The 3 A's

Today in my IT module I learned about the use of computers in the classroom.

An "aha" moment was when I realized that as the teacher, I do not have to be the expert on technology. It is okay if my students know more than me. This can be an opportunity for them to teach me what they know.

A belief of mine which was confirmed is that the teacher should model learning to students. The teacher can model behaviours to students that result in optimal learning, such as willingness to ask questions and take risks.

I can apply what I learned today in my classroom by finding ways to incorporate technology as a way of learning. Using computers does not have to be a complicated or time consuming task; I would definitely use them as students compose writing pieces. I also think that blogs are a great way for students to develop their voice as writers.

TappedIn Tech Task

I finally went to a TappedIn discussion tonight. It just seemed like none of the other times discussions took place worked for me. It will be nice when the semester ends and life slows down a little! Anyways, the discussion I went to was about storytelling in the classroom. It was very interesting. The guest speaker was a man who designed a website where kids can create their own comic strips. In doing this they learn about story lines, sequencing, and plot development. It is especially good for autistic kids and ESL learners because it provides visual clues. This is also good for kids who simply struggle with words and language, because it combines words with pictures. This can give them the motivation to create stories and continue to develop their skills. Everyone can be successful with this, and feel a sense of accomplishment in their creation. The thing that most struck me was the variety of ways in which to tell stories. We can show even the most struggling or reluctant learner that stories are for them - sometimes we just have to think outside the box. It is part of human nature to tell and listen to stories; everyone likes stories. This discussion gave me lots of ideas and made me think. TappedIn is a great way for teachers from all over the place to collaborate with each other and share ideas. I think I may just use it in the future.

Reflecting On The Semester

Well, it's here - the end of the semester. At points throughout the long, cold winter it seemed to drag on, but now that it's nearly over it seems like the first week of classes was not that long ago. I can definitely say that my knowledge and comfort level with computers has increased. It's the kind of thing where you don't realize how far you've come until you actually stop and reflect on it. Yes, reflect, the dreaded "R" word of the education program. I know way more now about the trends of technology than I did at the beginning of January. The reason I signed up for this class is because I knew I needed to learn more about technology if I was to be "with it" in the classroom. I am very pleased that this class succeeded my expectations. Not only did I learn a lot, but I feel way more confident using computers both for personal and classroom use. Power points no longer seem scary, and I've discovered BlueDot as a great way to keep track of useful websites. I created a WebQuest, posted an online portfolio, and learned where to get free software. I realized that the Internet can be a great collaborative and resource tool when teaching. I feel much more ready to embrace the changes technology will bring to the profession of teaching, instead of fearing them.

The Wild Card of Presentations

Well, it is that time of year when it is nothing but one group project after another. Projects can take on any number of forms, some relying heavily on computers and some not using computers at all.

Last night I did a presentation in which 75% of it consisted of power point and videos found online. This definitely added to the stress factor beforehand, because as we were setting up, we discovered that our opening video would not play, and it was key for introducing the presentation. Then, we found that the music would not play for the power point, and without it the power point would not be nearly as effective. After quickly scrambling to resolve these situations, we were able to pull off the presentation without any glitches. We were already feeling nervous to begin with, but these problems prior to the presentation definitely escalated our stress levels. I can think of a number of group presentations I have been in and watched that have encountered similar problems, and when these problems cannot be fixed the consequences can be disastrous to the presentation.

I am currently preparing for another presentation for Thursday that does not involve any technology at all. Rather, we are doing mock interviews, story telling, and using posters for visual impact. We don't have to worry about anything going wrong, because we will have total control over everything. This will definitely cut down on any anxiety we might be feeling, because we don't have to deal with the "wild card" of computers.

