Blog 1

Why Technology should be included in the classroom—Seth Taylor

People, especially (most) older teachers, don’t like the idea of changing up the educational system. The idea that is changing is technology. Technology is becoming more advanced and the traditional ways of teaching are either becoming outdated or easier to do. Traditional ways are becoming more technological.

While traditional teaching still works, it doesn’t have all the abilities that technology can have on a classroom, nor can it compete with all the opportunities that technology has to offer. Technology has the ability to differentiate further than traditional teaching does. A piece of technology that does this well is the iPad. The iPad has programs on it that can help an array of problems. An example of this is a story from my dad. My dad was a middle school principal a while ago, and he told me some stories of what the iPad did for children who were vision impaired. The font of an iPad can be changed so that the font is big enough for those with hearing impaired to see it. This could not happen with just a book; books are one font only. If the student cannot see the text, then a way of learning is lost. Technology makes up for the item that could have been lost, and makes it so it isn’t.

Technology also can provide education to those who, as Professor Kipp said, “school doesn’t work for.” If, for some reason, school isn’t fit for a student and it isn’t a suitable environment for learning to take place. These students can still learn without having to be in the school itself. These students can still get all the education that they are required to get at their own speed. These students cannot only collaborate ideas together, but they also can collaborate with ideas all across the world. This can enhance the learning, by way of comparison, due to the process being all across the globe.

Those are but two examples that technology can help with the educational process. There are more ways than these that technology can help and make tasks easier for a teacher to teach. When technology is used correctly, it can make the process of teaching more enjoyable and less of a chore. When technology is used correctly, the student has the ability to learn more. 

Technology In the classroom

Entry written by:Chris Morgan Topic: Technology In the Classroom

         In the world today technology has been making its way into the classroom slowly but surely. If you were to walk into just about any school there is some sort of technology being used. This includes the use of smart boards, ipads, and even computers. The debate that is present in most school districts is if this is something to be embraced or if it should be halted and the old tools of the trade should be brought back. Many different opinions have been voiced about the pros and cons of using technology in the classroom and that is what I will be going over.
         Their are many advantages to having technology involved in the classroom in society today. Not only would this have a great impact on the environment by limiting the amount of paper that is being used in the classroom, but the students would learn better. The students would learn better because instead of just reading the materials, technology will allow them to get a hands on experience with the material. This would be helpful in just about every subject. In history it could be used to trace the routes of explorers or to discuss geography. In math their are websites that explain how the students got the problem wrong instead of just a red mark over their work. In the science classrooms many of the experiments have been cut due to the price of the materials and the quantity of the students. But with technology these experiments could still be done over the computer. This is how technology could enhance the classroom.
         On the other side of the debate are the people that feal technology could limit the learning in the classroom. There reasoning in these theories are held up by the feeling that it takes away from the fundamentals of learning. Their belief that by using the new technology the students wont have the essentials that we learned as children. Also the other fact that is usually put up for the debate is the students not being on task in the classroom. But there are many computer applications that limit what activities the students can be doing at a certain time. These are the cons of having technology in the classroom.
        I am all for having technology in the classroom. By having this in the classroom it benefits the students more then it hurts their learning. By giving them the hands on experience that would not be available otherwise, their learning will be tremendously increased. The technology that is being used in the classroom allows the students to be more included in the class instead of being lectured. Also it would save the schools a lot of money in the end because of the economic resources that are used day end and day out.

Technology in the classroom

Entry written by: Shellby Jones Topic:Technological Advances
         Technology is a tool that is being incorporated more and more into the classroom. To be honest, it scares me a little. When I was little I always thought I would teach the way I was taught; I had never thought that so many new developments would come out. I considered transparencies and overhead projectors the best invention ever; I must admit I somewhat still really like them. That being said, I like technology and the doors it opens, but with the kids knowing so much, there is a little added pressure. I need to always be on my toes about the latest and greatest teachnological advances.
         So far, most of the tools we have discussed in class are not new to me, but some of them are overwhelming for me. The one that still rattles my brain is the classroom that is completely online. I have taken online courses and participated in assignments from this class online, but I would have no idea where to begin when it comes to creating a class online. I am an elementary education majos so the opportunity to use some of the tools we have been talking about may not be possible. However, my favorite idea that we have talked about so far has been dipity.com. It was a tool that was presented in class and I really liked what it offered. When I was young, I always had to do timelines for anything from bookreports to history projects. Being the perfectionist that I am, it always bothered me that my timeline was not perfectly neat. By having a website like dipity, I can create a place for my student to complete their projects. Not only is is neater, it is also easier for me to grade them anywhere I go. Students could either create an individual project, work on a group project, or we can create one as an entire class. This may be difficult to do if I am in a lower income school district, but ideally it could be used in the home as well as the schools computer lab. I really enjoy this website because it opens up so many new posibilities.
     The other program I love is everything in Miscorsoft Office. There is Microsoft Word for word documents, Excel for tables and spreadsheets,and Powerpoint for presentations.While I really like prezi.com, it is somehwat difficult to navigate and frankly it makes me a bit dizzy. Powerpoint is just so much more simple and basic for the elementary level. I know that having students had write their assignments is a skill they need to know, but mixing in typed papers can prepare my students for the future. In my future classroom, I would like to have my students do a couple of projects on the computer for each subject. I could have them turn in a book report typed out or have a final draft of an essay completed on Word. I think that technology is moving more and more into the classrooms and I am excited to see how many different doors it opens. While I am a little hesistant to incorporate technology into every part of my classroom, I definitely look forward to using it in ways that will help my students reach their full potential.

