Technology Tools in the Classroom

Blogs:  

Blogging in education is a great way to allow students to interact with other students all over the world. My class can partner with another class on the other side of the country and our students can read and comment back and forth across the country. This would be a great way to share state specific learning. I could ask my students to blog about what they learned about North Carolina while a class in Iowa could blog about their state. For homework my class could then go and read 2 blogs from the Iowa class and comment about similarities and differences between their own blog and Iowa's. 

Blogging is also a great way for students to reflect on things they have learned as well as practice their social writing skills. My students will be aware that their writing may be read by people outside the classroom so they will be motivated to do well. They can practice sentence structure, grammar, spelling and content while integrating another subject. 

Each student will have their own personal blog and it will give them their own sense of entitlement and accomplishment. This will be one of the first things to build their digital citizenship as well. Along with learning academic things, they will learn responsibility and internet safety. 

Digital Storytelling: (Go Animate, iMovie) 

In my classroom I want my students to have fun and not dread every day. I want learning be inspired and even discovered. I want my students to feel like they are teaching themselves through opportunities that school provides. I think digital storytelling is one way to accomplish this. It allows the students to be in charge of their projects and it gives them room to be creative. They can use Ipads with iMovie or online sources such as Go Animate. 

Students will have to do the research to decide what to put into their creation as well as understand how the information relates to the real world. This is better than testing the students because it involves the student to do more than simply memorizing facts. Making their own movie will help move the information from their working memory to their long term memory so they will remember it longer and be able to use the information later in life. 

In addition, movies are a fun and exciting change of pace. Lecture gets boring and elementary students like getting up and out of their chairs. Being able to watch a short movie in class will keep them on their toes and keep their attention focused on the topic being learned. 

Timetoast and Infographics: 

I enjoyed using Timetoast and making Infographics because I could take pride in my finished product. These resources made what I did visually pleasing. Using these made me want to go the extra mile and work hard on whatever I was doing. When using a simpler or more bland resource to create a presentation project I often work just enough to "get it done." With these resources that is not the case. I work until it is something I can be proud of.

Technology makes editing and creating easy and very user friendly.  It is also easy to present because it can be projected from the computer. I can have my students research a topic and use one of these resources to organize their information. Once they have their final project I would like to have them present it in front of the class. This will teach them how to talk in front of people and present information in a smooth and clear way. The infographic or timeline will help guide their presentation and give the audience something pleasing to look at. 

Video Games:

As I discussed in my last blog, I have recently become a fan of video games in the classroom. I like how they use challenge and rewards to increase motivation and focus. Video games are something that will get my class excited about being engaged in school work. It is something that be used over and over for practice, but it is also easy to use the same game for another lesson. I especially like the idea of using the stats from Wii games for math. 

I think the reason I most like the idea of using video games is not because of the new tech savvy aspect, but instead, the way it interacts with the brain. I like to see kids excited about learning and this will do it. Video games use the workings of the brain to keep people encouraged and engaged. That is what will make education a success. 

Connections for Future Ideas:

I want to continue to learn as a teacher and always be engaged with new findings in technology. To do this I plan to use Pinterest and Twitter to get new ideas and to communicate with my PLN. So far both have done me well and given me some great ideas and advice. Both allow me to communicate with other educators around the world and positively support others. 

Image courtesy of Alec Couros. Used under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

Everything I have mentioned are things that will help me create a 21st century classroom that will be prepared for the future world of digital citizenship. They all will enhance my teaching in a way that will keep students engaged and excited to learn. 

Education Innovation via Video Games

I was never a "gamer" growing up. I never owned an xbox or a ps3. I saw it as a waste of time and something that killed brain cells. I would hear kids talking about it at school and how they spent their entire Saturday playing some game and how they spent days trying to slay one dragon. When they finally killed that dragon, boy that was a big day. When I heard about teachers using video games in education I couldn't find a reason as to why that would be a good idea. I thought, "I will never be one of those teachers." Until now.
One day in my ECI 296 class, Jennifer LaGarde came and spoke to us about how she used video games in her school to boost math scores. My mind was blown. Video games have something that positively affects the brain. It totally makes sense. Why do people spend so much time on one thing in a world full of short attention spans? How do video games motivate people to try over, and over, and over despite their failures? How do video games keep people's attention for such a long time? The Ted Talk by Tom Chatfield explains all of these questions.

