Call me old-fashioned but I just do not think that having a cell phone as a teaching tool would be a good idea. There are too many other resources that we can use that are not nearly as distracting as a cell phone. No matter what rules or contracts you try to enforce with your students, they still are going to be tempted to use that device for things besides learning.
We should be investing our funding on improving computer labs in school by updating the software and purchasing new equipment. There are so many things that can be done with a computer that can't be done with a cell phone. I feel that a cell phone can only take a student so far in advancing their technology skills, where a computer can open up so many more doors for them. Rather than focusing our time on cell phone use we should be spending more time on increasing their computer skills.
After reading both articles the only useful skill that could be beneficial is the ability to take pictures and record lectures on the cell phone that can be immediately synced with a blog or other site. I just feel that trying to incorporate cell phones into classrooms will end up costing more money than it is worth. I personally have gone over my minutes or texts in a month without even realizing and can across a shockingly high bill. I can only imagine what a teenagers monthly cell phone usage looks like. Financially it is not a wise decisiion.
When my students enter the classroom there will be no cell phones allowed. Unless the students parents have made prior arrangements with me that allows the cell phone to be present. If they bring their phone then it will be taken away and given back at the end of class. It is too much of a distraction for students and too tempting to not play with during class.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
Technology for Our Students
Today's world relies so much on the technology that preparing our students to be fluent in this tech-world is a crucial part of their success in the "real world". Almost any job today will require you to have some basic computer skills. Our students will need to be ready for the competition that will present itself in their future careers. I am slowly learning new skills with technology that I will definitely be incorporating into my lesson plans as a future educator so my students will be better prepared in their future. This course alone has gave me so many more useful strategies for teaching that will be beneficial for all my students.
Of course it can be difficult to use technology if the school doesn't have the proper equipment. In the article "Social Justice-Choice or Necessity", they suggest using local community resources such as the public library or a local Boys and Girls Club, this way students can have access to certain software or programs that may not be available for them at home. A previous article titled "From Toy to Tool" talks about the use of cellphones in the classroom and suggests teachers writing for a technology grant that would allow the purchase of certain software or other technology tools to be used in the school. There are ways to gain access to these tools, it just takes a bit of creativity on our part.
I want all of my students to have the same opportunities as their peers so making sure that they are well prepared and knowledgeable with technology is very important to me. I will make sure that I am continually updating my own skills with the digital world and bringing a new and creative twist to their learning.
Of course it can be difficult to use technology if the school doesn't have the proper equipment. In the article "Social Justice-Choice or Necessity", they suggest using local community resources such as the public library or a local Boys and Girls Club, this way students can have access to certain software or programs that may not be available for them at home. A previous article titled "From Toy to Tool" talks about the use of cellphones in the classroom and suggests teachers writing for a technology grant that would allow the purchase of certain software or other technology tools to be used in the school. There are ways to gain access to these tools, it just takes a bit of creativity on our part.
I want all of my students to have the same opportunities as their peers so making sure that they are well prepared and knowledgeable with technology is very important to me. I will make sure that I am continually updating my own skills with the digital world and bringing a new and creative twist to their learning.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Video Games in the Classroom
I remember in elementary school when we were first using computers we played a game called "The Oregon Trail", it was amazing. Everyone I know that played this game as a child absolutely loved this activity. Not only did this game teach us about using a computer and about the history of the Oregon trail, it was fun and exciting. Instead of being in the classroom and finding the information in a text, this gave us a "hand-on" approach to learning. Allow I am not the best at video games, I think that video games are a useful tool to enhance the learning process.
In the article "Good Video Games and Good Learning" written by James Gee, he brings up several points that show why video games are useful in the classroom. I agree that when playing a video game it allows the player to take on the identity of the character, they make a committment to their identity and really feel what it's like to be in this virtual world. Video games give you interaction unlike what you would receive out of a textbook. You provide a form of input and the game responds to this with a certain output, a book only allows for a one-way interaction. I also find it important that video games allow the student to be apart of the developing of the game. In school students don't have many opportunities where they can contribute to the lessons, the video games allows them to contribute to their learning.
Although I feel video games can be a valuable tool for learning, I don't think they should be overly incorporated into the curriculum. I know that personally I struggle with video games and feel more comfortable learning out of a textbook or taking notes in a lecture. It is important to keep in mind that not all students will have the hand-eye coordination that is necessary to be successful in video game learning. All students learn differently so all styles of learning need to be incorporated into the classroom.