Although these two presentations are very different in the mediums we use to present them, I think that both are informative and engaging. It seems like so many people feel obligated to use power point in their presentations because it is "the thing to do". It is a great tool that can add a lot to a presentation, but I don't think presenters should solely rely on it. Many people think that a presentation will only be effective if power point is used. This is not true - I have seen plenty of boring power point presentations. Power point, when used effectively, can really enhance a presentation, but it should not become the presentation. An engaging speaker often doesn't need any visual aid. And there are so many other mediums to use in presentations that present information in a fresh, creative, interactive way - skits, stories, activities, posters...there are so many inspiring options, we should not feel limited only to power point.

Going...Going...Gone

This morning I was discussing with my friend Krissy the advances in technology and how they cost us so much money and time. Well, maybe venting is a better word to use than discussing. For instance, the other day on the bus I noticed a man reading a business newspaper with the headline "Blue-Ray Predicts DVDs Will Go the Way of the Dinosaur Within Three Years". Aaargh! Didn't DVDs just go mainstream five years ago? What happens to the movies and TV shows that we've already spent money on? Will we actually have to buy them all over again? I know the same thing happened with VCRs, but they were around a lot longer than DVDs. And the same thing has happened with music, too - records, eight tracks, cassettes, CDs, MP3s... When will it ever end?! Sure, advances in technology make these things easier to use - CDs, after all, are easier to use and have better sound than records. And eight tracks were just a plain bad idea. But it's not as if we are hard done by if technology stops advancing. There is such a thing as being content with what you have. And it's frustrating because we have to keep spending money in order to keep up with all these upgrades. Call me a cynical, close-minded, stuck-in-the-mud pessimist, but it's just a big money making scheme on the part of the companies who are continually pushing for change. Sure, they have jobs that enable them to experiment with technology and stretch boundaries - that's cool. But must the entire population be forced to conform to all their whims? I don't know - the whole thing has just been bugging me lately. I just think that all these things add more complications to a life that is already complicated enough. It is hard to take pleasure in the simple things when we are constantly being forced to keep up with the rapid pace of change in this world, especially technology. Okay, this is starting to border on a rant now, and I don't want to go that far. To whoever has read up to this point, thanks for sticking with me. Am I the only one who feels this way? Does this resonate with anyone else? Or am I just being stubborn in my inborn resistance to change?

Parent & Teacher Education

As teachers, it is important that we stay on top of the current trends that today's youth are engaged in. We have to have an understanding of what is going on so we can better relate to our students and address their needs. We need to have a knowledge of these things so we can teach them to think critically and act responsibly. If we demonstrate understanding they will be more likely to respect what we have to say, and subsequently take what is said seriously. If they feel we are clueless, this puts them in a position of power over us, and they will follow their own beliefs and ideas, which might not be mature enough to help them be responsible. This is absolutely the case with technology. In my Moral Education class we read a book called Teen Sex: Reality Check by Stephen and Shelagh Genuis. They address the influence of technology on teenager's exposure to sex, citing that more than half have recieved pornographic mail through the internet. They write: "Because adolescents are frequently more computer-savvy than their parents, teens are commonly learning about the Internet environment from personal experimentation and from peers. As a result, teenagers receive little teaching on safe, appropriate Internet use" (p. 88). I think that it is extremely important for both parents and teachers to educate themselves on the things that children are doing and are exposed to. If we want children to be responsible, we must first be responsible, and that means doing our research on the lives of children so we will be better equipped to help them make good choices. We can't protect them from the nasty things in this world, but we can prepare them.

Tech Task #7

For this tech task I listened to a podcast on learning to speak German. I listened to the first lesson, which focused on simply listening and getting a feel for the language as it is used in different contexts, like news broadcasts, songs, and plays. As I read about the podcast program, I discovered that the series is constructed in the form of a story, and each podcast builds on the other. I took German 100 last semester, and believe me, if you don't keep practicing the language, it does not take long to forget what you've learned! I found that the lesson I listened to was helpful in refreshing my memory, and I think I would utilize this program in the future. It is a great way to retain and continue to learn the language. The website the podcasts are found on is:
www.dw-world.de