In short, video games provide just enough challenge in relation to rewards to keep people motivated. They aren't so hard that people give up, however its just easy enough to keep people engaged. Implementing this idea into education is probably the most brilliant thing I've ever heard! 5 million students play 45 plus hours of video games a week. If students spent half the time they do playing video games, working on math and reading skills America's education program would sky rocket through the roof. So why not combine these two things to give students a way to learn and enjoy it at the same time. 

It requires some work on the teachers part, but it is possible to take a video game that students already enjoy playing, and make it educational. Ms. LaGarde used Wii games and had students calculate percentages and ratios using bowling and basketball stats. There are also educational games already made for teachers to use such as: Lemonade Stand, Carmen Sandiego, and Oregon Trail. 

After being enlightened on the benefits of video games and how they can can be implemented into education I am so excited to use them in my classroom. I want to inspire my students to learn and if video games make them eager to learn I will give them that opportunity. Video games may get them excited to come to school and give them something to work for. This will trigger something in their brain that helps them to stay engaged and motivates them to learn and attain their goals. Part of teaching includes meeting the students where they are. We have to inspire them and give them a reason to work. We have to try to make it fun and exciting. It's our job to do our best to find what it is in them that motivates them to work hard, and ignite that with a passion to learn. I think I just found a new way to do this.

Grading and Rubrics

As a future teacher I don't think there is one "best" way to assess learning. Students show their abilities is different ways and to test all students the same way may not be the most accurate assessment. When dealing with a classroom of 20 plus students it is difficult for one teacher to determine the knowledge and abilities of each individual. This being a current issues with standardized testing I want to attempt to mold my teaching and grading style so that I will be able to assess each student individually. This would include giving my students more freedom in projects and presentations. Some may be better at writing while others are better at speaking. Some students like to be artistic and would like to present something they learned in the form of an art project. Others may like to create a slide show or a movie. Doing projects that require students to put the knowledge they obtained better demonstrates their ability than a test. It allows students to take the time to think through what they have learned without the anxiety of a test. I would really love to be able to test my students in this way so that they can present their knowledge of a topic in their best element. Despite this, in the real world, one is not always in their comfort zone and as a teacher I need to prepare my students to be able to perform in any circumstance. Therefore, some things have to be measured by test scores and I will need to have my students do certain things that aren't "their thing" or in their comfort zone. 

 In my opinion, certain things should be tested by giving the students an assignment that challenges their use of knowledge. This way I will know that they understand the topic or idea, versus simply memorizing a definition or the steps to a process. I want them to know why they did something, or why something happened. I see this problem a lot in math. Students will follow a process of steps without knowing why they did something, or what that step did and how it got them closer to their answer. Memorizing steps may get them an A on a test; however, when they build on that knowledge without knowing the reasoning behind the simple steps, they will have trouble understanding how to do complex problems. I feel as though projects and other activities will build this kind of knowledge in my students better than studying for a test.

 As a student now, I prefer projects, writing assignments and presentations better than tests because I experience this ideology in my own education. When I prepare for a test I learn only what I think will be on the test. I often only learn the surface value of the topic and I don't go into in depth application of the knowledge. Using the knowledge in "real life" application scenarios versus simply being "quizzed" on their understanding helps move the knowledge deeper into their long term memory.

Going about creating these projects as a teacher or as a student can be a difficult task. I have come to learn that rubrics are my best friend. They help clarify what my teacher wants from me as a student, and they help grading as a teacher. While doing projects myself I often have the problem of not knowing what to include or what direction to go. Teachers that share their rubrics with students provide a concrete mold that I know I need to fit. Making students guess what they need to do to make an A is not teaching. I fully support leaving room for students to do be flexible and make projects their own, however, they should know ahead of time where the points are coming from. As a teacher, using a rubric helps grading in that it is consistent and uniform. It also helps to plan the project before sharing it with students. Sometimes it can be hard to decide what I want my students to present to me. Making a rubric helps these decisions and it also helps me to decide what is more important in the project and what isn't. Basically, rubrics serve as an additional set of instructions that helps build the assignment and guides the student.

