New Literacies Article
This article brought me back to my middle school days when media and computers was a whole different class-in fact it was a special. We learned how to use PowerPoint, Excel and most importantly Word. The teacher always reminded us to "Save" our work at least every 5 minutes. I am not sure if the middle school continues to have a separate time of the day dedicated to teaching students about computers and various presentation tools. I feel that it should be integrated into the classroom as much as possible-in fact, in each subject. This new and growing wave of technology is what the students of this generation and the next and the next will be breathing and eating. Why not use it, incorporate it and teach it with the same drive and dedication that math, reading, science and social studies is taught? Could it be that teachers are nervous to begin incorporating blogs, wikis and other developing technology into their classrooms? Learning about the new things out there like wiki's, blogs, Prezi, etc. can be overwhelming at first. Not going to lie. But in the end, I feel it can bring creativity out of each and every one of us if we begin to really immerse ourselves in it.
For example, I recently heard about Prezi and when I was told it was similar to PowerPoint in it being a presentation tool but BETTER, I had to check it out myself. Now, I am developing a presentation based on iPads in the classroom. Inspiration? My own iPad and a classmate who discussed it in last week's class!
I am very immersed in this program and cannot wait to show my final product. I am also having fun using it!
Teacher Standards
I am so glad there is a website with standards for technology. Students in teacher preparation programs should have this with them at all times. Lesson plans could be designed integrating reading, writing and all other subjects. Plus, you have these standards to work towards and develop objectives for what you want your students to be able to do at the end of the day.
Digital Literacy-Using Technology in the Classroom
^^ Please watch!
At least 5 times during the writing of any blog, I go to "save" it, only to find the internet doing it automatically for me! I remember computer classes in middle school, too...
ReplyDeleteHi Rubi, why not embed the YouTube right into your blog? I can show you how to do that in our next class if you remind me. It helps to have videos embedded because viewers then don't need to leave your blog and are more likely to leave a comment. By the way, I believe technology use should be integrated across the curriculum, but teachers need the appropriate professional development for this to happen.
ReplyDeleteI always say that it is the unknown that scares people and I believe that is why so many teachers do not use it. I work with some teachers that don't want to use it. My thoughts are that I will use it and then share with them the student work and the benefit that the students recieved from it. I also will share with the administration and district so they can continue to encourage teachers to use technology in the classroom. And you are right, technology is second nature to kids these days so why not embrace that and go with it as a teacher. I also have found that using technology in the classroom makes my job easy and fun! Who would not rather watch a video then correct a paper. Thanks for sharing and I would love to see your final prezi if you could post it on your blog.
ReplyDeleteKate, I couldn't agree with you more when you say it is the unknown that scares people. When I first began this course, I had no idea HOW to use blogging, what Diigo and Animoto were. I had the idea that people used blogging to blog about their opinions and personal lives. Now that I see that all this technology can be used simply for education and the classroom, I'm all for it. After watching several videos and reading many articles about how the use of technology has benefited students, I was no longer afraid to try out these new things. And the best part is when it's fun for the students and teachers!
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