Both Chapter 1 and 2 start with a short story which will let me know the real situation about how to use technology in the classroom and give me a lot of information about the technology.
In Chapter 1, the story is about Two New Teachers and Their Technology. Since I have no teaching experience, I really like the way that helps me to draw a picture of the classroom and lead me think about the different technologies in my daily life. In the 21st century, we cannot live without technology. We have to confess that technology is driving profound changes in every aspect of modern society. There is no doubt that we can see the difference between today's children and the children in the past; for example: I played Hide and Seek when was a child, while today’s children play smartphone, computer and iPad. As a future teacher; I not only need to have a clear understanding of these changes, but also have to adapt to these changes. This chapter gives me a good guidance and advice. First, this chapter clearly describes the various technologies. Second, it gives me some advice about how to use these technologies in the classroom. Last but not the least, it gives me some advice on building my digital identity as a teacher.
Although today's children already have a lot of knowledgeable about technology, classroom technologies are different from which we use in the daily life. In Chapter 2, it not only describes the trends of using technology in the classroom, but also describes the problems that the teachers may be facing in the teaching process. Like myself, many future teachers know how to use the computer, create PowerPoint presentation, search the Internet and so on; however, we are less informed about how to use technology to transform teaching and learning in schools. As we all know, using technology in the classroom will let students more interested in the classes and have fun in the classes but some of the teachers do not know how to make it more helpful for their classes. It will lead the students to do something else but pay less attention on study.
I believe that if teachers can know how to use the technology effectively in the classroom, it will help both teachers and students to build the class well. I will share you a link about 12 Easy Ways to Use Technology in the Classroom, Even for Technophobic Teachers. I hope you can find some good ways to use in your class!
Questions:
1. What roles dose technology play in the lives of students and teachers?
2. For your own experience, what is the biggest barrier to technology use in school by teachers?
Questions:
1. What roles dose technology play in the lives of students and teachers?
2. For your own experience, what is the biggest barrier to technology use in school by teachers?
Hi Mandy
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post. I also am not sure how my knowledge of technology is going to translate to me successfully teaching it in a classroom. I know how to do basic things on a computer, but it seems that I need help on how to actually teach students using a computer. I think technology plays a huge roll in the lives of students and teachers. In today's world if you do not know how to use technology you are considered not up to date. It is very important to know about technology especially if you want to be a teacher. I want to be able to keep the attention of the students with new and exciting technological ways. I think my biggest barrier would be perfecting the SmartBoard. It seems complicated, I've never used it before but it is intimidating. I think once I get the hang of that it will greatly help me in my teaching endeavors.
Hi Carmelo
DeleteI do agree with you. I believe that we will learn a lot from this class. Also, we need to practice in and out off class.
Thank you for posting the article about integrating technology in the classroom. I noticed one of the suggestions was to have children publish their writing online, which is something I started to do last year. The kids used to dread neatly recopying their work with pen and paper. However, when they used kid blog.org and laptops, I could literally hear a pin drop in my room because the kids were so engrossed in their work. Also, this activity allowed my children to develop necessary typing skills they will need as they grow. Many thought they could type because they use iPhones or iPads, but were sadly mistaken. It was actually kind of excruciating watching how slow they typed, but I was the same way when I was learning!
ReplyDeleteI will be sure to try to use some of the other suggestions! Thank you!
Hi Stephanie
DeleteI am so glad to know that you have already used some of these strategies in your classroom. I hope you can share more of this experience with me that I can get some idea from you. Thank you !
One barrier of technology used in school is that technology is not advocated and valued in China -- instructors seem not quite sure if it will be under control and effectively integrated with content. Also, the cost of tech is still steep and hardly affordable. Sadly, tech has become part of life; nothing can be more engaging than working on social medium and online activities. However, instructions have to be aware of how they transition the teaching style into another -- adjust the pace to satisfy their students' learning need.
ReplyDeleteI do agree with you. In China, we do not use technology in the classroom. Since China has a large population, there are over 60 students in one class. Teachers need to prepare a lot if they want to use technology. If I will go back to China, I hope I can get some idea about how to use technologies in a large classroom from this class. Thank you!
DeleteI found your link at the end very useful. The powerpoint "game show review" reminds me of "check on learning" that we do in the military after a class. The class webpage can make everyone feel like they are contributing to something important. I also think it's a great idea for parents to have access to their child's academic progress, it will give them a better idea on what areas to help improve and sustain with their child.
ReplyDeleteTechnology plays a huge rule in students and teachers lives, now with the iGeneration they are molded from a young age around technology.
Since I have no teaching experience, I just want to find some paper that can help me to learn more about what should I do in the real classroom! And I am so happy to know it also helps you.
DeleteI found your article very interesting. I find many of the suggestions on that list are becoming the go to's of ways for teachers to incorporate technology into their classroom. They select one method, master it and use it year after year. I also found this article you might find particularly interesting http://www.usnews.com/education/high-schools/articles/2011/07/14/study-emerging-technology-has-positive-impact-in-classroom?page=2 . I find that in elementary classrooms , teachers are beginning to incorporate a video lecture to address the needs of the different learners. The video lecture will be capture their attention, include visuals and audio which address the needs of diverse learners in today's classrooms.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much to share this great link with me!
DeleteI think its funny how you talk about games you played as a child. I can relate to playing man hunt in the summers, tag on the lawn, water balloon fights...things that almost seem non existent anymore with this generation. Children sit all day playing World of Warcraft or Call of Duty. Don't get me wrong, I wasted plenty of hours playing Mario Kart, but not at the expense of my education. I think technology plays a huge part in the lives of not only teachers and students, but their parents as well. Its not 1999 anymore where you send a note home with the student explaining how they misbehaved, you have to email these parents to their work emails just to get the slightest bit of their attention. The whole world is consumed by their cell phones. I think that our class rooms should be a means to escape technology, but not as a whole, just the world of social media and instant contact. Students need to know that theres more to the internet than instagram and twitter.
ReplyDelete