Technology

This class has truly opened my eyes as to how much technology is changing and improving.  I plan on using RSS feeds frequently in my U.S. History classes.  Students always seem to struggle with how to acquire and sift through information, and the RSS is a perfect solution to that problem.  A podcast on various history subjects would also be an excellent supplemental teaching tool (explaining a topic in detail etc.).  Off to finish my remaining assignments, this has been a productive class that will help me with the upcoming school year and beyond.

Beneficial

Over the last few years I've attended a couple of technology conferences and for the most part I was really disappointed.  Perhaps it is the way that I learn, but I always left feeling like it was a big waste of time.  It was nice to see and hear about technologies from different companies or teachers, but most of the sessions just didn't appear applicable to me.  Maybe I was overwhelmed with information or underwhelmed when the session names sounded more interesting then the actually sessions.  However, I suspect the biggest problem was me.

Which is why I've enjoyed this class so much.   This class has given me the opportunity to experiment with some really exciting stuff that didn't require me to have a computer science degree.  Even our textbook has been great at explaining how easy some of these services are to get started with.  I've loved the links to working examples of how other teachers are using technology with their students.  It's been really beneficial to be able to explore and interact with what they are doing.   I can't wait to see what we'll be able to bring to the table after taking this class.    

 

Classroom Blog.

I never thought that I'd be one to actually have a "classroom blog" for my students.  I've spent the last hour and a half playing with my blog that I've created and have actually became really excited with the idea and the potential that it holds.  I teach social studies to 8th grades who think that the act of using a text book is a difficult and impossible task! So I tried to help them out a little bit and create a classroom set of folders with class notes and other important infomation for them to use while in the classroom and sign out if they needed to keep them for the evening.  Nonetheless, I had a limited number and not every student was able to get a folder if they needed it.  By having a blog,  I have gained the realization that I am actually capable of taking everything in those folders and put on  this blog for all my students to access whenever and where ever they pleased!  I am a young teacher (only 25) and I've always thought that I was pretty familiar with the use of technology. But after taking this course, in the matter of just a couple of weeks, I have been exposed to a whole new world of possibilities! I was dreading school starting back and was slipping in to a state of depression with the date of August 7th creeping closer and closer (as most teachers on summer vacation do).  But now, I'm pretty excited!

First Time Every "Blogging"

I love the way that this class is set up. I am a hands-on learner and have found myself catching on to all of these new technological "toys" that I never dreamed I'd be able to do! This class has definitely given me confidence to incorporate new approaches and advanced technology into my weekly lesson plans!

More at ease with technology

Now that this class is coming to an end, I do feel more at ease with technology. It seems to take me a long time to figure out the assignments, but once I complete them it seems so easy! I am excited to create a screencast for my class and then present it with my smart board. Even my husband has become intrigued and wants to spruce up his power points in his middle school classroom. I plan to keep going with my class blog and hope to get the parents excited as well. My fourth graders will have a blast creating podcast to show what they have learned! My reluctance towards technology has changed to excitement because of this class!

Personal endorsement for Blogging

It has been a while since I've blogged anything, but I am happy to return.  I started blogging in 2007 about Converse shoes.  Unfortunately parent company Nike took Converse out of the basketball marketplace and my enthusiasm for blogging went with it.  However,  it was truly a great learning experience.  I was able to connect with some amazing people that I otherwise wouldn't have had an opportunity to do. 

Just like our textbook talks about, we should really try these tools out for ourselves before we bring them to our students.  Blogging can be as quick and fun or as complicated and serious as you want.  I would encourage all of you that haven't started blogging yet to give it a try.  Even if your post are sporadic in frequency and content, stick with it. 

New to Blogging

This is a first for me, and I'm looking forward to transferring this skill to my students.  It seems that social media is what drives our culture today, and students love to write about their experiences i.e., so why not have them use a tool that will develop their learning?  This class has challenged me and made me more aware of how technology can positively affect student learning.  The screencast was interesting, and I plan on incorporating it into a lesson about WW2 propaganda.  RSS feeds are going to be an incredible help to me (teaching history).  I noticed that Gmail is now using an RSS feed style system.  I'm off to take Exam 3 after finishing my first blog.

For any history buffs out there, here is a link to a trailer for the new Lincoln movie, its an outstanding film (our junior class went to see it this year).  If you haven't seen it, I encourage you to watch it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KJVuqYkI2jQ