Technology in the Classroom

Technology in the Classroom:
       This whole semester we have talked about how to incorporate technology in the classroom. In all aspects I think it is a good idea to have technology in the classroom. With technology advancing it is good to have technology in the classroom. I visited a classroom not to long ago with programs that helped them make timelines for the history class. They used little laptops and it is good to have that because like we have talked about in class so many times we need to be preparing them for what is not even out there in the job field. If you think about it 2 year old's already know how to use I-pads and so on and if they already know that then we really need to be incorporating it into the classroom. It is a crucial fact for it to be in the classroom, and as teachers we may struggle with this but with times changing and kids being so well-known with technology it is crucial to have this in our classroom.
      On the other hand though I do not believe in online sessions. I know with technology changing we need to be more adapt to this kind of stuff. As a teacher though, and now being a part of it I do not agree with it. As teachers we are supposed to teach. Online aspects are, I feel, busy work in a since. Its almost like teachers don't really have a say in what the student does minus here is a list that you need to complete by a certain date. I know Mrs. Kipp has been a teacher for online sessions and says she knows her students better then face to face students. As teachers though we should strive for that in the classroom and if we aren't doing that then what are we doing? Online sessions scare me as well, because if every student goes and takes online courses what is the need for teachers? Face to face sessions I get so much more out of because I learn in that environment, and I understand not everyone is like me but that's why we have alternative schools. We to dig into kids life's and not just hand them busy work that they have to figure out by themselves from someone they don't know at all.

Entry written by: Julia Coad
Topic: Technology-How do we keep up in the classroom?

Despite the fact that I would describe myself as a “digital native,” and the daily use of technology is very prominent in my generation, I can honestly say that I often get lost in confusion when dealing with a majority of technology today.  I’m sure many others who are even mildly “tech-savvy” find themselves in the exact same boat. So, how does this happen to so many of us? Well, technology has expanded in so many different directions that the branches of a tree could hardly represent every trend it’s taken. The current pace of technological changes is constant and rapid. It’s thrusting doors of opportunity open, but at the same time it’s formulating many challenges. Now, the trouble of schools and their educators is developing the classroom on the opportunities technology offers while struggling to stay in the continuous flow of new trends.

There exists a “digital divide” in schools because of the rapid evolution of these educational technologies. An online article by Education Week states, “schools are forever playing technological catch up as digital innovations emerge that require upgrading schools’ technological infrastructure and building new professional development programs”(Education Week, Sept. 1, 2011). It’s always going to be a learning process for teachers and students alike. Therefore, both should stay open to all the possibilities.

Thus, I believe that technology should be a tool used wisely and sparingly in the classroom. Obviously, in the past education has been successful with simply a piece of chalk and a board, and even though innovations such as the computer have become more prominent in today’s classrooms, education can still achieve its objectives without the “newest” technology. However, I think that it is important for teachers to alter their sometimes hostile attitudes towards educational technology.  It is key for educators to view it primarily as a classroom enhancement tool. There are so many aspects of social networking, blogging, cloud-based applications, and online tools that increase the educational opportunities and breach the boundaries of the classroom. The trick is to utilize them well, and remain open to what they have to offer. This technological race is not going to slow down any time soon, so educators need to be some of the first ones to embrace the qualities it can add to a classroom.

Importance of Technology in the Classroom

Most people of our generation are very familiar with technology. We have been using the computer since we were little and have been using programs such as Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint since we were in elementary school. As a future teacher, however, I still struggle with including it in classroom instruction. I would much prefer to stick to teaching how I was taught and abandon any kind of extra technology. Although part of me would love to teach technology-free, doing so would hold students back. Because of my unwillingness to learn about new technology, I would be preventing my students from developing the skills they need to succeed.

