My Thoughts on Learning through Technology

What do I think of EDU 533 so far...

I am impressed with all of the tools and resources that are out there. This class thus far has really opened my eyes to the world of educational specific technology. I consider myself pretty tech savvy but I didn't know there was so much useful information. I hope to keep learning and one day be able to use these tools to make me a better teacher. I know that tuning in to EdTechTalk and k12 conference will be useful especially when I am just starting out. There may be times when I need some tips and ideas to get me through some lessons. I hope to make connections and collaborate with other educators sometime down the line once I am more established. I may use blogging and twitter. I like that using blogger cuts down on paper use. I definitely will use the Google tools like Google Docs. It is good to know what is out there. So far things are going good. I just hope that I can become more familiar and comfortable with all of these new sites and tools, etc. We have covered a lot.

Educational Technology Tool

This blog is about an educational technology tool that I discovered on the edtechtools.wetpaint.com website. It is a program called Prezi. The actual link is prezi.com. I suggest watching the video on the main page. It is like power point but more interactive and live right on the web. The zoom feature is really cool. I was excited to find this because I have always thought that I would use power point when I become a teacher and now I know I will definitely use this. Kids can lose interest quickly and I know there are some areas of social studies that can be boring. Perhaps using prezi will keep the students engaged. Check it out.

533 The Digital World

Can teachers provide equal access to the digital world to all students. If so, what does it mean to do it and what might it look like. If not, why not and what would it take.

First thoughts are of the amount of funding that is needed to provide all students equal access. I imagine that many schools struggle to attain all the equipment necessary to provide for all the students. Affordability for up to date computers, software, servers, etc. is an ongoing issue. Even if there are enough computers for each student to take home there is still the problem of all of them having Internet access at home. Many low income families cannot afford to have Internet service. With so much of the work being done through Internet driven applications the students without access would fall behind. I think we are getting closer to equal access because there are a lot of ways to obtain free software and applications but the costs are still too high to cover every student. Maybe I am wrong. There must be some schools that can achieve equal access to all students. I just don't think we are there yet. Also I don't believe schools should be converting to such a digital driven curriculum. Students still need to know how to read and write properly. I am all for providing access to the digital world and using technology, I enjoy it. I just don't think it should overshadow the classic methods of learning. That is all for now. I now I could go on and on.

EDU 533 Thomas Friedman

This week I chose to listen to a short classroom discussion with Thomas Friedman. The title heading from the website was

Flat Classroom Discussion with Thomas Friedman

This came from the EdTech Talk show titled EdTech Talk. This one jumped out at me because of how much Curtis Bonk spoke of Mr. Friedman's book "The World is Flat" in his book. The discussion began with a small introduction and Mr. Friedman went over three main points he wanted to address since writing his book. Point one being the "Iron Rule of Business." In this rule when the world is flat whatever can be done will be done. Friedman's main question in regards to this rule was "Will it be done by you or to you?" With the world being flat from technology who in the business world will make the first move. Are you going to act or react to something new in the technological business world.
The next point was when the world is flat economic competition is between you and your imagination. With the development of new software technology you have the power to act on your imagination.
The third point was how to do things really matters, with an emphasis on the word how. These days it is very easy to check up on people and businesses all they have to do is google them. So everything you do professionally is out there for the world to see. Exposure is a big issue. Students especially must be wary because they leave a digital footprint everyday. Many employers will google someone after an interview and look at facebook pages.
After these points Mr. Friedman opens the floor to questions and he addresses topics such as global industry, energy technology, and are there cures for certain global trends. The discussion turned into more of a global view on technology. He asks what country can advance and invent to help the environment and energy problems around the world. Very good discussion, check it out.

EDU 533 Collaboration

This blog posting is in response to the question "What do we have to gain from collaboration?"
In my opinion we have much to gain from collaboration. Considering what it was like in the field of education as little as 10 years, ago the amount of information that is being shared all over the world is mind boggling. The world has indeed become flat as Mr. Thomas Friedman addresses in his book "The World is Flat." I will be blogging about Mr. Friedman in my next post. We as an educational community have much to gain but it goes well beyond education. We as a country and we as members of planet earth have much to gain by working together in intellectual endeavors to make the world a better place. More specifically we can gain knowledge about energy and the environment. By sharing valuable information and implementing policies we can extend the life of our planet. Energy use and the environment are two of the most important topics I believe should be addressed. In the field of education by collaborating we can help each other be better educators and in turn give our students more opportunities to succeed in the world. Some day I hope to be able to collaborate with other history teachers and somehow set up a video conference with a curator of a famous museum for my students. That is an example of my collaboration through technology dream. That's all for this blog.

Ed Tech Talk

21st Century Learning #121: What does Blogging Look Like in 2010?

This is the program I listened to on Ed Tech Talk .com. The program was called 21st Century Learning. The program hosts were teachers speaking about how they incorporate blogging in their classrooms. Being new to blogging I was surprised at how many examples of its use there was between these teachers. The variety of use is surprising as well. From subjects like math and science, to foreign language and music. It's interesting stuff.

Technology Integration

This posting is a result of considering the essential question having to do with technology integrated into education. Specifically "Why should we integrate technology into lessons?" One of the primary jobs for an educator is to prepeare students for their desired career path and the "real world." We live in an advancing technological age. Technology rules our everyday lives. Learning styles have been changing and evolving. With all the distractions of ipods, web browsing, downloading music and video clips the students have become used to getting what they want when they want. I believe attention spans have suffered. They seem to be getting shorter. Integrating technology into lessons can certainly help address this issue. I feel like students are more likely to pay attention to an interactive power point presentation about the Trojan war for example, than a lesson taught lecture style with notes on a chalkboard. This may ultimately effect their imagination in some instances. I would hope that subjects like English and art would continue to keep their imaginative juices flowing in the brain. In my teaching future, which will be in social studies I hope to be able to incorporate visual aides using links in power point presentations. From simple pictures of various historical figures to web links to history channel.com to show reenactments of famous battles. Also it will be good to teach the students how to use technology to study and to help with research. Hopefully by integrating as much and as often as possible I will better prepare my students for the next step in their education.