Technology Projects

While working on our Technology Notebooks, I really enjoyed reading about how technology was successfully incorporated into many schools curriculum. Technology is becoming a very important in the field of education and it is crucial to understand how to use technology effectively. All of the presentations that were done explained the importance of technology and the steps that are being taken to ensure that technology is being used effectively and appropriately.

When reviewing Katie's video I was reminded of the importance of never putting limitations on students and the technology that can help them learn. The consistent advancement of technology is rapidly being incorporated into special education curriculum and can make a huge impact on a students ability to learn and achieve academic goals.

When reviewing Kevin's narrated "PowerPoint" presentation, I was surprised to see that high education has been quicker to use technology then K-12. One advantage to waiting to implement technology is to review the success and failures of using technology. With K-12 education waiting to implement technology, they are more likely to have success with technology in the classroom.

Melissa's "Glogster Poster" emphasized the importance of giving everyone a voice and getting positive feedback from students and other faculty members. The "Speak Up" program she highlighted explains how students are often not satisfied with the classrooms technology capabilities. Students want digital rich learning and through the guidance of this class I will be able to meet the needs of students.

Interactive Whiteboards

Interactive Whiteboards have always been intimidating to me because I never knew how they worked. Throughout my whole education, this was the only class the actually used the interactive whiteboard. When reviewing the software and how the board works, I was amazed at how user friendly and simple the whole process is. Since none of my teachers and professors used the interactive whiteboards, I thought that they were complicated and a hassle. They are actually very easy to use!

Now that I feel comfortable working with the software and using all of the features the white board offers, I would be more than willing to have a interactive whiteboard in my classroom. I think that as a teacher you must be selective on the types of games and features you use. There are appropriate and inappropriate times to use all of the features and I think the interactive board may actually be a distraction at times.

I would say that if the teacher is creative they can really grab and keep students attention throughout a whole lesson. The students really enjoy using technology because it is something that is familiar and comfortable to them. They often feel like they may know more about technology then the teacher. It is a good way to get students to the front of the room, willing to participate and can give the teacher an opportunity to informally assess academic performance.

I really feel that it is a way to get students more engaged in the material you are teaching and if you want to keep your students attention you are going to have to continue to advance with technology. Other teachers will be grabbing students attention and when they get to your class you want to be able to match or surpass other teachers creativity and ability to engage the students. An interactive whiteboard is just one of many tools that a teacher can use to their advantage.

Technology Notebook Online Presentation

Here is a link to my Glogster Poster:

http://ajb102.glogster.com/edu-tech-class/

Video Project in the Classroom

The idea of utilizing a video project in the classroom is a very unique and valuable tool for teachers. As I was creating my video, I was continually thinking of ways that I could use the same concept in lesson plans for the future. The whole process will be simple for students to execute, but will teach them valuable lessons. We can review brainstorming concepts, the idea of making multiple drafts, using different varieties of technology, the importance of copy right laws and using creativity.

When thinking about how I could incorporate video into my curriculum, I could have my students reenact part of a book or give them an option of making a book report video. Instead of just providing information about plot, setting, time and characters, they could reenact these important concepts. They will have important decisions about what locations they should film at, the clothing of the time period and the language and dialect of the characters. It would be a challenging, but fun activity, which would incorporate technology which they are comfortable with.

Challenges with this project include limitations of technology that the school can provide, as well, the time commitment it will take from the students. I believe some students would take the project serious, where others would view it as an opportunity to fool around and try to be funny. I think the overall positive aspects of the project outweigh the challenges and it could be a very successful project.

Reflections on the Video Project

The video project was very exciting and fun. The whole process of creating a public service announcement was enjoyable, especially because we could showcase some of our creativity. Overall, I felt the key to making a positive and successful movie was to be very organized and thorough. I felt that creating an outline for the whole project was very important and we took the beginning stages very serious. We wanted to make sure that we had a plan in place and weren’t freelancing throughout the whole process.

I felt because we were very thorough from start to finish, the process of making the film went very smooth. We stuck to our plan and I felt the finished product was good. When looking back on the process, I do feel that we shot too much film. We had to spend a lot of time editing and we had more ideas and film then we actually needed for a 90 second clip. Another problem that we faced was the volume of our narration. It is difficult to hear the speaker and I believe that is the one major flaw in the PSA. As a whole, I am very happy with the process and I was surprised how smooth and easy everything went. I really enjoyed myself.

The Net Geners

The assigned reading of chapter eight was very interesting and I enjoyed seeing statistical data about the usage of technology. It is not a secret that the majority of educational settings have computers and the ability to access internet. High-speed classroom connectivity is good, but for some reason, internet isn’t used in the classroom, but most often Internet usage takes place in media centers or computer labs. This I found surprising, because the capabilities of the internet are endless and I believe teachers can find very useful and appropriate tools from the internet which can improve children’s education. Youth are engulfed by the internet in their free time, but educators neglect to find ways to use it in an educational setting.

The study went on to suggest that Internet re­sources are not yet fully integrated into the day-to-day classroom routine. This was so disappointing to me and I am so happy that I am taking this course which can help me integrate technology into my classroom. The study showed that 56 percent of respondents to the study identified integrating technology into the classroom or learning experience as their top technology challenge. After participating in this class, incorporating technology wont be a challenge and I will use technology effectively and usefully.

What surprised me in the readings was how “Net Genres” are using technology in the undergraduate levels. Undergraduates reported a positive impact of the Internet on their aca­demic experience, but when analyzing the data, it showed that internet usage beyond e-mail remains relatively low. This was surprising to see from a generation which grew up and used these technologies. I do admit that I would respond to the questions the same way, but I thought that the internet would be used for much more because of the amount youth use the internet.

I really enjoyed all of the questions and thought that the information was useful and can impact the way people view technology. One question I would add, is ask undergraduates what they would do to improve IT services, so that it is used for more then email and asking about grades.

The Confusing World of Copyright

When analyzing copyright, the law can quickly become confusing and easy to break. Copyright really covers many categories, most of which teachers use in an educational setting. Teachers really have a difficult time managing copyright laws with the use of internet and how easy it is to find and use useful information for the classroom. It is now very easy to put resources into digital form, copy and share information amongst colleagues. What makes this idea even more difficult is how much leeway teachers are now given. The guidelines of the law can easily become blurred.

What I was surprised to discover is how many teachers actually neglect to follow the law. I have seen many teacher copy work books, textbooks and other resources. They may believe it should be considered fair use, but I believe publishers and creators of the resources would fight the notion of fair use.

The more I learn about copyright, the more I feel that it will become my job to teach students to respect copyright laws. The law covers a lot of activities that students engage in on a daily basis, and they should know the law. I will do my best to continue to review the law and interpret the information in plain terms for my students, so they are not overwhelmed by the length and complexity of some of the language involved in the law. If my students are aware of the law, then they will understand what is right and wrong and there will be no excuse for breaking copyright laws.