Prompt #5

As a teacher I fully intend to utilize all electronic tools at my disposal to help students understand a concept, as well as expose them to the use of the technology itself. I intend to expose students to the benefits of electronics, while at the same time expressing what proper digital etiquette is: appropriate things to say on social media sites, pictures to upload, and when it is socially appropriate to use mobile devices. I also intend on continuing on with my knowledge of electronics and technology, hopefully using them positively in classroom settings.

 

Prompt #4

Review the ISTE Standards for Students outlined in Chapter 3 of Technology Applications for the Digital Classroom of and describe how you can apply the current use/role technology plays in the day-to-day life of students (to include social networking) in your classroom to help achieve the six educational standards identified by ISTE for students.




The first ISTE standard can be easily applied the games and picture programs that students already use. With photo editing apps and thousands of games in the palms of their hands, students are already prepared to be creative and innovative with the use of technology. The online game play can also be applied to the fourth standard of critical thinking and problem solving; a website like mathisfun.com is great for educational game play. The remaining standards can all be applied to students uses of social media websites like Google+ and Facebook. As digital citizens on Facebook, students use the site to communicate with other digital citizens, and research personal information on other people. This type of research can more commonly be referred to as 'creeping' on other people, but is considered research nonetheless.

Prompt #7

I think that the International Children's Digital Library is a great idea, and I feel that the idea is definitely where education is headed. We make so many of our things digital today, that physical books will soon be a thing of the past. The cost efficiency of a digital library incredible and it will make the use of a school library a thing of the past. A digital library would take up less space, cost a lot less money, and even save a few children from the occasional paper cut. Also, I think that international collaboration with the use of eLanguages would be hugely beneficial to teachers and students. I personally have a pen-pal from Chile who is going to be an education major and his journey has really made an impact on me.

Prompt #6

Having graduated from high school lasting, I feel like I'm seeing a new generation emerge: the post-millennial generation. Throughout school I never used a tablet, and my high school didn't get a smartboard until my senior year. The class would be excited enough to see a projector, or possibly one of those large TV's on a tall, rolling stand. Now, as I observe in the inner city schools of Peoria, I see each student holding an IPad; every room has a Smartboard. I realize that technologies can help students learn if used correctly, but it seems a lot of teachers are using them as distractions or incentives for doing work.



 

 

Prompt #3

Being a digital native myself, I hope I will be able to relate with many of my students, and use technology with similar ability. On the other hand, I realize as I age, I will soon be an immigrant into the quickly changing technologies of the generation after me. I consider myself tech-savvy and hope that I can keep up with the times and no be one of those teachers who types 10 words a minute. The substantial gap in technological abilities between my parents and I are hugely noticeable, but my job as an educator will require me to stay up to date on technology. Teaching children to live in a future of electronics, requires me to know what those electronics are, what they do, and how they work.

Prompt #2

 Read about the application of Bloom’s taxonomy to the digital world in Chapter 1 of Technology Applications for the Digital Classroom . Evaluate whether you believe Bloom’s taxonomy is a perfect fit for teaching and learning in the 21 st century, as the author contends, or if you believe it is an outdated taxonomy for the digital classroom.


Remember, understand, apply, analyze, evaluate, and create.  Though many of theses steps may seem as if they're happening within each other, or concurrently, I believe each is a fundamental part of learning. Each of these components builds on the previous, and much like math, one cannot simply skip steps. I would like to see someone go from basic knowledge to being evaluated on the the material, or possibly just be asked to analyze it deeply. I think this is a timeless approach to education, and can be easily used along side technology, or even to teach students about technology. Personally though, I would rather people used the terminology of the older version of the taxonomy. Worlds like knowledge and evaluation are more basic and understandable.

Prompt #1

Technology in today's society is an exponentially growing idea. We teach the future not only to use these technologies, but to develop things we can't even comprehend. Technology is now such an important thing to compete and succeed, that we structure our education around the use of it. America is a society of digital learners and since students appreciate technology so much, it becomes much easier to teach when you have smartboards or ipads at your disposal.