*photo credit to cybrarian77 (flikr)*

 http://learnweb.harvard.edu/alps/thinking/docs/rubricar.htm 

 This website that explains why and how to use rubrics along with tips on creating them.

Why use Digital Storytelling in the classroom?

Digital storytelling, when used properly can be a great tool in the classroom. It enables a change of pace and a new angle on learning. Presenting information in different ways enable students to go about different though processes in learning. Teaching through stories drive education away from lecture style and towards Digital stories are a way to engage students in a fun and exciting way because it brings the the focus away from the classroom. It makes things outside the classroom available to the teacher and the students. Digital stories expand the limits and this can be exciting for kids. 

Digital storytelling can teach students through creation. It doesn't always have to be something the teacher makes or borrows. Students can make their own story and this often teaches them more compared to simply watching one. They have to do their own research and figure out how they want to present it in a creative way. It also teaches them about ways to use technology and how to share information in a unique way. 

Digital storytelling can be used for teachers to provide an intro into new topics. Short videos are a great change of pace and are likely to grab the students attention. They take the students out of the classroom mentally for a few minutes. This is great for younger students because they have a desire to discover and digital storytelling takes away the limits of the school walls. 

Digital stories could also be used to briefly and visually explain difficult topics for students. Sometimes learning in the form of a story or through video can help students grasp difficult methods. They mentally approach the issue in a different way that is often less intimidating. In my classroom I will use this approach for math concepts such as long division, multiplication or order of operations. These can be hard at first, but with a patience students will be able to master anything. 

Using Video in the Classroom

I think videos have their place in education. There are many pros and cons to to videos, so I believe it is very important to use them properly. Videos are not often interactive, therefore it is easy for students to tune out while watching. As an addition to curriculum, videos are very limited. I wouldn't want to use videos that were too long in my classroom for fear of losing the interest of students. Students may have the attitude that movies and videos are what makes for an "easy" class. However, short videos can be an exciting change of pace. Listening to lecture can become just as boring, so switching up the way the information is presented is always good. Some students may learn or remember things better through digital storytelling. Videos are great for these types of students. It's all about finding the right balance for your students. 

Videos can come in handy when a teacher has a substitute. The teacher can video her/himself teaching the lesson or explaining the topic. This way the students have a familiar face and there won't be any mix ups or misunderstanding from the sub. Videos are also handy when a teacher wants to do an experiment that is not ideal for the classroom or if the school does not have the materials. Videos can convey the main ideas and student can see what happens from their seats. I will definitely take advantage of these benefits in my classroom. 

Another way I would like to use videos is by allowing the students to create their own mini-movies. This opens up a world of possibilities for their creative side, their tech-savvy side, as well as their producer side. Video is another form of digital storytelling just like blogs or journals. Students should become familiar with all their resources. I prefer making videos over watching videos in the classroom. The only problem with this is that it requires a lot of time, equipment and help from the teacher, especially with younger age groups. 

Photo Credit to Fotokannon

http://www.brainpop.com/english/writing/blogs/  --> Here is an example of video being used in the classroom. The length of the videos are perfect and the characters make it interesting for the students. There is also a quiz at the end that makes it interactive for the students. 

http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2012/09/teachers-simple-guide-to-teaching-with.html  --> Here is a great website with resources, a youtube video and a general guide for teaching with videos. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRBlNl3KUdo  --> This is a practice lesson for 1st grade students learning addition. This shows how video can be incorporated into everyday lessons. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33IjFmUoAPs  --> This is a demonstration video about go animate. It is a teacher friendly way to create your own videos for the classroom. 

Web 2.0 in the classroom

Web 2.0 is shaping education and providing new opportunities for the classroom. It is changing the way we teach and also creating new resources. With the rise of technology in the schools, the classroom becomes so much bigger. Teachers now have access to teachers around the world. Students can interact with people on the other side of the world. Ideas are being shared faster and in more detail than ever before. The classroom is no longer confined to the white walls of the school, but now has not limits. Students can see videos and images of places they have never been. They can create and contribute to the wide variety of information and materials. This teaches them that it isn't just about consuming what is available to them, but to give back to the world and create something themselves. Students now have an identity outside of their community. This teaches responsibility and shows them how their decisions do make a difference.