Students use technology for every other part of their lives, so why wouldn't they use it as a part of their education? Because of their increasing exposure to technology, students usually catch on to new technology quickly. As teachers, we should be one step ahead of them so that we will be able to teach them about the usefulness of technology and not hold our students back because of our unwillingness to learn new things. 

A huge part of being a teacher is preparing students for their futures. Technology is a huge part of that because it is becoming a vital part of our lives. Teaching students to use tools such as Google Docs and Excel, among other tools, will help them be able to prepare for their future jobs and careers. With our culture becoming so advanced in technology, it is important that educators keep up with its growth. The best thing we can do for our future students is get out of our comfort zone now and learn about technology that will not only make our lives easier, but also will help our students be successful.

Technology as a cost-effective tool within the classroom

No school is free from economic burdens. Continually, standards increase and funding is cut. Schools must decipher the best options to provide better education with smaller financial resources. In this present generation, schools often spend a large portion of their budget on computer software that promotes education. Between the cloud and Internet resources, schools could significantly cut in some expenses.

Though offered at discounted prices for schools, software similar to Word, Excel, and Powerpoint are available via the cloud. In addition to the schools saving, families will as well. Websites such as Google docs allows for free creations of word documents, spreadsheets, drawing documents, charts, presentations, and more. Not only are these free, they allow for easy sharing of work among classmates, students, and teachers though the cloud and unified processors.

The Internet also opens other cost-effective tools. Youtube, blogger, and academic databases increase content mediums and communication. Internet news articles are free unlike their paper subscriptions. PDFs provide books and articles for free that can be downloaded to a computer so Internet is not necessary. Online games that increase competency in various skills also be found on the Internet. For example, Free Typing Games provides games that increase touch-typing literacy. These websites and tools provide free instruments for the classroom that also add diversity to the curriculum.

As we are all aware, education is not cheap. Necessary materials continue to become more expensive as the cost of raw materials increases. Unfortunately, traditional education continues to be at the forefront despite the newer programs within cloud technology. As these new programs explore new realms for the classroom, they also provide a more cost-efficient option for schools.

Blog #1

Topic: The Downfalls of using Technology in the Classroom

When I think about technology in school growing up, I think of overheads, stereos and cassette players, a limited amount of computers in the lab that we occassionally went to. Most of class was on a chalkboard and you had to actually pay attention to the teacher in class because you couldn't be sent the documents used for the lectures without handwritten copies that were copied. In order to learn things, we actually had projects to do, had to be creative, had to be actively involved with what was going on in the classroome. All of that changed as technology advanced.

I think that it is a good thing to use technology in the classroom, however, I think that at the same time, there are some negative effects depending too much on technology. Although businesses depend a lot on technological use and kids now get more fun out of technology, I think that basic skills are compromised. Most people now use technology to check their grammar and spelling, so much so that if they were to write it, they wouldn't know it. In classrooms growing up, one of my favorite activities was writing. I learned more making mistakes and seeing the corrections that were made than I do from having a computer automatically correct everything almost instantly.

Being admist this shift in culture, it is more apparent that one of the challenges we will face will be what is essential in social relationships.I think with technology, social life is reduced. Though it is a good thing that people are more comfortable to speak their minds and share their opinions, it is much easier to have a thriving relationship online and then be a complete stranger in real life. Why is that? This is something that we will have to address in public schools because what is said online makes more of a difference than it just being said in person. Someone may not say a thing that is on their mind in person, but online they let it all out and it is in writing. I think that it is an excellent tool for communication and seeing thought processes, but it makes communicating in person a bigger problem.

Participation and stage fright are already intimidations and challenges in a classroom, but reducing the comfortability to ask questions in a group or face to face makes this an even bigger challenge. I must admit though, technology makes it possible to address any questions and to pass the information on to everyone at almost anytime. The introduction says that "Anyone used to interacting with objects and others to get information on a daily basis cannot learn by sitting still and listening to someone at the front of the room spout facts." (p. 9) Even here at chapel it is difficult to listen to a speaker and if it is difficult now, it is much more difficult to the younger generations. It is great to use technology in the classroom, but there are still downfalls to using technology that need to be addressed in order for it to be used effectively.

