroom, just as it is in the elementary and high school classrooms. This is a skill that will follow students for the rest of their lives. Not only being able to research a topic, but finding the correct information, and gathering the most important information, to create a separate piece to share with their peers is vital. Again with the 1940’s, I would have students choose a topic that interests them that is clearly debatable, such as “Should war be broadcast on television?”. Students would need to locate information, organize it, analyze, evaluate and synthesize the information, and finally report on the topic, while forming their own opinion as well. 

Post #10

     As we look at “who is online” we can see a pattern that most users are teenagers and young adults. We have heard many times before that the reason this is true is because this younger generation has grown up with the technology has never known anything different. I did make an observation though that the older generations still increase, but never surpass the younger, in technology usage. I feel that this is true because this generation feels the need to stay up-to-date and not fall behind. We use technology every day. Whether it is in our personal lives or for our job/career…it is everywhere. If people do not assimilate and grow with the times, they will fall behind and not be as successful or lose touch.

     Technology and the internet is a double-edged sword. It can be great to use, if applied correctly, or it could be disastrous. Because students are expecting it in the classroom, why not give them want they want? This is one of the most effective ways to keep a student engaged. Give them what they want! As I said, if done correctly students will be more successful and teachers will have a better experience as well.  

Post #9

The current group of internet users ranges from 18 years old to 65+. Those who use it most however are the people within the 18-29 age range, 95% to be exact. Where only 42% of those 65+ use it. One of the biggest advantages of using the internet is the vast amount of knowledge that can be gained. The possibilities are endless when it comes to what can be discovered while surfing the web. Because of this, those who have the internet, or can access it regularly, will have an advantage over those who do not. But this is only true if the student is a responsible user and is productive with his or her time while using the internet. If the time is spent completing homework or school related activities, it is an advantage. However, if the internet is more of a distraction than a tool for academic productivity, then it could become a hindrance.  I believe the more students become familiar with internet usage and its endless, positive possibilities, the more productive we can be in the classroom when we introduce technology into our lessons.

Post #8

I think it is fairly obvious that the younger generation is MUCH more familiar with and more frequent users of technology. This being said, that does not mean that the older generation is unfamiliar or nonusers of technology. The Millenials have grown up with technology their whole lives, they/we have never known anything different. We have been able to learn as we go, whereas the older generation has to learn a NEW way of performing tasks. This should definitely be taken into consideration when it comes to careers in the professional world and learning in the education world. I think that technology is expected to be used in all aspects of life from the Millenials, while Generation X to the Silents, either do not expect it, or prefer a balance, if not a heavier reliance on the “old school” ways. We live in an ever-changing world, so we must grow and progress with the times and adapt to our surroundings. However, we must keep in mind the way things used to be and how to find a balance between the two. We cannot forget our past; we survived and even thrived depending on the “old ways”. We must now consider the effect technology has on society, professions, and education and adapt accordingly. We now have more diversity, more males, and especially females going to college. What can we teach these “youngsters” that will carry them through their entire life, whether technology continues or becomes insignificant in the future? What is relevant? Is technology? Does it really matter if we are ‘tech-savvy’? After all, the Silents have made it this far and are successful. 

Post #7

        The role of technology in the classroom is essential, that much we have determined. Now the question remains, what is the best way to accomplish a successful, engaging classroom with this technology? Video games, and other technology like it, are one way to grab student’s attention and create an effective classroom environment. I have experienced this engagement first hand when I piloted a new app from Glass Labs. It was called Mars Generation One: Argubot Academy. The objective was to walk around the space station collecting evidence and reasons to support your claim. The student would then choose the best combination and battle the opposing team’s argubot. Whoever had the stronger argument, would be victorious. This was in fact engaging for the students and reinforced the lesson of finding and using the best evidence and reasoning. This is a fantastic example of how gaming can be used in the classroom for an effective lesson.

        Students are naturally curious and competitive, so why not feed that curiosity and competitive nature with a fun, academic game? Students can be exposed to multiple experiences where their curiosity enhances their problem-solving skills. This skill is vital to be successful in the real world. The skills learned through gaming, such as problem-solving, or even quick decision making can be translated from the virtual to real world. Some may say that this is a negative effect of gaming, the fact that children may confuse the two. However, as with anything, teachers and parents need to be proactive and teach appropriate behavior and understanding of the purpose of technology. It is to enhance our learning for our future real world experience, not replace it.  “Technology is powerful and complicated.” That is why a combination, or balance, between technology and traditional form of learning should be used. Technology can be used to “express themselves, find other people, and remake the world on their own terms.” So, let’s let them fly.

Post 6

As it stated in the video, education has a different purpose now, than it did before. The world we are preparing them for will require students to build, create and problem solve in an active environment. No longer can we expect students to sit still, listen be quiet and ask that they remember all the information and regurgitate it for an assessment. We as teachers have to find a way to incorporate the technology, which WILL BE required as a tool for careers, into our curriculums in and out of the classroom. I find that more and more, teachers are more willing to incorporate technology into the classroom, but have a hard time finding the right way to do so because we want to make sure it is relevant and effective, and isn’t a waste of time or becomes a distraction. This is the “catch” that teachers must be aware of and address appropriately.

I have visited a local school district this year which assigned iPads to each student in the school. They have 1:1 technology. We are about to visit another school district in about a week that uses Google classroom. Both districts, as I have seen and am sure to expect, have issues with the use of technology in the classroom. There will always be times when students become bored, or distracted by the technology in front of them, it is how we deal with it, that will make a difference. Especially in society today, we are obsessed with ‘instant gratification’. This is no different with students in our classroom. The instantaneousness of technology is a great advantage and hindrance at the same time. With technology sitting right in front of us, and a thought enters our head, we go right to the technology to log in to a website to satisfy our hunger for information. This is great, but what about when students should be working on an assignment, and they think of something unrelated, use the resource in front of them, and become distracted with an off topic task? That is up to the teacher to decide how to handle this. We can teach students that ‘multi-tasking’ is a useful skill to have, but we have to make sure they understand how to do it appropriately and effectively. An increased use of technology can be a fantastic addition to the student’s lives within the education world and in the real-world as well, but only if we teach them how to do so diligently.  