 These tools give teachers a way to reach out and access things outside the walls of the school while engaging the students. Web 2.0 (when used properly) pulls teachers away from lecture style teaching and encourages student involvement and interaction. These new tools and resources can give students a voice they didn't have before. Students can communicate with more people through their digital voice. Students can create things that will last longer than paper and have a wider impact than they would in the classroom. Web 2.0 allows students who are shy in class speak out louder than they could ever have without them.

 It also provides professional writing practice and starts building their digital identity in a safe and monitored environment. Students learn about safety online by exposing them to the availability of other people on the internet. This teaches them to be aware of the image their digital footprint shows. When using web 2.0 tools in the classroom teachers can guide students and set guidelines for them. This way they will make good habits that will better protect them later in life. 

My personal favorite web 2.0 tool is blogger, or any other blogging site. Blogs give their users so much freedom to embrace original creation and creativity. It is a great place to share opinions and voice ideas. For students, it gives them their own sense of entitlement. Each person creates their own personal blog that is theirs, and theirs only. They can do whatever they want in it. (Within the guidelines of the assignment.) Students can share videos, pictures, links, their own writing etc. Blogs are more than just writing an essay; it is presented for the whole world to see. They can make it colorful and they make it their own. 

A great way to use a blog is by using it to track the progression of a project. For example, if students were growing a plant in class they could post pictures of it on their blog. Students could also write about how they cared for the plant and what was going on below the soil and what causes it to grow. This is a great way to tie science and English together. :)

Photo Credit to mkhmarketing

http://www.edudemic.com/the-35-best-web-2-0-classroom-tools-chosen-by-you/  <-- During an #edchat talk on twitter web 2.0 tools were discussed and the top 35 to use int the classroom were posted on this site. 

http://cct.edc.org/publications/integrating-web-20-tools-classroom-changing-culture-learning <-- The Center for Children and Technology researched how Web 2.0 tools are shaping education. This link goes to a report about their findings. 

Wikipedia Experience

This is the page I edited. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beekeeping

And this is my username.

Sarahsnow16

I don’t really know how I feel about Wikipedia. I think there is a lot of good information available and from my experience they did a good job of keeping it monitored. However, how do I know that the people who are monitoring certain pages are correct? I contributed valid information to my sight that I got straight from one of my classes here at state. It got taken down quite quickly. Wikipedia could be missing out on good information because some people don’t want edits to their page. I just don’t see Wikipedia as something to fret over because there is no way to know if it’s legitimate. I personally wouldn’t want anyone messing with my work, so I can understand why someone would keep close watch on the edits. I didn’t make any edits after that. I think Wikipedia is a good idea for the most part. However, if I made a page I would lock it so only certain people could edit it. 

After my edits were taken down I looked at the talk page. It said that the beekeeping page was not a “how to” page. I didn’t agree with him. The page talked about the equipment used to beekeep and I expounded on that. It didn’t upset me that he took them down, because I personally don’t like the idea of messing with someone else’s work anyway. I wouldn't want just anyone to do that to me. I never said anything back on the talk page.

I probably won't continue to contribute to wiki pages. I don't see any point in investing my time on something I don't fully support. There is no validity to the accuracy of the information, so I prefer to put my skills elsewhere. I don't plan to use it in my classroom either. I don't want my students to think they can believe just anything they read on the internet. 

Professional Learning Networks and Twitter

When students sit in a classroom and look to the front, they see one teacher. However, the truth is that behind the lessons and their one teacher, is a whole network of educators collaborating to create best classroom environment possible. Professional Learning Networks consist of a wide variety of teachers coming together to share ideas and opinions. PLNs are a way for teachers to have support as well as to better their lessons and teaching style. PLNs do not necessarily have to be within a single school, or even within a grade/subject. They often discuss much wider topics than merely specific educational topics. PLNs can discuss things such as common classroom problems, ideas to create better learning environments, or ways to incorporate technology into the classroom effectively. 