Using Technology Where Technology is Foreign

There is no doubt in my mind that technology offers students an amazing opportunity to expand their bubbles of thinking and to find new outlets that allow for more effective communication. What challenges my mind however is how to incorporate the benefits of technology into classrooms with students who lack the same technologies that we are learning to, or already know how to, use. My career aspirations include joining the Teach for America program, which involves teaching at an inner city school for two years, as well the possibility of later going into “missions-education” and teaching in a third-world country somewhere. Both of these directions would lead into situations where would be dealing with poorer families (the latter more so than the former) and where the students would not have quite as much access to internet or sometimes even computers away from school.
This brings forth the challenge of incorporating technology in the classroom. It would be too easy to say “I don’t want to use technology” and get on with life, but the truth is that technology offers such a great opportunity that not using it would be depriving students of immense learning. This is why I believe that the majority of technology usage in this situation would rest solely on the educator’s shoulders. Incorporate things that students would be able to access from home or a library, but not things that are crucial to a student’s performance level within the class. For instance, you could start a class blog or Facebook page that students have the option of viewing outside of the classroom, or even to add onto that, you could give students the opportunity of making contributions to those pages during a portion of class time. By doing something simple like this you not only give them opportunities that they wouldn’t otherwise have, but you would also be teaching them about tools and online programs that they could very well have to use in the professional world after schooling.
I believe that even using technology in class lessons or presentations (with ample time given in class for preparation if students are the ones presenting) would be an amazing tool to benefiting their education. Just to use modern technology in that way serves as a hook to get students interested in what they are learning. Chances are that they have had a lot of teachers who use very basic tools or blackboard methods of teaching, so they are more or less unaccustomed to technology. When you provide that method of input into your student’s lives, they becoming intrigued first by your methods of presentation, and therefore they find a new level of interest or excitement in the lesson material itself.
I know that not everyone will teach in a school that lacks technology, especially in this world which seems to advance more and more every day, but I believe that if you are put in that sort of a situation, being the bearer of technology in the classroom will raise your level of respect in the educational community.

To Be Updated with Technology or Not Be Updated with Technology, Is it good or is it bad?

Entry written by: Bradley Kohlman

      First things first, I would have to consider myself a “digital native” because when it comes to technology I would consider it to be somewhat of a second language. However, I am not actually involved with the latest ways to communicate with people; which, could be either by blogging, Google plus, or even Twitter because I would rather communicate with people face-to-face. On the other hand, I believe technology is shaping our society each day because if you look around you do not see people with books, pen and paper, or two people sitting down at a local café discussing business anymore, but you see the opposite. From that, studying to become a primary, elementary, grade teacher I need to keep up with the latest technology and apply it to my classroom, however, people would argue that technology is a positive fixation or negative one. As a result, I would like to focus my attention on the aspects of how technology can be positive or negative in the classroom environment. I would like to focus on the positive and shift to negative side.

      In order to understand how technology can be a positive fixation one should look at some tools which are: online calendars (Google calendars), electronic drop box, and school website with individual teacher website page—personally I believe a teacher website is the biggest and crucial part of being a productive and thoughtfully teacher, but I will get into more detail about that later. Truly, I am a person who does not function well if I am not organized, so I think Google calendars is beneficial because as a future teacher I can utilize the calendar to place upcoming events like: field trips, parent-teacher conferences, homework assignments, and school wide events, so parents and myself know what is going on that week or month. Parents would truly appreciate an online calendar because they could up with events that are going on, or know when homework assignments are due. We all know the situation with homework! “Do you have homework tonight?” “No, my teacher did not assign any homework.” However, using Google calendar can show the parents what homework assignment is due and when. Being in college is great because being a student we have an online course page and on that page we have virtual drop box and I believe it is beneficial because I can submit a paper online and receive feedback on that paper instantly. Also, I do not have to worry about printing off a paper and giving to one of my professors or end up losing my paper some how. Lastly, as I mentioned earlier I am a big fan of the school websites with individual teacher website page because I can view a schedule of assignments, print off assignments, and keep up to date with assignments within that course. Therefore, when I become a teacher I want to keep my website updated as much as I can because I want to show my parents I care about their student(s) education. Why are these tools positive? The following tools are positive because they are teaching students to be responsible for the real world and start applying it now, so when it comes time for them to get a job they can be well prepared. Conversely, people believe technology has a negative aspect.

      Technology can have a negative effect on students by: making them lazy, spending their quality time, and overall are students truly learning anything. When it comes to make students lazy, many people think about students looking up words on an online dictionary and assuming that is the correct definition, however it could not always be the cases. Another way technology can make students lazy is by projects. Furthermore, about projects students can easily find pictures, quotes, or have their parent or group work on the project alone. Today, you can look around and see almost everyone is on some sort of technological device like: a cell phone, iPad, or computer. As a result, students are spending their time on Facebook or Twitter instead of focusing on their homework, so when it comes to the deadline of homework or project students are staying up all night and creating unsatisfactory work because they did not research enough information to back up their proposal or whatever the project asks for. Lastly, the following statement is the biggest concern: are students truly learning anything. Additionally, many people would argue students are not learning basic skills because technology is shorting their motivation like: looking up an unknown word in a dictionary, complying information from textbooks, and not knowing the difference between true information and not true information. Personally, I believe students need to balance technology with physical material references because they know they are receiving correct information. In addition, as a teacher I need to be aware that some of my students might not be able to have access to a computer, or never want to do anything with technology, and many parents might become much irritated because they feel like they have to make sure their student(s) is turning in all their work, check up on upcoming assignments or events, and e-mail.

