Reflections on Technology

Throughout the course on Understanding the Impact of Technology on Education, Work, and Society, I have developed my technology skills by exploring and using Web 2.0 tools such as blogs, wikis, and podcasts. I have also come to realize how important it is to integrate technology into my lessons to enhance my students’ motivation, engagement, and to increase their learning. Since the majority of my students are digital natives and are continuously becoming more and more immersed into technology at home, it would greatly benefit my teaching strategies and their learning if I continue to become more of a facilitator by tapping into these rich resources and guiding more project-driven, student-centered learning.
By continuing my work through Walden University and through using wikis, reading educational blogs, and exploring teacher websites, I will continue to expand my knowledge of technology integration into my classroom. I will focus on strategies that will continue to capture my students’ interest and allow them to take ownership of their learning and productions. By utilizing more technology, my students will become more engaged, involved, and motivated which will naturally increase their achievement.
I have set two goals in order to achieve this. Our district does not allow the use of wikis or blogs, but I do have access to Web Poster, which I update weekly to inform my parents and students of new objectives, assignments, tests, and other current information about my classroom. My first goal is to require my students to help create a page weekly that reflects and gives details on the literature they have read, vocabulary words learned, connections they have found, and other information they have obtained through their weekly readings. I will also require them to find and post links to share with others that will expand their newly acquired information. My next goal is to incorporate technology-based research for my students to complete before beginning each novel and throughout their reading. They will be required to produce some type of technology media (Power Point, podcast, etc.) which will incorporate their research, and will become their Response to Literature to publish at the end of each novel unit. By staying connected with technology and using it to keep my students engaged and involved during each novel unit, I expect them to become more responsible with their learning and to feel more challenged and successful.

Application 5 Podcast

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Podcasting: Application 5

My students loved podcasting their technology survey results. They were all very engaged and loved using the microphone, recording, and listening to themselves and each other. They are all anxiously awaiting to listen to the final production!

Partnership for 21st Century Skills

Partnership for 21st Century Skills
http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/
I was very excited to peruse through this website and discover that there is an ongoing organization promoting the integration of 21st century skills into all areas of education. I have always believed that our state needs an information and technology curriculum, which aligns its performance standards within each subject area. This website offers a framework for student outcomes with support systems to allow for mastery.
My biggest disappointment was looking through the small list of states that belong to this partnership, and realizing that Georgia was not on the list. Our schools need to embrace the incorporation of 21st century skills in order to prepare our students to meet their future needs. Unfortunately, funding, professional development, and resources are our biggest roadblock.
I was pleasantly surprised to learn of the different business partners working with the organization. With budget constraints, education is getting a real hit, and many believe that new technology with qualified instructors and resources will be ‘put on the back burner’ for now. Schools could greatly benefit from business partners that are willing to sponsor and offer grants in these areas. I do believe many more businesses would be eager to join this organization if they could partnership with schools in their area. This may also offer more of an incentive for more states to join and have a mandated program to guarantee student mastery of necessary skills for the 21st century.

Blogging Ideas

I am new at this, but I can see how using a blog can enhance and encourage my student's motivation and allow them to share interests or questions. I currently teach 52 fourth grade students in four different gifted reading classes. Blogging will allow them to communicate any problems or questions they may have about assignments. It will also allow classes to interact with each other. I will use it to keep my students and their parents updated on new ideas, resources, and current events as they happen.