This can be beneficial to inexperienced teachers as well as experienced. Inexperienced teachers need mentors and to show them the ropes and to encourage them in their new job. Starting anything new can be intimidating so having a multitude of connections can help ease the stress. Experienced teachers may need new and fresh ideas. After doing the same thing year after year it can become easy to start going through the motions. On the other hand it can be hard to incorporate new technology that has never been used before. PLNs can include new minds that are more experienced with new technology and tactics. PLNs are helpful to everyone. 

Technology has greatly enhanced the world of PLNs. Teachers from all over the world can now be a part of my PLN. I use Pinterest to connect with other teachers. I have found so many incredibly clever ideas from it. It is one of my favorite was to communicate and share ideas for teaching. Communication is faster and more accessible to almost everyone because of new technology, enabling things like twitter chats for teachers everywhere. When participating in a twitter chat there were certain things that I liked, but also many things that I didn't. With so many participants it was hard to follow the conversation. However, if I looked hard enough there were some good comments and resources available. 

Twitter is a good resource for the classroom itself, not just a way to connect with PLN. I now follow various educators and other teaching resources on twitter. Teachers can also participate in twitter chats to share ideas and get new ideas for the classroom. I follow myEDmatch and Teachers First on twitter. I have also followed Smartbrief Education because I find these to be great resources that will benefit my profession. 

One great twitter account that I just love is the kinderkids account. They use it to tweet as a class. This helps the kids with writing full and proper sentences, with assistance and on their own. It also helps them learn how to use and navigate the internet. It allows parents to follow what their children are learning and what they are doing at school. I know my mother would have loved to have that connection my first year in school. I think this is a great idea that I may try as a teacher. 

Overall, there are many ways to connect with a PLN through technology. My favorites include blogging, pinterest and in some cases twitter. These do not require time sensitivity, which is a fantastic attribute for teachers. They can also lead to meeting with other teachers in person at conferences or workshops. The opportunities are limitless. :)  

To read about more ways to enhance your PLN on Twitter go here: 

http://edge.ascd.org/_Building-a-professional-learning-network-on-Twitter/blog/6498319/127586.html?crlt.pid=camp.tPrcCQjy5N0h

For 10 great guides to a better PLN go here:

http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2013/01/10-great-guides-for-better-professional.html

Here is a great video about what a PLN is and how to use it.

Copyright Laws in Teaching

Everyone wants to feel like their work is appreciated and rightly accredited. The feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment drives people to work hard and make things better. I believe part of the reason why copyrights were made is to retain this drive and ambition. Without it, the work of someone may not result in proper recognition to its creator. Others could use it and call it their own. In this regard, ideas are being stolen and used without proper permission. If this went on long enough, people may stop trying to create good things simply because no one appreciated their work and gave them recognition. 

Copyright is used to help ensure that whatever gets created, gets protected. Not to say that nothing can be shared, but copyright allows the sharing to be regulated. Copyright was made to prevent someone from taking a piece of work and presenting it as their own. It also prevents people from taking something and building on that work and getting recognition. However, some people may want their work to be the building block for something greater. Copyright laws allow for the creator to grant permission to others to use their work. 

"Fair Use" fits into copyright laws by allowing teachers to use 10% of certain things for educational purposes. This prevents teachers from unfairly taking advantage of things that are not theirs, while still allowing them the resources to teach.  As teachers this gives us a lot of material to enhance our lessons. At times it may feel like copyright laws only hold back more of what we could use. It also forces us to look at the grand scheme of a piece of work and take what we think will be most beneficial to the students. It also teaches our students by example, responsibility in the world. It teaches them that not everything is theirs for the taking. 

For books, blogs, articles, videos, etc. on teaching copyright, go here:
http://www.teachingcopyright.org/resources
For questions about copy right laws, go here:
http://www.loc.gov/teachers/usingprimarysources/copyright.html
All teachers should take a look at this:
http://www.edutopia.org/copyright

Digital Citizenship

Digital Citizenship in Schools

A teacher's job is to provide opportunities for students to learn new things. School should be a place where kids are shaped into better citizens in their own unique way. Teachers should guide them along the way and expose them to lessons that will help them discover who they are and what they want to do in life. These lessons should equip them to live life in a way that enables them to make a difference and do so safely. 