Post #5

I believe that classrooms today are DEEP into the technology revolution. We have passed the horizon and are hundreds of miles into the journey of technology in the classroom. Technology started as an outside of the classroom experience. Once teachers started realizing how much students actually interact with technology in their own lives, they/we brought it into the classroom. What better way to keep students interested than to bring what they do in their social lives and make it relevant in the classroom? From watching the video, there are obviously opposing sides to the use of technology in the classroom. From one side, teachers need to be aware of the amount of technology usage and be flexible with our expectations. On the other, teachers are still holding on to the “old school” way of teaching and put technology on the back burner. What we have to admit though, is that incorporating technology into the classroom is a MUST. The question is, how much? As soon as students walk out the door to the school and get on the bus or even wait to get home, phones come out, computers are turned on, anything electronic that can be used to interact with the social media/social networking world is accessed immediately. It is almost like an addiction. In my eyes, it is inevitable, so why not try to find a way to make the use of technology in the classroom relevant to the outside world for our students, and vice versa?

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Post #4

                 When I think of Bloom’s taxonomy, the word scaffolding comes to mind. The idea behind Bloom’s taxonomy is to incorporate all levels of thinking within an extended lesson or unit to ensure maximum understanding. We want students to be comfortable enough with the material as we move along through the lesson, so we must scaffold the instruction. We begin with the remembering of material, information, strategy or skill, and eventually move into creating. Starting at a lower level of thinking and ending with more critical thinking and application.  One cannot simply learn to the fullest extent by simply jumping straight to the creation level. The taxonomy invokes a process, or order, of thinking. One cannot move to the next “level” without success of the previous “level”.

Throughout the years however, Bloom’s Taxonomy has been revised to coincide with the curriculum of that time. At the moment, it aligns perfectly with the idea of a model 21^st century classroom. What does this mean? TECHNOLOGY, of course! I cannot think of a better way to prepare our students for the real world, where they will have to use their critical thinking and problem solving skills in a world with ever-changing technology, than with the application of Bloom’s Taxonomy in a digital classroom. 

Post #3

     It is astonishing at how many teachers/schools restrict the use of student’s personal technology devices in the classroom. I, on the other hand, am always trying to figure out ways to incorporate them with my lessons. It is a goal of mine to, little by little, flip my classroom. The ONLY way this is possible, is through the use of technology. I strongly believe that technology HAS to be a part of the student’s education every day. Maybe not every class period, but enough to keep students engaged and interested in their learning.

     There has been a video shared across Facebook and other social media platforms against the “overuse” of technology and our NEED for it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z7dLU6fk9QY I did take the time to show this to my students last year and implied that we, as members of society, need to find a balance between productivity with technology, and getting lost in our technology. I feel this could be applied to our classrooms as well. Teachers, and students, need to find a balance between using technology to engage and enhance a lesson, and using it just for the pure fact of incorporating it because it is the “in thing”. As it stated in the video “Pay Attention”, students use their technology every day and know how to operate these devices. So the question remains, why NOT use them in an educational way in the classroom?

Post #2

     When it comes to learning, I agree with many philosophies of the best way to attain knowledge; one of the best however, is the idea of learning through experience. It is through these experiences that we learn to adapt to our surroundings. In order to “survive” in education, and especially in life, students, teachers, doctors, lawyers, etc, need to be able to adapt to the technology and its uses.

     Technology hasn’t always referred to electronics however. In the stone ages, fire was the most advanced technological tool. Then there was the wheel, horse and carriage, Model-T automobile, a mobile phone, a desktop computer, iPad, SMARTboard, etc. As there becomes a need for the technology, it is soon after invented.

      If we are preparing students for jobs that haven’t been created yet, and the use of technology that hasn’t been invented yet, then we need to strongly consider the role of technology in the classroom and the world around us. It is undeniable. There is, and most likely always will be, a need for technology in our everyday lives. That is why it is crucial that we as teachers understand the importance of technology and how it plays a role in the success of our students. 

Post #1

     Technology has always been a part of my life, at least for as far back as I can remember. The only thing that has changed is the advancement. While I was in elementary school we used technology every day, whether it was an overhead projector, going to the computer lab to play “Oregon Trail”, keyboarding class, or simply taking an AR test. This was all during the school day though. When I arrived home, especially in the middle school years, my first priority (after my homework was finished of course) was to sign on to AOL Instant Messenger. I couldn’t wait to get home, after spending all day with my friends, to log on and talk to them again. As I grew older, as a student in middle school and high school, I started using technology at home more for school purposes rather than purely for entertainment. This would include research for essays, writing the essay itself, powerpoint presentations, emailing my peers for a project, etc. It wasn’t until college though that I saw a real change. I hardly ever used the library. What was the point? Everything I needed was online! Sure I would go there for a scenery change, and a quiet place to study, but when it came to finding resources for research papers, I mostly used online or electronic resources. Still, this is nothing compared to what I have seen used in the classroom today. I feel that even in my college years, we did not have the technological resources in the classroom that we can find now. I think the ELMO projector was the most advanced piece of technology used in my college classrooms. Nowadays, there seems to be more opportunity for the students to be more engaged and creative with their thinking, with the technology provided. As the years have progressed, the technology has become vast and more advanced. I often get excited and ask myself, “What will they think of next?”