     Overall, I mentioned the positive fixation and negative of technology in the classroom environment. Honestly, I would prefer to balance technology in my classroom because I do not think my future students can rely on receiving their information from the Internet, which can be altered by anyone. From that, I leave you with a question: Where do you stand on technology in the classroom, and do you believe it to be a positive or negative fixation?   

Technology in the Classroom

Thus far in Educational Technology we have discussed many important issues, but the one that had the biggest impact on me was the question “should we use more technology in the classroom today”? After much thinking and deliberation, I have come to the conclusion that we as teachers should try and use more technology in the classroom for a number of reasons. Probably the biggest reason we should use more technology in the classroom is because our students will increasingly be using and exposed to technology in every aspect of their lives. When they finally reach the that part of their livers where they have to work for a living, they will be expected to know how to use a variety of different kinds of technology. If we as teachers can expose our students to different kinds of technology, we can help them be successful. Probably the biggest piece of technology that teachers use in a classroom is a computer. We as teachers could use computers for just about anything in the classroom.

As a Special Ed major, I am a bigger believer in helping these special kids in any way that I can. One thing that many people probably do not realize is how much certain types of technology can help students with special needs. Whether it be a device that can speak for a child who cannot speak, or an iPad that can give a child practice with their fine motor skills, technology can be a very important part of these kids lives.

There are those people that would argue against technology in the classroom and they would argue things such as “technology is a distraction” or “some kids do not have that kind of money”. Yes, there are a few kids that cannot afford a computer, or other kinds of technology, but in today's world most do have computers and for those that really cannot afford one, accommodations can be made so that student can be just as successful. Most students in general like using technology, so why not use more technology in the classroom and make learning even more exciting for them.

The Questions Technology Brings

I have to admit, I am not a big technology person. It's not that I don't know how to use technology, I'm just not sure how much technology I want to use in my future classroom. As stated in the introduction chapter of our textbook, "Using technology is the way today's students learn outside of school because they are comfortable with the tools" (Solomon 3). At first, my initial thought was "wow, technology could really be beneficial in a classroom, especially at the secondary level!". However, as I began to think about this simple fact, another thought occurred to me: is it possible to overuse technology?

I absolutely think we can overuse technology. Think about it. Not even 50 years ago, students idea of fun was going out with friends to get a soda or maybe even sitting at home reading a book. Now, students idea of fun is being with friends and watching completely pointless YouTube videos, playing video games, spending time on Facebook and Twitter, and of course using their iPads, iPhones, and iPods. If we as educators put a book in front of students and tell them to enjoy the wonderful work of literature before them, students don't exactly look excited. However, if we tell them to read the book and make a video from the point of view of a character or analyzing the theme, that could possibly help students understand the material better. My point here though is could constantly using technology in the classroom ruin its appeal to students?

While some students love to use technology, we also have to consider that there will be a handful of students who hate using technology. As educators, it is up to us to engage students using other outlets besides technology. While some students may want to create videos and podcasts, there will be students who would rather compose a musical selection, paint a portrait, write a poem, or even choreograph a dance. The other question we have to consider as educators is what about those students who don't have access to a computer or other technology? This is the one question I can't seem to find an answer for. We cannot expect students to always go to the school library on their off hour or even make their way to a neighborhood library just to get one assignment done. What do we do for these students? How can we make sure we do not overuse technology in the classroom?

Entry written by: Kaitlyn Moeller
Topic: Teacher/Classroom Websites.

Teacher websites are important for classrooms, potential parents, and students. When families move or children get to the correct age, a decision must be made about which school is the "right" school. For this process, there are multiple avenues parents could take but one now addressed is that of websites. Websites contain several options for parents and teachers to look at. Weebly and Google Sites are only two sites that can be used but there are many others and some schools that have their own program for teachers to utilize. Websites should have information about the teacher well as tidbits of how the classroom is run which help the parents decipher where to send their children.

