As we learned by reading chapter 2 in our textbook Integrating Digital Technology and Media in the Classroom, "administrators, teachers, and students can access the unlimited educational resources available on the Internet and communicate with other educators and students all over the world instantly" (Gunter, 69). There are so many useful things we can do with the Internet in our classrooms. As a teacher, I enjoy integrating technology into my classroom using tools such as BrainPop! videos, online educational games like the ones found at http://gamequarium.com/, and allowing my students to use the Internet to do research for projects. We also learn how communication tools such as e-mail can be very useful in companies. The hotel I work for is very big into online communications, and is constantly using email and even the social networking site http://www.facebook.com/ to keep guests informed on new promotions and events going on in the area.
I also found the video The Networked Student (Drexler) to be very interesting. It is interesting to see the change in education as technology continues to grow and evolve. Before watching this video, I never really knew that iTunes had educational podcasts where you can search lectures on specific subjects for educational research. I also had not really been to familiar with the concept of Google Scholar, and after watching this video, decided to check it out found its features to be quite useful. It is amazing to think about where we will be ten years from now as teachers and the tools we will be able to incorporate into our teaching. To think that instructors can teach an entire college level course without even using a textbook (as seen in this video) is an exciting idea.
Another interesting communication tool that I had really never thought to use before taking EME 5050 is blogging. After being introduced to the concept of blogging, I feel that this communication tool can be very useful as both an educator and a student. As explained in the video Blogs in Plain English (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NN2I1pWXjXI&ob=av3e), blogs are a useful tool to share useful information with people around the world. As an educator, this can be a useful way to subscribe to a page that shares teaching tips, lesson plans, and other useful information. Blogs can also be a great way for students to connect with classmates, peers and students from all around the world to discuss a variety of educational topics. Through doing so, students can also get a lot of practice in their writing skills.
Drexler, W. (n.d.). The Networked Student. YouTube.
Gunter, Glenda. (2010) Integrating Technology and Digital Media in the Classroom. (6th Ed.)
Boston MA. Course Technology.
I first heard about itunes u from a friend who was using her ipod to learn French while overseas. It is pretty amazing how if you just have a thirst for knowledge all you have to do is download a podcast and pop in your earbuds. Next thing you know you are receiving a lecture from some of the worlds finest. Another place that I find interesting is www.ted.com it’s got some amazing lectures on a variety of topics.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree that I am starting to catch on to this communication tool of blogging. I never experienced it before this class as well, and so far so good.
-rpalmer
I’ve started a blog with my students, luckily my school district has a program we can use for free, and my students love it. I’m able to get the students to read about math and write about it. Many of them go home and post nightly, it so exciting to see them happily using multiple skills in answering basic math questions. I have found that the more diverse I am with technology the more they want to come to my class and learn. By introducing different technology into the class that other teachers aren’t doing, I’m making my classroom a fun and exciting environment.
ReplyDeleteI did my internship in kindergarten and my supervising teacher had a class website that was interactive for the parents and the students. She always posted stuff such as pictures and links that correlated to what we were working on so they could go on and practice as well as the parents could comment and help the students comment on the page and post pictures and stuff as well. It was kind of like a website "show and tell". I loved this experience and thought it was a great addition to the class and got the students very interested and excited about technology as well as taught them how to get accompanied to the computer and web.
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