I would like to start this off by saying that I do not expect to use the technology we are learning about in this class. I do see where it can be very beneficial for educators and students alike. However, I am in a precarious situation where I am currently working at a school district that does not use technology or have access to what we are learning. The district is a very poor one and has poverty level students that do not have computers, cell phones, or I-Pods. I myself do not own a computer and only have a cell phone used for making calls and nothing else. I also plan on working for a Title 1 school district because I enjoy helping the underdog overcome and achieve. Now with that out of the way. If I had the ability to use a wiki or a blog, I would choose a blog because it would allow me to share information with my students and parents. I would post the class schedule of homework, quizzes, test and extra credit information. I would also link helpful websites where the students could get some extra help and practice in. This would allow the students and parents to know what was going on and when. It would keep the parents informed and involved. This forum would also allow the parents access to me at their convenience and in an informal setting, which would allow them to be more comfortable talking about their child, and the problems they may be having.
I do not see the purpose or benefit for socialbookmarking. If there are websites that I would like for my students to explore, I would simply share those sites with them in a handout or link them on my blog. So many sites are blocked by the schools IT department that there is very little opportunity for students to search the web at school. This situation would require me to get approval for sites to be viewed while at school. For example I cannot watch the video about socialbookmarking at the school I work at because it is tagged as R-Rated. Do not ask me how. I was able to watch the other videos without any issues. As far as a Voicethread goes this is very intriguing but again it was over my head. I did enjoy the video about the women but it was hard sometimes to understand what the children were saying. The greatest thing I thought was the fact that these classrooms were sharing information back and forth as if they were actually in class together. This is the use of technology in education at it’s finest.
This weeks activities were very educational and made me realize just how far behind I am technologically. Most of this information I had never heard of and it was fascinating to discover how it works and how it could be used to better educate the students. What is lost in this class I believe is the fact that not everyone is ready or has access to the advances that have been made. I know that I sound like I stick in the mud and I do want to learn how to use the technology that is out there, but I cannot use it where I currently am. I have no intentions of leaving this school because I know that I am making a difference and that is why I am teaching. The most useful thing that I have learned so far is the use of a blog. I cannot believe that I have made this statement because of the negative connotation that was attached to blogs, but I now see where they can be very useful for teachers. “The purpose and function of blogs has evolved, however, with many being interactive spaces” (Jonassen, Howland, Marra, & Crismond,112). The fact that students and parents can chat with you or visit helpful websites is a good use of a blog. Blogs can keep parents involved and up to date with their kids and their schoolwork and we all know having the parents involved is what is best for the students.
Jonassen, D., Howland, J., Marra, R.M., Crismond, D. (2008). Meaningful Learning With Technology. Upper Saddle River: New Jersey. Pearson Prentice Hall.
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I understand were you are coming from about your school district and that is so unfortunate that your students do not have access to computers or any other form of technology. However, I think that our world is so centered around technology that it is important to introduce them to the many things they are able to do with computers. We as educators need to do that. We have the ability to encourage these kids to want to do something better with their lives. Just a thought. I do understand your point of view.
ReplyDeleteTechnology can be something that everybody doesnt want to do. I wasnt really into the social bookmarking either. I just felt like either you could tell them different sites in class or just email it to them
ReplyDeleteDean, I know where you are coming from as far as a school with not that much technology and high poverty levels. My high school experience was more of the pen and paper type, not the wiki and blogging type. I do like your idea of using a blog to post everything that your students and parents would need in one place.
ReplyDeleteLike you, some of the things like VoiceThreads seem to be a little over my head too, but I think it would be cool if you figured out how to use them. I think it would be more relevant for a online class such as this one, rather than a face to face class in a high school.
Dean,
ReplyDeleteWhat you said all makes sense, it's just unfortunate. I want to work in a Title 1 school also so I will be facing many of the same challenges down the road that you are today...
I think in order to see the benefit of a socialbookmarking site, you must actually put one together. I didn't realize how helpful they are until I was asked to work together to create one in a class I took at College Station and it really turned out neat. In the end it was a single site where parents of students with disabilities could go to and look through the "bookmarks" and "tags" until they found what they were looking for--we kept all the site at a local level so if the parent was to click on "transportation" or something like that, it would give them transportation for people with disabilities in the Bryan/College Station area... :) pretty neat!
Dean,
ReplyDeleteI too work at a title one school but fortunate for us, Wylie is growing and evolving into a huge district and while We are title 1, we have been growing as a district in our technology department so we have access to some, not all, of the things we are talking about in class. But much like your students, most of ours only get computer access at school because their families can't afford one. If I want to use most of these things I will have to ask the tech department to grant us access and it is likely they will say no becuase blogs are not granted at school. But for those students that do have access, these things will be great tools.
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