Blog Post 5

I think it’s important for teachers to use technology in the classroom as a tool to communicate with students, parents and peers because of its effectiveness and efficiency. When teachers post class material or other coursework on a blog, webpage, or secure site (Edmodo) it allows their students to access the information at anytime and have a consistent source to “check-in” with. I think this, in and of itself makes students more involved in their learning and more in tune with what is going on in the classroom. Technology enables teachers to be more creative when presenting information to students and can use web applications such as Blogger to post announcements, present agenda’s, and list outside sources that are relevant to the course curriculum. By keeping a professional looking blog throughout a school year, parents can be involved in their child’s learning at home and see work the students have completed. Right now, I believe our education system doesn’t allow for learning to be easily carried over into the student’s homes and technology helps bridge that gap. In addition, successful teachers must feel comfortable using a variety of programs like Word, Excel, and Desktop Publisher to create worksheets, rubrics, etc. Overall, I would argue (and I think many people would agree) that technology is the future of education and must be incorporated into classrooms nation wide. Technology allows instant access to information and multiples ways to collaborate giving a new spin on our education system.

Reflecting on my personal experiences with teachers as well as information learned in this class I think blogs and email are the two best ways to communicate between teachers and students. I found our course blog to be extremely helpful this term and think more teachers should use something similar to help address any questions a student may have. I think in general blogs have more of an ability to improve communication compared to any other tool because it is a way to post students work, share updates, comment on or receive comments on current class work, and can also be used to structure lesson plans around. Current students want to be using technology because it plays such a large role in their life already and for that reason should be used more in day-to-day classroom activities. Another source of communication that can have a significant impact on parent-teacher relationships is the use of newsletters.

Overall, I think these tools greatly improve communication between students and teachers as well as with teachers and parents because of our fast access to Internet. Voicing concerns or asking questions in person has a right place but when using email or blogs responses are faster and feel less formal. I think this creates a more natural relationship and students feel more comfortable in doing so.

Blog Post 4

Video: I included a video on my blog that addresses how technology is positively used in the classroom. I felt by adding this video, my viewers would be able to see another opinion on the topic being discussed as well as have a visual aid to connect technology to the classroom.

ClustrMaps: I wanted to have a visitor map on my blog that showed the different areas people lived in who were viewing my blog. I choose to have this for personal interest as well as make inferences about our nation’s education system across the country. If viewers from a particular part of the country or world were agreeing or disagreeing with my posts, one could conclude that they experienced similar styles of education or desired change in how they were taught.

Blog List: Another gadget that I used on my blog was the “blog list” feature. I provided three links to other blogs that focused on the use of technology in the classroom and the digital divide. Not only was the content relevant to the material on my blog but it also serves as a way to write about new ideas and stay informed with issues in the Ed Tech world.

Polls: I used a poll on my blog to ask the question, “Should technology be used at all grade levels” to gauge how my viewers felt about computer, Smartboard, and clicker use in the schools. I felt by incorporating this component viewers could interact with my blog and think about their own experiences with technology in schools.

Picture: The picture I put at the bottom of my blog was used as a quick way to let my readers know what the blog is about. By placing the picture towards the end of the page, it serves as a nice visual to bring the blog together.

Links: Over the course of the term I have come across a few links that have discussed how technology has changed our society and education system. I thought it would be a helpful way to let my viewers read more and see what articles I have found beneficial.

Sustainability

Using the helpful tool VoiceTheard, we were able to view and comment on a slideshow that addressed the issue of sustainable technology in the classroom.

Classroom Activity

How does technology help or hurt educational efforts? (click to enlarge)

Blog Post 3

“Always Learning”

I found this blog to be one that “worked” for a variety of reasons. I thought the overall layout of the blog was nicely done and looked professional without over crowding the page. The blog gave the reader something to look at as well as think about with the quality of content on their page. The author, Kim Cofino, takes the time to explain why she is using a blog as well as why its important to reflect back on your personal teaching experiences. In terms of design, I thought this blog used white space to her advantage and presented the material in a logical and meaningful way. I thought the Kim’s blog was creative and user friendly, which made traveling around her page easy to do. The blog utilizes different tabs on the top of the page to separate different pages, which is why I think I enjoyed her blog so much. The material was separated into different categories and included links to other pages or resources. I thought at times the blog was a little text heavy but I don’t think it interfered with the overall quality of her page. As I was scrolling down Kim’s blog it seemed to be full of content, which tells me that she is serious about her blog and takes time to make it appealing to a variety of potential readers.