My students will be much more technologically advanced than I so I will definitely make sure that I use technology based learning whenever possible. There are many positive aspects that can come out of using video games as a learning tool in the classroom and as a future educator I want to make sure that my students have a chance to take advantage of the technology that is available to them.
In the article "Good Video Games and Good Learning" written by James Gee, he brings up several points that show why video games are useful in the classroom. I agree that when playing a video game it allows the player to take on the identity of the character, they make a committment to their identity and really feel what it's like to be in this virtual world. Video games give you interaction unlike what you would receive out of a textbook. You provide a form of input and the game responds to this with a certain output, a book only allows for a one-way interaction. I also find it important that video games allow the student to be apart of the developing of the game. In school students don't have many opportunities where they can contribute to the lessons, the video games allows them to contribute to their learning.
Although I feel video games can be a valuable tool for learning, I don't think they should be overly incorporated into the curriculum. I know that personally I struggle with video games and feel more comfortable learning out of a textbook or taking notes in a lecture. It is important to keep in mind that not all students will have the hand-eye coordination that is necessary to be successful in video game learning. All students learn differently so all styles of learning need to be incorporated into the classroom.
My students will be much more technologically advanced than I so I will definitely make sure that I use technology based learning whenever possible. There are many positive aspects that can come out of using video games as a learning tool in the classroom and as a future educator I want to make sure that my students have a chance to take advantage of the technology that is available to them.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Wikipedia Credibility
When I first discovered Wikipedia I thought it was great. I used it often and believed that it was a very reliable resource. Then my college professors informed me that Wikipedia was not a credible source and would not be accepted as a reference in papers. I was unaware that the content that I found could have been posted by any person, they didn't need to have any background experience on the subject they wrote about. I now try to stay away from Wikipedia but I have to admit I still sometimes refer to it for a quick guide or brush-up on certain material.
After being told about the credibility of Wikipedia, I try to use websites where the authors have a great deal of experience with the subject. I also look for articles that have been peer-reviewed. Another way to find more reputable sites is to use Google scholar where you will find numerous peer-reviewed articles and sites that are highly credible.
When I begin teaching I don't think I will let my students use Wikipedia. They need to be able to find the high quality websites and not rely solely on Wikipedia. If they use Wikipedia for information then they will need to find another resource that backs up the information they found. I really want my students to be able to recognize a good source from a bad source, this will help them so much when they are in college and will need to find these reliable sources.
I don't want my kids to only use the Internet to find all their research. I think being able to navigate your way around the library is just as important. If they have a research paper assignment then they will have to include peer-reviewed articles and at least one source that does not come from the Internet. I want them to be well-rounded researchers.
After being told about the credibility of Wikipedia, I try to use websites where the authors have a great deal of experience with the subject. I also look for articles that have been peer-reviewed. Another way to find more reputable sites is to use Google scholar where you will find numerous peer-reviewed articles and sites that are highly credible.
When I begin teaching I don't think I will let my students use Wikipedia. They need to be able to find the high quality websites and not rely solely on Wikipedia. If they use Wikipedia for information then they will need to find another resource that backs up the information they found. I really want my students to be able to recognize a good source from a bad source, this will help them so much when they are in college and will need to find these reliable sources.
I don't want my kids to only use the Internet to find all their research. I think being able to navigate your way around the library is just as important. If they have a research paper assignment then they will have to include peer-reviewed articles and at least one source that does not come from the Internet. I want them to be well-rounded researchers.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Cyberbullying
With today's students having more access to technology in their everyday lives we have encountered a new problem with our children, cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is the new-age form of bullying. This not only is occurring in our schools but it is present in the media where you may hear that some celebrity is suing a company or person for posting inappropriate photos or videos of them. This act of cruelty can wreck havoc on an individuals self-esteem or damage their reputation with their peers. When I was in school I never experienced any sort of cyberbullying or witnessed any of my classmates being affected by this issue. Students at my school said things face-to-face or in the worst case scenario wrote about a person on the bathroom stalls.
