"Assignment #1: Technology Literacy"

1). I feel like I should know a lot more about technology then I do. I sometimes feel like an "old soul" or somewhat "old fashion" when it comes to technology. I do have a computer and I am able to get on to check my email, do research, or do my homework. I am sure there is some more that I can do, but at the moment that is what is coming to mind. In this day and age one sees more and more lap tops in lecture classes for taking notes, but not me. I still like my technology of a notebook and a pen. I do realize how important technology is, and how it really needs to be incorporated more into our classrooms than it already is. At times that thought scares me, as I feel like my future students will be so farther advanced than I could ever be. Instead of freaking myself out too much, I know that I need to just take one thing at a time and learn what I can. I do want to be able to incorporate technology in my classroom as I see it is crucial in the student's learning. I know that during this semester I want to overcome my fear of technology, and be able to learn as much as I can. I find the SMART Board absolutely fascinating, so I definitely want to learn how to use this technology better so that hopefully I will be able to include it into my classroom.

2). Technology is very, very, very important in one's education and learning. I think that as technology becomes more advanced one should learn it, embrace it, and finally incorporate it. There are many different types of technology, and each one is able to aid a student or the class differently. Everyone learns differently some learn through hearing, seeing, or doing. Depending on what the technology is each student should be able to benefit. This is one reason I am really wanting to learn how to use the SMART Board, because it includes all three of the aspects of how one learns. Technology can give one's students the opportunity to better understand about the world around them without even leaving the comfort of their classroom. I must say that I like the sound of that!

3). Now for the NETS standards and how to achieve these with 5th graders:

#1: Produce a media-rich digital story about a significant local event based on first-person interviews. Students could keep an online journal about different current events, interviews, different prompts, and free writes throughout a few months. Then in the end they will have to type out a story using some of the ideas from their journal entries.

#5: Identify and investigate a global issue and generate possible solutions using digital tolls and resources. According to the current events going on at the time, the students will need to look up three during the week and write a summary of what had happened. At the end of the week, students can share with one another what they found. As a class we can locate on a map (maybe by using the SMART Board) to see where different current events and issues are taking place.

#9: Debate the effect of existing and emerging technologies on individuals, society, and the global community. Students will need to choose some kind of technology. They will then have to do research on what it was like years ago. They will get the opportunity to see how it has changed, and see if there are any new developments. Then they can make further changes to the particular item to show how they think it will change. The students will also need to think of any advantages/disadvantages of the changes from the past, present, and to the future.

"Making Strides in Miramichi"

In this particular article by Diane Curtis, one can read about how using the SMART Board in one's classroom can truly change the dynamic, students' grades, and even how much more they students want to learn. From reading this article, I have some new ideas of different ways on how to incorporate a SMART Board into the classroom. Students are enjoying this new technology in their classrooms. According to this article, those schools that are using this technology have seen an increase in students' grades. "The more children are engaged, the better learning they will have and the higher academics they'll achieve." Students were not as involved in their classrooms when it was just a stick of chalk and a blackboard, but now these students are wanting to participate more. It is a great tool to have in a classroom for many different reasons. Some of these reasons include, having larger font sizes for all students to be able to see, having audio go along with what is being taught, or to have children be able to fully understand what they are learning about by using this great technology.

My Website

So I have my own website... those who know me might be surprised to findout that I have my own website. Well, at the moment it is nowhere near done. I still have a lot more to add to my website. I would have never guessed that I would have been able to create my own website. I am still going back and forth on a few ideas as to what the website will be about. I have a link to my website. Now, just to warn you, it still needs a lot of work.

http://olygirl86.googlepages.com

My School

I will be doing my observation in a 5^th grade classroom at Cedar Park Christian School. I found the school’s website to be easy to understand and to navigate through. I personally enjoy how every time I go on to their website different pictures from students from their elementary, middle and high school appear on the home page. Under the faculty members each teacher has a little bit written about them including where they are from, where they went to school, and what they teach. I enjoyed being able to read about different teachers, including the one I will be observing for this semester.

http://www.cedarpark.org/cpcs/

Technoloy and Me

Technology is a huge part of our lives. I wish I knew more about technology then what I know or should know. To be quite honest I have never been real big into technology. Sure I have a cell phone, and a computer to check my email among a few other items. But I know that there is so much more to know and learn about technology. I almost do not even know where to begin. Prior to our class I had never heard of a SMART Board. I would like to learn how to better use it to then incorporate into the classroom. Overall I want to learn how to incorporate more technology into the classroom.

"We are all learners. We are all teachers."

As time continues to change before our very own eyes, technology is advancing rapidly. While technology changes students are keeping up with the changes while teachers only seem to be falling father behind. In order to be more effective as a teacher, we need to try to stay at the same pace with technology as it changes. Many students have commented on how their teachers “are old school”. Teachers do not include more technology in the classroom due to their fear of “looking stupid” as their students will actually know something that the teacher does not understand. According to the article, How to teach with technology: keeping both teachers and students comfortable in an era of exponential change, by Marc Prensky, teachers should embrace technology, and even ask their students for help on how the particular technology works. The teacher is still able to show how the technology can be applied to what they are learning. Prensky states that, “. . . if we don’t teach these kids to use these technologies responsibly, they will just use them to beat us” (pg 44). He also mentions how it is the job of the teacher to help “teach responsibility and the responsible use of tools” (pg 45).

Why do I want to be a teacher?

For as long as I can remember, I have always enjoyed working with children. As a little girl one of my favorite games to play was "school" or "teacher" as I liked to call it. No longer being that little girl, I do realize that becoming a teacher is much different and not just a game. Now it has a deeper meaning, I will have the opportunity to hopefully influence and change the lives of those students who come into my classroom with many different dreams and a lot of energy. I hope that one day I will have the opportunity to teach overseas at an international school. At the moment I am interested in grades 3rd through 5th.