Technology is on the rise in today's society. This puts a spin on teachers job to help students grow up to be upstanding citizens. Teachers also have to consider that not only will the students become citizens of the world, but also of the digital world. This is a hard concept for students to realize at a young age because of the barrier technology creates between people. No one is directly watching them as they post something on social media. No one directly sees them click the mouse to go onto a website they shouldn't. Not to mention how easy it is to type negative and derogatory things versus saying it to someones face. 

The first step towards creating responsible students online, is making them realize that their image and reputation online is just as important as it is in person. The same goes for their safety. Places they go online can be just as dangerous as places they could go in town. As a future teacher I will create opportunities for my students to practice responsibility online. I will teach them what is appropriate information to put on their profiles and to release to certain websites. I will ask them what certain pictures make them think. I will ask them "What if you were in this picture?". It is also important for them to understand that just because something is online, doesn't make it free. At a young age, people should learn and become aware of the laws regarding piracy and theft online. It is easy to get away illegal things online, but that doesn't create a good environment online. My students will be the future generation of society and it is my job to teach them to be honest and responsible. 

Students should be exposed to technology in many different aspects. Some don't have access at home and school is the only place they learn to use it. Schools should take responsibility for teaching students how to use technology responsibility. It is becoming such a huge part of life, therefor it should be present in schools. I agree that many aspects of social media and games can hinder children's focus in learning. I think these aspects should be restricted but there are plenty of other resources to teach kids how to use social media responsibly. 

Photo Credit to Terry Heick

links to more info on digital citizenship

http://digiteacher.flatclassroomproject.org/Let's+Talk+about+Digital+Citizenship

http://digitalcitizenship.net/Nine_Elements.html

Teachers and the Digital Divide

In today's world, some people have an advantage over others due to access to technology. With technology growing so rapidly, the future is centered around its influence. Those people who have technology and internet access in their homes have a better understanding of how to use it, and use it effectively. Coming into a classroom with the prior knowledge and advantage wedges an invisible "divide" between students. As teachers it is our job to close that gap and give all students an even playing field for them to prosper. 

Having students at different ability levels is a common hurdle that teachers have to learn to work around when planning lessons. Technology is adding another aspect to this problem. Some students have computers and Ipads at home that they use on a regular basis. Others only have a smart phone to allow them internet access. This creates a great disadvantage for the latter. When assigning homework, teachers cannot assume everyone has the resources to create a word document, power point, or even to look up a video online. 

Students with access to the internet have an endless supply of information at their fingertips. Other students may only have access from a cell phone or at a local library. The time and experience spent with technology can impact how the readiness a student has to enter into the work force. Employers are looking for people who will be able to work with technology like its second nature. They want young people who grew up with technology and the truth is, that not all young people do.

Teachers need to bridge this gap by providing access to their students as much as possible and teaching every child the basis of technology use so their knowledge can grow from that. Teachers should provide opportunities to let them discover new possibilities that technology has to offer. If every student has a basic knowledge of how to use technology for everyday life and a knowledge of how to learn more, their future outside of school has a greater potential. 

Statistics:

74% of women and 80% of men have internet access in developed countries.

37% of women and 41% of men have internet access worldwide.

48% of people 15 and older use a smartphone. 

Links to more information: 

www.internetworldstats.com/emarketing.htm 

www.edutopia.org/de-technology-access-resources

http://www.infodocket.com/2013/06/10/new-report-from-u-s-census-rising-internet-use-and-impact-of-smartphones-on-digital-divide/

Digital Natives

I think that learning how to use technology is a lot like learning how to speak a language. For the first few years of ones life, the brain is more capable of picking up on words and making them second nature. Being around people that speak this language constantly makes the brain naturally want to decipher the code. Communication interacting with everyday life helps a baby learn what words mean and how to use them. 

