Digital Blog Post #D

Credit to Simon on Pixabay

In this chapter, Chapter 5, the first section that I came across that caught my attention was the section is called 'Search Engines and How They Work'. It goes to show how much time has changed since I was in elementary school to now, while I'm in college. When I had to research subjects, they wouldn't show us how to use Google or Yahoo!, I was taught on how to use an encylopedia. Now a days, I'm sure if you were to ask an elementary student, they probably wouldn't know what I was talking about or if they did, they would probably only know the internet version versus the book version. But I will say using the internet to research or even ask a simple question like how to spell a certain word, is much faster and easier. The internet is at your fingertips at the comfort of your own home compared to having to travel to a library and find exactly what you're looking for. The internet does it right for you and it doesn't get any easier than that! 

The next section I read was 'Strategies for Conducting Effective Searches with Students'. They mention if someone researches a question, for example, if they ask, "why do vocanoes form near oceans?", on Google, the internet can't differentiate who asked it - a student or an adult. So when you ask a question as simple as that, tons of websites pop up that might be related to the topic your researching. So a way to make it more efficient for teachers, creaters are trying to create a search engine that will minimize the websites and only give approiate websites for the approiate audience. I think that if this does happen, it would make it much better for teachers or even us, college students, so we don't have to go through so many websites to find the right information that we need. 

The last section I read that caught my attention was the section called 'Evaluating Online Information'. A lot of the information you read online could be opinions from someone else, or it could actually be facts. You have to be very careful what you read and which website you get it from. In this section, it talks about misinformation, malinformation, messed-up information, and mostly useless information. Some of the data could be out of date or incomplete in a way. So while doing a research project or just typing a question in Google, you have to make sure your resources are reliable before you can move on. 

Resources

• Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Digital Blog Post B

Credit to Escolaespai on Pixabay

In chapter two, I read 'Teacher-Centered and Student-Centered Approaches', the author mentions to different ways to run a classroom. In the "teacher-centered" approach, lots of kids feel like they don't really get to interact, as if it's already planned and they just have to do the work, which is exactly what a teacher-centered approach is. Reading this section of the chapter made me think back to when I teach and I could see exactly what this author is talking about. If we incorporated more technology in classrooms and allowed the children to use it, it wouldn't be so "routine" and "fixed". In a "student-centered approach",  a teacher could "create" a situation and make it relatable to the students instead of just asking the question. That way, students can relate this question to a real life situation instead of sitting there, possibly clueless to exactly what the teacher is asking. A teachers suppose to teach in the most effective way that they possibly can to make sure the students understand what is being taught and if we take a different approach like the "student-centered way", it may make it easier on students who may be having trouble.

The next section I read was 'Active Methods to Engage Students'. The four different methods that were mentioned were one on one tutoring, learning groups, inquiry learning, and metacognitive learning. All four methods which are used in classrooms. The method I believe would be more effective to students would be "learning groups". In this method, students have the chance to work together to answer or do the assignment at task. They have the chance to interact with their peers and brainstorm together to get the work done. As to "inquiry learning", where a student works by themselves, but also have access to the internet to help collect data or do research.

In the last section called 'Visual Learning Using Technology', they mention all the pros to having computers in classrooms. Some students are more visual learners than others and by having technology in classes, it helps those who are. They can youtube videos for projects or look up graphs for a research project on Google. Compared to the older days when computers weren't around, students and teachers were limited to what they had in classes. They only had paper copies or books of pictures to be the "visual" part of it for what they were learning. But now, you can go online and search and you'll get millions of results.

 

In conclusion, having technology is something that's inevitable. Teachers and students still have learning to do with technology now that it's being used more in classes, all over the world. But also, technology has come a long way and it can only be used to our advantage so take the chance now to teach the younger students how to use it correctly and show them all the useful tools that they offer.

Resources

• Maloy, R., O'Loughlin, R., Edwards, S., & Woolf, B. (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education Inc
• PVTV Passiac Valley High School. (2011, Nov 16). Technology in the Classroom: Then and Now.mov. Retrieved September 12, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIAEuQwMf2Q.



Discussion Post #A

Credit on Pixabay

In the section, 'Technology in the Classroom', the author mentions how using technology could help students learn and also explore more by using technology versus sitting down, doing assignments at their desk. I think having students interact with technology is a better way to get them involved, especially with the older grades. The older students like to be able to use their own handheld devices in school and if the teacher gives them certain work to do from their device, I don't see any harm in having them use it! Working with a kindergarten class, it's also good to incorporate technology as well because they see all that they could do using the computer. In class, we use our Smartboard to have kids practice letters, numbers and also writing their name. It gives them different ways to practice, but also learn how to write and use technology that is now included in majority of the classrooms.

In the following section called 'Motivating Factors', it mentions how kids feel inside their classrooms and reasons why they don't enjoy being at school. In this graph, it shows the top five reasons students drop out of school...

As you can you, the one with the most percent is "classes were not interesting". "Many students at every grade level, report feeling detached and alienated from school." (Yazzie-Mintz 2007) A major way to help this issue is to start using technology to help students engage in what they're learning in class and to also to get them to feel like they are involved. Also, using technology, it can be a faster way for teachers and students to communicate. Some students feel like they don't get enough feedback from their teacher about their work and as a student myself, I've felt this way before as well. I think one way to make it a better experience is to make sure we use our technology the right way and wisely. Getting back to our students about how well they've done or what they can do to improve will help the classroom out tremendously. Students will want to come to school & they'll want to hear what you have to say.

The last section I read, 'Ideas for Technology Use', clearly states some pros and cons about including technology in classrooms. Some say it distracts students from what they are really suppose to be doing, but then some say, it helps students learn better by using it. Some also believe it affects a students intellectual development. But I think you'll always have your pros and cons about anything you use in school, especially technology. The way a teacher presents technology on how to use it and the right way to use it, will show students how to use it to help them.

In conclusion, technology will have its downfall at times, but it will also have its moments where a teacher will use it in all their lessons! At first, I myself, was against having the younger students use technology in classes because in my belief, they were "too young". But after reading Chapter 1, I can see how it could really help students learn better. Students learn different than others: You have some who are visual and some who are more of a listener. I'm more of a visual learner so to have technology used to help explain a lesson, helps me a lot on getting my assignments done. Technology is coming up in this world very fast. It's something we can't avoid. As the years go on, it's only going to be incorperated more into classrooms so might as well get on board now!

Resources

• Maloy, R., O'Loughlin, R., Edwards, S., & Woolf, B. (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education Inc