After hearing the horror stories of people that had taken this class online, I am pleasantly relieved to find that the in class version is educational, functional and extremely successful from my point of view. This is the second technology related education class I have taken. The first technology class I took dealt with more of how to create videos, podcasts, blogs, websites and use a projector yet there was not much room for discussion. After being in this class for two months and being able to read and discuss about technologies that are being used in the class, technology safety and new ways for educating our future students it brings what I learned in that first class together and puts it into a much more clear and precise manner.
This class has taught me not to always think that technology in the classroom is only good or bad. It has also taught me that one must be fully equip and educated on how to use different technologies and what purposes they can serve. Lastly I have learned that there is a time and place for technology and there is a time and place for hands on old fashion teaching. What I have learned in this class will not only help me as a teacher, it will benefit my future students and myself as a student forever learning and increasing my knowledge.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Smartboards Effectiveness
With classes needing to rush through curriculums and teaching to test so that there is no time left for any other teaching, tools that make the flow from one source of information to another faster and easier are definitely needed. So much precious time is wasted in classroom from teachers struggling with bringing up a video, warming up projectors, taking a poll or simply writing a bunch of notes on the board. With the invention of Smartboards that precious time can be used for actually teaching a lesson. And not just teaching a lesson where a teacher talks and students write notes. A lesson that is interactive, uses different modes of teaching, evaluating knowledge and getting students motivated is all achievable with Smartboards.
As a future teacher I fully support the use and inclusion of the Smartboard in classrooms. While keeping students engaged and teaching to different types of learners a teacher that utilizes a Smartboard is also educating students on technology and its uses. At the school where I am now doing observations for Fieldwork all regular classroom teachers have this innovative technology. Yet the art teacher with whom is my cooperating teacher does not have one. Nor does she have a projector. The old school white board she has is no more than three feet wide. Not much space for a class based on drawing and visual arts. Videos that demonstrate a project or art technique must be watched on a laptop as 20 students sit crisscrossed on the tile floor. A Smartboard would provide more time for a class that only meets 45 minutes once a week as well as a better view and way to view videos, pieces of famous work and notes or guidelines for a particular project. Smartboards should be embraced, used (properly) and provided to all types of teacher no matter what the content area may be.
As a future teacher I fully support the use and inclusion of the Smartboard in classrooms. While keeping students engaged and teaching to different types of learners a teacher that utilizes a Smartboard is also educating students on technology and its uses. At the school where I am now doing observations for Fieldwork all regular classroom teachers have this innovative technology. Yet the art teacher with whom is my cooperating teacher does not have one. Nor does she have a projector. The old school white board she has is no more than three feet wide. Not much space for a class based on drawing and visual arts. Videos that demonstrate a project or art technique must be watched on a laptop as 20 students sit crisscrossed on the tile floor. A Smartboard would provide more time for a class that only meets 45 minutes once a week as well as a better view and way to view videos, pieces of famous work and notes or guidelines for a particular project. Smartboards should be embraced, used (properly) and provided to all types of teacher no matter what the content area may be.
Podcasting in the Classroom
After reading this article I can definitely see how something like Podcasting mixed with iTunes and people all around the world caring about it can be exciting for students to do. I can see how students would be engaged and wanting to do these types of projects and lessons. My only concern is that Podcasting is becoming obsolete in todays Technology world. Yet students in an Elementary or even Middle school might not care or even know about the popularity of podcasting.
One of the key aspects I enjoy about integrating Podcasting into a classroom is that it gives students a voice. Students want to be heard and listened to and Podcasts are the perfect tool to make that possible. From past experiences with younger cousins, my work at a daycare/Preschool and my observations in an Elementary school children just want to talk. So if children can talk about what they are learning in school that is like killing two birds with one stone. With podcasting and school all parties are happy and educated!
One of the key aspects I enjoy about integrating Podcasting into a classroom is that it gives students a voice. Students want to be heard and listened to and Podcasts are the perfect tool to make that possible. From past experiences with younger cousins, my work at a daycare/Preschool and my observations in an Elementary school children just want to talk. So if children can talk about what they are learning in school that is like killing two birds with one stone. With podcasting and school all parties are happy and educated!
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