This becomes a tricky issue for schools to address. As educators you don't have the ability to monitor what a student does at their home on their own time. Disciplining a student for cyberbullying could be a violation of their rights of speech. If this act is not taking place on school grounds or violating school activities, then this is in the hands of the parents. After reading "Should Schools Regulate Off-Site Online Behavior" I agree with the counterpoint. We shouldn't be expected to control what goes on beyond the walls of the classroom. I agree there must be a reasonable approach to this issue. As teachers we can discuss with our students what appropriate use of technology is and talk about the effects that sites such as Myspace and Facebook can have on others and yourself. We need to focus our attention on learning strategies, after-school programs, and student safety in schools. I believe that this is more of the parents jobs to monitor their child's behavior on the Internet.
As a educator I will pay close attention to any signs of bullying that I see and address it accordingly. I also will make sure that I'm in contact with parents of both parties so they can keep a close watch on their child's behavior and provide what discipline they see fit. If bullying enters the school and affects a students learning then it is up to the teachers and administrators to make sure the problem is resolved. I feel that all parents should be aware of this issue so that they too can protect their child from the cruelty of cyberbullying.
This becomes a tricky issue for schools to address. As educators you don't have the ability to monitor what a student does at their home on their own time. Disciplining a student for cyberbullying could be a violation of their rights of speech. If this act is not taking place on school grounds or violating school activities, then this is in the hands of the parents. After reading "Should Schools Regulate Off-Site Online Behavior" I agree with the counterpoint. We shouldn't be expected to control what goes on beyond the walls of the classroom. I agree there must be a reasonable approach to this issue. As teachers we can discuss with our students what appropriate use of technology is and talk about the effects that sites such as Myspace and Facebook can have on others and yourself. We need to focus our attention on learning strategies, after-school programs, and student safety in schools. I believe that this is more of the parents jobs to monitor their child's behavior on the Internet.
As a educator I will pay close attention to any signs of bullying that I see and address it accordingly. I also will make sure that I'm in contact with parents of both parties so they can keep a close watch on their child's behavior and provide what discipline they see fit. If bullying enters the school and affects a students learning then it is up to the teachers and administrators to make sure the problem is resolved. I feel that all parents should be aware of this issue so that they too can protect their child from the cruelty of cyberbullying.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Social Networking Reflection
After searching for myself through Google and Pipl, I found very little on myself except for my newly created blogpage, my Myspace page, and me and my husbands wedding registry. I recently got married so my I have a new last name which could have effected the outcome of my search. Since I was in elementary school I have always gone by Dani rather than Danielle which is my legal name. With all these factors it made it difficult to find any information on me. I don't spend a great deal of time on social networking sites so there isn't much information to find in the first place.
Due to the lack of information about me displayed on the web I feel that I must be doing a good job at not making myself overly public. I keep my Facebook and Myspace accounts set to private where only my friends can view my profile. Even if my students or colleagues were able to view my Facebook account or Myspace page I don't feel they would find anything offensive or inappropriate. I definitely will be even more careful now that I see how easy it would be for people to find information on my personal life.
I believe that as future educators it is important that we are always aware that we are role-models, mentors, and leaders to our students. We have an obligation to these kids, we need to lead by example when we may be the only positive role-model that they can look up to. Also I think that everyone is entitled to privacy in their personal lives but realize that when you post photos or blogs about your personal life on the Internet you have made the decision to make it public domain. Parents have the right to know who their child's teachers are and make sure that they are getting the best education possible.
After reading this article I was in shock that people don't make their social networking sites private. Teachers should not be allowing their students to be friends on their Myspace pages. Unless you create a page that is strictly school based that would be the only exception. I understand wanting your students to feel comfortable with you and feel they can communicate their concerns is important in building a positive relationship with your students, there are more appropriate ways to go about this than Myspace. Create a classroom blogpage or webpage where they can go and post their thoughts or concerns. This way the line between the teacher and student relationship does not become blurry.
Having this brought to my attention definitely makes me think about how I will handle this situation when I become a educator. I will make sure that my social networking sites are kept private and always think before I post.
Due to the lack of information about me displayed on the web I feel that I must be doing a good job at not making myself overly public. I keep my Facebook and Myspace accounts set to private where only my friends can view my profile. Even if my students or colleagues were able to view my Facebook account or Myspace page I don't feel they would find anything offensive or inappropriate. I definitely will be even more careful now that I see how easy it would be for people to find information on my personal life.
I believe that as future educators it is important that we are always aware that we are role-models, mentors, and leaders to our students. We have an obligation to these kids, we need to lead by example when we may be the only positive role-model that they can look up to. Also I think that everyone is entitled to privacy in their personal lives but realize that when you post photos or blogs about your personal life on the Internet you have made the decision to make it public domain. Parents have the right to know who their child's teachers are and make sure that they are getting the best education possible.