“State of Ohio Education”

This blog did not seem to ”work” in my opinion because of its design and layout flaws. At first I thought the page was nicely laid out, but as I scrolled down, the content became hard to read and felt crammed along the side. The author tried to include too much on their main page and actually hurt their blog by doing so. Going down the right side of the page there are links with different dates (blog archive) that looks repetitive and boring. I understand that the author, Colleen Grady, is trying to provide additional information and past work, but this way is not very appealing. I think it would be helpful for this blog to use more illustrations and/or pictures on their page to make it “come to life” and give the viewer something else to look at. I think the Colleen does use white space well on her blog but it can be excessive at times. After reading her blog, I would guess that Colleen is relatively new to blogger and only uses the basic features of the site. One aspect of her blog that I really enjoyed was her “recommended books” section, which allowed her to express her opinion on different authors or pieces of literature. I think that this blog has potential but needs to be slightly altered to appeal to more viewers.

Using Wordle: Accessibility

1) Is it important for all people to have access to the Internet? Why or why not?

2) Will eliminating the digital divide create new global, national, and/or local social problems?

3) What might these new problems be?

Blog Post 2

It ‘s hard for me to take a stance on whether or not we, as a community, should scrutinize teachers’ private lives because I think it is a case-by-case situation. For the most part, I think that teachers’ private lives should be left alone from criticism by parents, other employees, or students unless it interferes with their performance in the classroom. If a teacher chooses to be a model on the weekends, I think that is their right. However, if that teacher chooses to be an underwear model, I would argue that it would create a distraction in the classroom and that teacher would not be fit for the job. In addition, I think teachers must be aware of their social networking sites and delete or “untag” any post or image that shows them in an inappropriate way. I would also argue that as a community and as mature adults, parents must realize that teachers can enjoy a beer responsibly with friends and should not lose their jobs for it. I know that every teacher can’t be perfect, but I have to believe most teachers will recognize they are these student’s role models and will act appropriately online or out in public. I think that a learning environment can be created outside of the classroom and teachers should be able to interact with students if the students are better for it.

As a future teacher, if an image of me drinking a beer responsibly and legally came up on the Internet, I would use it as an example to teach students about the dangers of underage drinking or how to safely do so when they are of age. I think that we as educators must make an impact on our students’ lives in a positive way and if that can be achieved through social networking, it should be a possibility in the classroom. I think that technology will play a significant role in our future education system, and we need to teach students now how to be safe, smart, and sensible when ever we are on the Internet. I don’t think Facebook is necessarily the best option for students and teachers to communicate, but other sites such as Edmodo could be very beneficial for posting assignments, grades, or announcements. To prevent sanctions or criticism by appearing in something inappropriate, I would trust who I am as a person and avoid situations that could cause a conflict. I personally would not accept friend request from students just as a way to keep my work life and private life separate. In short, I think there is a time and place for everything and as a teacher could find a time to relax and enjoy myself away from cameras and students.

Blog Post 1

My experiences as a student with technology in the classroom have been relatively positive throughout my K-12 school years. I was first introduced to "beginner" programs such as Microsoft Word, Powerpoint, and Excel in elementary school through class lectures, assignments, and time spent in the computer lab. Although my knowledge of these subjects were limited to the basic functions, I think it created a foundation to build upon in later classes. Past teachers of mine would use Powerpoint to help organize the subject matter being discussed in class and allowed students to see the main points of that lecture. A majority of my education took place in the Bay Area (Silicon Valley) where technology has been thriving for the past twenty years and I think it really impacted how teachers taught in the classroom. As I aged and felt more comfortable with using computers and other pieces of technology in high school, the amount of time I spent using it increased as well. I think it was really beneficial to have the resources and knowledgeable teachers who were able to help expand my skills in this subject area by included technology in every day lectures.

If I were to teach tomorrow I think I would most use Microsoft Powerpoint for class lectures or assignments and a website similar to Blackboard to allow students to access class material at home. I think if done correctly, Powerpoint can be really useful in the classroom because of its layout and easy to use features. I think it helps "map out" where the class discussion will be going as well as make note taking easier for the students. I have been in my fair share of classes that have "text-heavy" slides with limited pictures and realize that this can be detrimental to any class. However, I think adding fun interactive slides to the Powerpoint can help the class better understand the material. Using Powerpoint for different assignments, students can have a chance better their skills in this area while learning more about a certain topic and present it to the class.

EDST Driving Questions

1. Why should teachers use technology to communicate with students, parents and peers?
2. Which technology tools have the greatest potential to improve communication between teachers and others?
3. How do these tools improve communication?