It would also be helpful for the classroom because there are some attributes in a website/wiki that allows the class as a whole to work together. This could include what to put on the teacher/classroom website, pictures, essays, or if there is a specific characteristics that the students desire as a group, that could also be added. All of these could be group and team building aspects which could potentially help the classroom respect and work with each other. It can express openness of mind and expand the classroom to other areas in the US or the World. The website could allow the classroom to see how large business work with their online process by the links the teacher places on his/her site.

For the students themselves, there can be a section specifically for the. Perhaps a page log-in section where they can see their homework assignments, when and what they needed to read, or small group projects that can be worked on after school. Although these could be included as a blog, there is an option of connecting the student log-in page directly to the teachers' own page. This could allow parents to know that the teacher did some aspects on the computer as well as hard-copy. Slowly shifting assignments online would could help the students but I also think that it is important to go over it in class so that if they get stuck, the teacher is there to help them.

Entry written by: Madison
Title: Technology is great, but where do we limit it?

     Technology is proving to be a need in classrooms today, and will become a bigger factor for educators to focus on in the future. The generation of students in classrooms today have always grown up with technology, and in the future students will need proficiency in these areas in order to keep up with the jobs they will be in. It is undeniable, our world is becoming reliant on technology. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, these digital tools make it easier to find information, learn, and communicate with others. We have seen in class the different ways we can use websites and programs, and how we can manipulate them for a new kind of learning. My question however, is when do we limit technology and go back to the basics? At what point is looking up the answer to a question in a book necessary, or creating a poster board with factual information relevant?
 
    I guess my question mostly deals with what will be important for us as teachers to realize as necessary in this new kind of education, and even new kind of world. It seems to me that even though there is going to be so many advances in technology that basic writing skills and math skills will still be a need. Kindergartners will still need to learn letters and their sounds, first graders will still need to learn basic math, and all the other basics in curriculum will still be necessary. Where I am lost is where we draw the line in the kind of education we grew up in, and this new kind of education that is technology based. Will we need to teach writing skills on a computer? Or is it still important for us to make sure hand written work is proficient? My concern is not knowing how to best prepare students for the world we are living in without forgetting the basic skills that are still important.
   
      In this generation of students, I want to be the kind of educator that helps them learn in whatever means possible, and learn what is necessary for them in the future. I understand the importance in using technological tools to accomplish what needs to be done in the classroom, and using them to motivate, engage, and impact students in learning. With this new wave of education I just feel uncertain knowing what I as a teacher need to incorporate in order to become the kind of teacher I want to be want to be. The combination of how and what I learned and what will be necessary to teach for the students for success in the future is an uncertain mixture to me, but I hope that my understanding of this topic deepens and become more clear the more we get into the class.

To Blogging And Beyond!

Entry written by: Cary S. Topic: Blogs and Educational Technology

When one is asked to think of words that can be used to describe a classroom, the word blog probably does not come to mind. I would assume that this word is not commonly associated with elementary and secondary education, yet it is definitely becoming more prevent within educational language. The concept behind the word blog offers so many beneficial elements to the world of education. Blogs are taking education beyond past traditions. I have never blogged before nor have I really understood all that blogging has to offer. After learning about blogging, I can now see how beneficial blogging can be in education for teachers and students alike.

Mr. Lynn, a sixth grade teacher at Hutchinson Elementary School in Lakewood, Colorado, stated on his 'Teacher Blog' that "blogging is a nice way for him to satisfy his urge to write!" Besides just satisfying the urge to write, teachers can use blogs to connect, communicate, and collaborate. Teachers can write on blogs to connect with parents and students. Blogs provide a way for teachers to communicate with parents and students concerning classroom happenings, important information, and special achievements. Teachers can also use blogs to share and collaborate with other educators concerning lesson ideas, standard specification, event planning, and classroom management suggestions. With the ability to comment on blog posts, collaboration is easily achieved along with the development of an ongoing conversation. What a great tool that gets writing out--beyond the traditional paper copy.

Students can also gain from the use of blogs in classrooms. Blogs can be great teaching tools from which students can learn about writing, collaboration, and communication. According to Gwen Solomon and Lynne Schrum (2010), "Blogs encourage writers and responders to develop thinking, analytical, and communication skills" (p. 18). Students have normally written papers in class knowing that their audience is primarily their teacher. Due to the public nature of blogging, students who use blogs instantly realize that their audience is not only their teacher but also includes parents, classmates, and possibly anyone else. The realization of an authentic audience, leads students to work harder on their writing and communication skills. Reading others blogs assists students in developing reading and comprehension skills. Due to the fact comments can be made on posts, students can use blogs to collaborate with others to gain new information that can add to better understanding of the subject. Students can use blogs for personal journals, reading summaries, gaining feedback, and discussing specific subjects.

