We have talked a lot this semester about different technological advances and how they are changing the landscape of education both in a positive and negative manner. Thinking back from the very beginning of class in January, when we developed our own websites to present day where we have been blogging and commenting on different subjects, what do you believe is the most beneficial piece of information you have learned (this can be from a lesson, assignment or student blog that you have read) and how do you plan on using it in the future?
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I feel like we’ve spent a lot of time this semester talking about the negative attributes of technology. Indeed, many people’s comments seem to convey a negativity and fear of technological advancement and progress. Rather than talking about whether technology in the classroom is good or bad, I’d like to talk about how we plan to embrace technology in our own classrooms (if at all) over the course of the next decade. Can you come up with some specific software programs or applications that might be especially beneficial in your field?
After looking back on past comments and past subjects one thing keeps peaking my interest. We talk a lot about how much is too much and getting away from the basic things that were taught in the "old days". As most of us can see, technology is not going anywhere. If anything it is going to grow even more. So my question to you is how, as a teacher or parent, do we get that equal mix? Is their a hybrid way of teaching where we can incorporate both old style and new styles to get to that one main goal of fully functioning individuals in society? I have seen a lot of negative talk towards technology but how can we incorporate it into curriculum to help benefit the old styles of teaching?
Throughout the semester, we have discussed the benefits and issues with technology in the classroom. We have discussed how much and how little of it to use in the classroom. We have also mentioned that technology may be replacing face to face interaction and sometimes limits children's imagination. But we have not discussed what the word 'classroom' means. I have found an article that redefines what a classroom is and takes away the need for any technology. This article is about a preschool that is completely outdoors. The children are allowed to explore and play inventive games, all outside!
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011657278_preschool21m.html In the age of technology, do you think this type of classroom is a good idea? Do you think the children learn more from this type of environment? Do you think the children will be behind other students when they begin elementary school? There has been a lot of discussion this semester about the use of iPads in the classroom .There are many free educational apps for teachers and students listed on the Apple website.I want you to take a moment and see if you can find an app that would help you as a student and/or a teacher. Then, state how you could use this app. http://www.apple.com/webapps/news/educationteachingheadlinenews.htmlhttp://itunes.apple.com/us/genre/ios-education/id6017?mt=8http://www.apple.com/ipad/from-the-app-store/education.html I found a graphing calculator app, that I think is worth adding for only $1.99.http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/graphing-calculator/id289940142?mt=8
Where are we heading as a society and an educational system? I have been teaching college course for the last 3 years and have been coaching college baseball the last 7 years. One thing that I have noticed throughout the course of that time is the fact that today’s college students and young people in general have as a whole, become less and less dependent on their own abilities to spell, organize thoughts and overall sentence structure have dropped off of the table. In your opinion, has today’s technology assisted or hurt today’s youth and their educational development and ability to organize thoughts?
All of this talk about technology has gotten me thinking about my exposure to technology when I was younger. I never had issues with finding technology or using it. Nowadays its all about Facebook and Twitter for young kids. I have done an internship at a high school in Nebraska and after my first day I had my students friending me on facebook and trying to follow me on Twitter. I don't think that these young high school kids need to have access to my facebook account. I have also see a lot of the students here on CMU posting on facebook and twitter using extremely profane language and talking about how drunk they are. Every time I see this, it reminds me of the digital foot print that we talked about. How do we get students to understand that our social networking outlets can get them into trouble in the future. How do you keep your student's Twitter and Facebook accounts professional?
Throughout the semester we have addressed many different aspects in technology, and how it affects students today. A subject we have not addressed very much is what would our classrooms be like if we did not incorporate the ever changing new technology? Should teachers only focus new technology on the older grade levels such as middle school and up? or should elementary age students still be introduced to new technology? Should our student be using technology their whole life?
I found an article about a month ago online that related to our class. The article is about how some skills we found important in the past are now taking a back seat in the digital age. I noticed that this article is meant for an actual newspaper called the Post-Dispatch and I have even changed the way I receive my news from the past. I now read my news from newspaper companies online. Even my printed newspaper has taking a back seat in this digital age. I now read the news on their website. Look at what you do throughout the day. Is their anything you do now that changed in the digital age for you?
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/education/at-some-schools-cursive-writing-takes-back-seat-in-digital/article_8aff06d4-44a2-51b9-9794-7ca4ca72e3fe.html The article above is about how a simple skill of cursive writing has taking a back seat in the digital age. Students are being exposed to typing skills before writing skills. Do you find this necessary in the digital age? Do you see this skill being eliminated from curriculum because of the digital age? Which skill do you find more important to be taught in the classroom keyboarding or cursive? I would love to hear from those who are currently teaching if you have seen any of these changes. |
Student BlogThis blog is for class conversations for ED 514 at Central Methodist University. These post are by the students of ED 514. We invite input form other teachers about how they use technology in their classrooms. Archives
March 2015
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