After reading this article I was in shock that people don't make their social networking sites private. Teachers should not be allowing their students to be friends on their Myspace pages. Unless you create a page that is strictly school based that would be the only exception. I understand wanting your students to feel comfortable with you and feel they can communicate their concerns is important in building a positive relationship with your students, there are more appropriate ways to go about this than Myspace. Create a classroom blogpage or webpage where they can go and post their thoughts or concerns. This way the line between the teacher and student relationship does not become blurry.
Having this brought to my attention definitely makes me think about how I will handle this situation when I become a educator. I will make sure that my social networking sites are kept private and always think before I post.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Marc Prensky Reflection
In Marc Prensky's article "Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants", he describes a digital native as our K through college students who have grown up in a digital world. "Our students today are all “native speakers” of the digital language of computers, video games and the Internet" (p. 1). According to Prensky, they have spent their entire lives surrounded by technology. As a result this has caused a shift in the way our students process information. It could even be possible that all the exposure to a digital world has caused this generation of students brains to develop differently.
Students today feel bored with the material being presented to them. Marc Prensky puts today's students in three categories; the students who are truly self-motivated, the students who go through the motions, and the students who tune us out. The first two of these groups can be dealt with well rather well by our current education system but the third group can become a challenging group. These are the students that feel as if they are not learning any relevant information in school and the information presented to them in school will be of no use to them in their futures. They need engaging material that they can relate to. Our students are exposed to technology very early in life. According to the T4 video "Pay Attention", 70% of our 4-6 year old will have access to a computer. It makes sense that they feel the most engaged with this learning style.
We need to catch up with our future generation as well as other countries in the world when it comes to academics. In the UK the British government has just given 350 million pounds to BBC to develop a digital curriculum. In America we consistently fall behind in academics, obviously something isn't working and it is about time we invested in our youth.
I am a Digital Immigrant, I was not born into a digital world but I am interested in advancing my skills in technology. As Marc Prensky would say I have a very heavy accent in the digital world. I don't recall using the computer very often in my high school years but I did play Atari and Nintendo occasionally as a child and would like to believe I was fairly good at it. College is when I became more exposed to this digital world. I was a science major so my classes consisted of large lecture halls where using PowerPoint and audio equipment was crucial for the professor to reach all the students. I definitely will be researching ideas to bring into my classroom to engage my students better. I really liked the idea of using cell phones for quizzes. Not only is it environmentally friendly but it will provide the students with the instant gratification that they are so accustomed to. Understanding that I process information differently is a concept that I will have to grasp so I will have the ability to teach a generation that in a sense does not speak the same language as me.
Students today feel bored with the material being presented to them. Marc Prensky puts today's students in three categories; the students who are truly self-motivated, the students who go through the motions, and the students who tune us out. The first two of these groups can be dealt with well rather well by our current education system but the third group can become a challenging group. These are the students that feel as if they are not learning any relevant information in school and the information presented to them in school will be of no use to them in their futures. They need engaging material that they can relate to. Our students are exposed to technology very early in life. According to the T4 video "Pay Attention", 70% of our 4-6 year old will have access to a computer. It makes sense that they feel the most engaged with this learning style.
We need to catch up with our future generation as well as other countries in the world when it comes to academics. In the UK the British government has just given 350 million pounds to BBC to develop a digital curriculum. In America we consistently fall behind in academics, obviously something isn't working and it is about time we invested in our youth.
I am a Digital Immigrant, I was not born into a digital world but I am interested in advancing my skills in technology. As Marc Prensky would say I have a very heavy accent in the digital world. I don't recall using the computer very often in my high school years but I did play Atari and Nintendo occasionally as a child and would like to believe I was fairly good at it. College is when I became more exposed to this digital world. I was a science major so my classes consisted of large lecture halls where using PowerPoint and audio equipment was crucial for the professor to reach all the students. I definitely will be researching ideas to bring into my classroom to engage my students better. I really liked the idea of using cell phones for quizzes. Not only is it environmentally friendly but it will provide the students with the instant gratification that they are so accustomed to. Understanding that I process information differently is a concept that I will have to grasp so I will have the ability to teach a generation that in a sense does not speak the same language as me.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
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