When a classroom moves to blogging, it will lead to learning and growth beyond the traditional ways. As I learned about the benefits of blogging, I saw many wonderful ideas on how blogs are being used by teachers and students. Teachers, like Mr. Lynn and Jan Smith, are utilizing both teacher and student blogs to bring new benefits to the classroom. I look forward to continual investigation of how blogs are being used in classrooms. I plan on someday integrating this creative and valuable tool into my classroom to go beyond the past and to look toward the future. Hopefully the continual integration of blogs into classrooms will allow students and teachers to accomplish what Mr. Weir, a third grade teacher at Hutchinson Elementary, wishes to accomplish- "What we are doing here is not merely "learning stuff." We are making meaning of our lives. We will, in the end, not only be excellent workers, but we will live lives full of glory and beauty because of what we learned in school.

Solomon, Gwen and Lynne Schrum. (2010). Web 2.0 how-to for educators. Washington, DC: International Society for Technology in Education.

Entry written by: Jannessa Hilliard  Topic: Teaching 21st Century Learners

     As we all know, technology is the future.  Chapter 1 of our textbook states, "The generation of students in our classrooms today is the first to have grown with digital tools at their fingertips.... When they go to work in the future, it will be in an environment where reliance on technology is a given and the skills the need are the ability to adapt, learn new skills, and work in ever-changing teams depending on purpose."  (Solomon, 1).  We are teaching students who in the 21st century have been imersed in and grow up with technology all around them.  As educators it is our responsiblity to provide our students the tools to succeed in a technology-driven workforce and culture.  We must teach them the skills they need to succeed even in the technology world.  But is technology in the classroom a good thing? And if so, how much technology is too much and exactly how much will technology infiltrate and impact our classroom lives as teachers? 
     As teachers we are left with an important decision to make.  Will we change with the new times of technology, or will we stick to traditional methods of teaching?  I personal think we need to adapt our methods of teaching to fit and prepare our students for their futures in a very techonological world.  Along with equipping them for the future, technology can much enhance our classroom learning and open the door to experiences students may not ever get to experience without digital advances.  Our author states in the introduction, "Using the tools that students find appealing can make a difference in their learning now and help them prepare for the future.  Students can interact with information, create knowledge, and then communicate the results to a real audience." (Solomon, 1) 
    Technology can be a powerful tool for learning in our classrooms.  As a result of students growing up in a technologically-driven world they are very visual learners.  Technology can provide unlimited visual supports to enhance your learning.  For example, class websites provide students and parents with accessible, free, up-to-date information regarding up-coming events.  Another such example would be class blogs.  Both at the Elementary and Secondary level, kids need to discuss, analyze, debate, and reflect on materials given, and blogging is an interactive tool to do such a practice from anywhere.  One example I really like is the ability to Skype in experts to talk to your students about a current issue or topic.  For example, if you are teaching a history unit on the Vietnam War, you could Skpe in a war veteran to give your students a real-life testimonial about what really went on.  Their are also online interactive games and science experiments that could further kids learning.  I learned Spanish through an online interactive program and it was amazing.  The possibilities for technology in the classroom are endless and their is no reason to deny our students all the oppurtunities technology provides for them.
    Once again, I think we as teachers must absolutely provide our students the ability to learn and excel in learning through technology.  However, just as it is with anything, I do think moderation is needed when it comes to technology in the classroom.  Classrooms should absolutely utilize the technological tools out their for teachers and students, however, they should not be solely dependent on technology. Technology should be used to enhance the learning already going on, not take the place of or cause distraction away from that learning.  Technology in the classroom is key because our students have grown up, consumed, and mastered technology.  It is our job to reach them from the digital world to help them learn and prepare them for their futures!


*** Check out these videos that remind us of the importance of using technology in our future classrooms.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_A-ZVCjfWf8

Entry written by: Light

     Recently in class we have discussed the possibilities in the classroom with online resources. Whether it be through the school’s website or an outside source, posting assignments, grading assignments, or reminding students of upcoming events online can be extremely useful. The main tool offered online that really caught my attention for the first time was none other than Google Documents.

     Google Documents took me by surprise because I did not think it was anything more than Word Documents except for it being online. Upon my beginning to use it, I quickly realized that it is so much more. Through this free program, I can set up WebPages, create spreadsheets and forms for specific classes, or E-mail documents I have written online directly to parents because the program is linked with my Google account. One specific reason I liked Google Docs so much though, is the possibility it allows for students to write up an assignment and turn it directly into the teacher with little to no hassle at all. Microsoft Office/Office Mac are both extremely expensive programs, and some students simply cannot afford them. Google Docs is completely accessible, and allows users to have all the benefits of the previously mentioned programs for free. The only question I could think of left to ask is, “When do we start letting our students use this program?”