Putting a child in the same setting with technology does the same thing. When they see it being used on a regular basis and are exposed to it they will naturally learn how to use technology. On the other hand, older generations have to teach themselves or be taught how to use it. They will have to put in the effort and time to manually teach their brains something that came naturally to a digital native. 

In the debate I took the opposing side to my beliefs. I have learned that for a lot of people in the older generation have a knack for technology and don't have to spend as much time learning how to use new technology as others. As technology develops it becomes harder for natives to adapt, and it is possible that a non-native could learn easier. A lot of this does depend on how much time each generation spends with technology on a regular basis. A non-native could use technology in his or her workplace more than a native does in school. This could put the non-native above the native in terms of technology fluency.  

Photo credit to Ken Lee 

Photo credit to Dave Winer

This is a link to a great blog about digital natives. The author does not automatically claim that everyone in the younger generation is a digital native. Instead she discusses an idea that they still need to be taught and should in turn be called digital citizens. The author states that children will be able to figure out technology when handed to them, although they should be taught proper etiquette. These "citizens" should have guided assitance. 

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/digital-native-digitial-citizen-stereotype-mary-beth-hertz

Effectively Integrating Technology in the Classroom

Integrating technology can be a great tool if used properly, however when it is used as an addition instead of to enhance the teaching style and collaboration of the students, it can actually be detrimental.Technology should be used as a way for students to share opinions and ideas in a group setting. It can be used to enhance informative projects and give them flair. Smart boards and Ipads can be used to allow students to physically touch things versus listening to a lecture. This is huge for students that learn better by participating rather than watching. However, poor use of technology does little to no good when it comes to better the quality of the education. Technology that does not allow the students to participate or share their feedback and ideas simply takes on another form of lecture. Lecture style provides nothing that targets the students who learn best by hands on projects and conversation.

 Integrating technology is important because students need to learn to use different methods of technology and understand their options for future use outside of school. Technology will adapt and change throughout their years in school. By teaching them how to use it from the beginning they will have the basics down and the adaptations will come easier, preparing them for future changes. Another reason why technology is so important is because it creates higher quality education. As a whole, our society needs better education. We need better teachers and better resources. Technology can provide what some teachers don't have, and enhance what they do have. 

I like using technology to participate in large class discussions. When I have done that it made it easier for me to see the ideas of everyone else and contribute my thoughts freely. This connects a large class in a way that cannot be done without technology. It encourages participation and paves the way for young minds to think and ponder their own thoughts and opinions. This is a huge step for educators. It should be taken advantage of everywhere. 

_______________________________________________________________________________

  http://www.flickr.com/photos/kathycassidy/Photo credit to Kathy Cassidy

Photo credit to Michael Coghlan

Teachers Using Technology

In today's society, there are so many different viewpoints and opinions about whether technology is good or bad for society. Like most things in this world, there are pros and cons to technology. However, I have seen technology grow, and become more prominent in every area of my life. Technology can save time, make jobs easier and even display information in a way that is easier to interpret than other options. 
As a future teacher I look at technology as a resource and tool that will help keep students attentive and participating. Technology has helped transfer lectures to presentations, and from presentations to group activities and discussions. I have used online blogs and websites to actively participate in discussions. I have used prezi to spice up presentations in school. I have seen tablets being used as a reward system for students. 
Technology is ever changing and new things keep the interest of young people. Routine can become boring and it is easy to just go through the motions. If a student has to learn how to use something new, they may be more attentive to the ultimate goal of learning something else. At the same time they are acquiring new skills that could possibly be used in life out of school.  
On the flip side, the misuse of technology can lead to distractions. Giving students access to the internet or to apps on a tablet can lead to problems if they are not blocked properly. It also creates a barrier between the teacher and the students. If the screen is faced toward the student, the teacher will have trouble monitoring the students.  Technology also has its own glitches that are inevitable. These "bumps in the road" can mess up schedules and plans for the teacher as well as the students. However, some of this can be avoided. Technology has ways of preventing these problems. On tablets there is a way to block certain things and even put time limits on certain apps. 
Overall, I see technology as a way to enhance learning. It can be used for the benefit of the whole classroom. Technology is becoming the future of tomorrow and as teachers, it is our job to prepare and equip our students with the knowledge required to succeed.