The Semester Ends...

The weather is getting colder and the semester is drawing to a close.

So, where do I stand with regards to using technology in the classroom?

I feel that technology can definitely make learning more engaging for students.  I will likely use a great deal of PowerPoint presentations and incorporate nonlinear elements into it.  I really like the idea of creating student blogs and a class website to create a school-home connection and celebrate student work and achievements.

I have discovered a wide range of Internet resources that I never knew existed. These resources (many of which are free), can be used in the classroom or can help teachers with their various responsibilities, whether in research, lesson-planning, or scheduling appointments.  The Internet can make things much easier for students and teachers because it does provide instant communication and collaboration with people throughout the world.

While facebook can be useful if using it for certain topics (such as assuming the identity of a historical figure, etc.), but I cannot imagine a regular use for facebook in the classroom.  Social media is a great way to share information with peers--through articles, support, and networking in general--but it may not always be appropriate to use with students (although I am curious as to how many students are facebook friends with their teachers).

In this class, I feel that my facebook participation (in general and with regards to the EDTS group) was a bit strained. I still view facebook as a means to keep in touch with friends and family rather than a news source, and it was hard to adjust to checking facebook regularly for class.  I do feel that having access to a group that shares information could be helpful and informative, even though some students may feel more comfortable as passive participants.

As always, I think it is incredibly important to remember that not all students have access to technology in the class and at home.  Because of that, teachers should be aware before they assign any work that requires a computer, smart phone, etc.  Students may have varying levels of familiarity with technology as well.  While some students enter kindergarten with the ability to surf the web, some high schoolers have little exposure to ever using a keyboard and mouse.

If schools provide access to technology such as Smartboard, computers, ipads, etc., I think that teachers should take advantage of their various functions to appeal to different learners in multiple ways.