      Despite Google giving teachers this wonderful tool that can help shorten grading time and stacks of paper, perhaps teachers in the elementary level should hold off on assigning their young students things online. My fear is that they would become too reliant on technology at an extremely young age, which is not always a healthy thing. As kids get older, more mature, and more responsible, the world of internet technology for educational purposes seems more appropriate to be brought in to their curriculum than when they are still really young. I would vote for Google docs to be implemented into schools, but only for middle school levels and above.

     Overall, I like this online tool for education. It allows contacting students and parents alike at a faster and more efficient rate than I would have thought possible. While some may disagree with me on the age of apporopriateness, the main important issue is that no matter when, we should get this implemented into our teaching. Google Documents really offers a lot for teachers and students alike, and I am excited to use this program as I further my career in the field of education.

Beneficial Blogging

To be honest with you, I have never blogged a single time in my whole 20-year-old life, and I never would have if it weren’t for this class. Before this class, I used to think blogs were pointless and just way for people to annoyingly rant about their life, so they could get everything out in the open. After reading “Web 2.0 how to for educators” I have found a whole new appreciation for blogs and how they can be useful in the classroom setting. “Blogs encourage writers and responders to develop thinking, analytical, and communication skills” (Web 2.0 how to for educators). This quote alone changes my perspective on blogging, and makes me believe that blogs can be beneficial to not only the author of the blog, but the person reading the blog for it can expand their level of thinking and cause them to think analytically.

For one thing, blogs aren’t lengthy (like most books) so it keeps your attention. Nowadays most people are turned off from reading books because they have so many pages, but a short and entertaining blog can keep the attention of an interested reader. Blogs can include photos, links to other websites, and a place to leave your comment, which will entertain the reader but also make them, think inquisitively and analytically, which sharpens one’s mind. I believe teachers should have their students write blog about certain subjects that were discussed in class, as well as current events so the teacher keeps the students’ mind sharp.

Communication in the classroom is key, and a beneficial way to teach your students communication is through blogging. Let’s say a teacher assigns a blog assignment to the class, and requires each student to comment on at least one students’ blog; imagine how much each student would learn from each other. Students and teachers alike will get a lot out of writing down their own ideas, and having everyone else dissect and give a critical analysis of each other’s blog will broaden their knowledge horizon. It can also give each student an argumentative mind, which will bode well in the future when they need to do future work assignments either in school or in the work force.

All in all, writing blogs can be beneficial for both students and teachers alike. Whether you are a student in the classroom or an average human being who enjoys writing your thoughts on the internet. Writing blogs is an entertaining yet beneficial way to communicate profound thoughts and ideas. At first, I was against blogs, but now that we have discussed the benefits of writing blogs in class and reading it in the book, I have come to appreciate blogging. When I finally graduate and have a class of my own, I’m going to find ways to incorporate blogging in my class, because it will build communication skills, which will be handy for the student in the future.

Entry written by: Jacob Dunne Topic: Blogs

Lots of Blogs

Entry written by: Rachel F. Topic: Blogs


I didn't know what a blog was until a few weeks ago when I got one in order to get free books. When I started it, I felt like I was jumping off a cliff into the unkown. This is how technology is for a lot of people, especially teachers who have never used it before. It is a whole different world that is very overwhelming. I think little steps in technology can help teachers become more comfortable with it and as they get used to it, they can add more web-based ways of learning in their classroom.

Blogs is a great way to open the door of technology in classrooms today. Most secondary age students already know how they work, and can help the teacher if they need help. And once the blog is set up, there is little that the teacher needs to do to keep it going. The teacher could even have the students be in charge of the blog if they trusted their students well enough to do it, and just check up on it every once in a while. There are not a whole lot of fancy tools in most blogs, making it easy for the teacher and students, but there are enough to keep the students interested like uploading pictures, videos,and links to other websites. The teacher can end the blog whenever they want to but can go back to look at it for grades and assesments any time they need to.

Also, blogs can be use in practically every subject in every grade level. English teachers of any level can use it for brainstorming for papers or projects or for discussing a particular book they are learning about in class. They can also use it to continue a discussion in class they were unable to finish. Math teachers can post practice math problems for their class to do before a test or for homework. And if the students do not understand a specific problem, they can ask their other classmates or the teacher for help. History students can post pictures for a group project on it, or the teacher can have them post a link to a website on a particular website and talk about how the website has good information or not, and how it relates to a specific subject. With blogs, the possibilities are nearly endless for the classroom. I am looking forward to using some of these ideas in my future classroom, and can't wait to see how others use them as well!