Media Literacy in the First Grade
This video was amazing! I couldn’t believe that first graders are blogging. When I think back to when I was in first grade, I don’t think I knew how to operate a computer, much less blog. So much has changed since I was that age, it’s astounding. Truthfully, it’s quite evident that children today know more about technology and are more technological than adults. If this is how much has changed since I was that age, I wonder…what will it be like 10 or 12 years down the road? What will children know how to do then?
Little Kids Big Potential
I loved this video! It was so exciting to see children interacting and using technology as a learning tool. These kids are becoming comfortable with technology that it is becoming second nature to so many of them. How awesome is that? Not only is it a fun, different approach to learning, they are also being prepared for the future, which I’m sure is full of even more technological advances. The potential of what lies ahead for these children is amazing and beyond our imagination.
One-Year-Old Uses iPhone
I was almost 16 years old before I got my own cell phone. I mean, I knew how to operate one; however it certainly wasn’t an iphone. I was so shocked that a one year old, a baby was able to maneuver technology like this. Chances are that this child has watch his parents and other adults use their phones. Look around, we go nowhere without seeing people on their cell phone. But when I stop to think about it, how much do I rely on my cell phone? It’s the one thing I can guarantee that I will always have on me. It’s as if I wouldn’t know how to function without it. Our society is so dependent on these mechanisms that it’s almost hard to believe that it’s real. The young child is living proof that technology is permeating throughout every facet of our society, even the very young.
PODCAST
Before this class I had never heard of a podcast, and if I had, I had never given much if any thought to what it was. I was worried I would have no idea where to start or find ones I would enjoy, but I was wrong. This has the potential to be an excellent learning and teaching tool. The potential of tapping into other learning communities, schools, and even cultures is astounding. Podcast is a tool in which I will utilize.
Smart board is another amazing teaching and learning tool that is being used in many classrooms. I particularly enjoyed this podcast because of how relevant it is to me. My classes here at South have moved to the smart board and it won’t be long before I have a classroom of my own, and I will also be utilizing this tool. It’s very important that I know how to properly use this device and know what its capabilities are. The more I know about these tools, the more my students will benefit.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Sunday, January, 24, 2010
Michael Wesch: A Vision of Students Today
This was a fascinating video. It provides a glimpse into the lives of today’s children. The video serves as a reminder of exactly what it is like to be in their shoes. I can definitely relate to MANY if not most of the signs that some of the 200 students in Michael Wesch’s class at Kansas State University were holding. It really got me thinking about issues that I have not considered. Just like my generation, some of the technological opportunities that are at our fingertips do not result in good habits.
Spending an excessive amount of time on social networking sites, like…facebook, is definitely something I am guilty of. When in my apartment, with all of the best intentions in the world, I will start to read to prepare for class the next day or begin studying for a test; then, I become drawn to the computer. I tell myself I’ll only sign on for 5 minutes but more often than not, those 5 minutes turn into an hour or even two!
Knowing the time that I waste, I am thankful that I did not have this “force” distracting me when I was younger. It makes me wonder what will the negative effects be on these young minds.
"It's Not About the Technology" by Kelly Hines
Kelly Hines addressed quite a few factors in this post that I completely agree with. There were four in particular she listed that related to education with technology. The first was teachers must also be learners, the second was on teaching and learning not always being the same thing, the third was related to technology being ineffective and essentially without good teaching, and the fourth factor was on a 21st century without technology.
We need to be willing and open-minded to learning daily. Finding ways to enhance learning is just as crucial and important as learning itself. Going hand-in-hand with that, one of the points Mrs. Hines made was technology being ineffective without good teaching. Technology can make a world of difference, however, teachers much be willing to learn how to use it so they can pass it along to their students otherwise there is a lot of money as well as time being wasted. Technology is a tool that must be used in a 21st century classroom, but with any tool, teachers are still the key component to good teaching.
Is It Okay to Be A Technologically Illiterate Teacher?
Karl Fisch, who is the author of The Fischbowl and Director of Technology for Arapahoe High School posted an essay in 2007, and in it stated: If a teacher today is not technologically literate – and is unwilling to make the effort to learn more – it’s equivalent to a teacher 30 years ago who didn’t know how to read and write. It’s getting increasingly harder for teachers to successfully run the classroom while being technologically illiterate. I’m not saying all teachers have to know about the latest gadgets and everything about technology, however, they must be technologically literate. They must be willing to learn and use technology in the classroom. Students are expected to compete in a global society and be prepared to be problem solvers using technology. Five years ago teachers were challenged with using technology to present material. Now, they should be teaching students to use technology to solve problems and create new products.
The comparison between a teacher who doesn’t know how to read and write and a teacher who doesn’t use technology is harsh, however, with the increasing technological advancement of our world, this comparison is becoming a reality.
Gary Hayes Social Media Count
I think my jaw was wide open not even 10 seconds into watching this. I think astounded and overwhelmed by the numbers are two words to describe how I felt. It is amazing how much these numbers change every single second. This is proof that the world is in constant motion and constantly changing. What does this mean to me as an upcoming teacher? I think this is enough to show how important it is for teachers to have some technological background and understand what is going on not only with technology, but in the world.
The internet has had a booming increase over the past year. Some of the statistics that stuck out the most were: there are 900,000 blog posts that are put up every day. 20 hours of video are uploaded to You Tube every minute and Facebook has 600k new members every single day. These numbers are hard to believe and it really makes you realize just how huge of an industry the web is and how much people rely on it in their daily lives.
This was a fascinating video. It provides a glimpse into the lives of today’s children. The video serves as a reminder of exactly what it is like to be in their shoes. I can definitely relate to MANY if not most of the signs that some of the 200 students in Michael Wesch’s class at Kansas State University were holding. It really got me thinking about issues that I have not considered. Just like my generation, some of the technological opportunities that are at our fingertips do not result in good habits.
Spending an excessive amount of time on social networking sites, like…facebook, is definitely something I am guilty of. When in my apartment, with all of the best intentions in the world, I will start to read to prepare for class the next day or begin studying for a test; then, I become drawn to the computer. I tell myself I’ll only sign on for 5 minutes but more often than not, those 5 minutes turn into an hour or even two!
Knowing the time that I waste, I am thankful that I did not have this “force” distracting me when I was younger. It makes me wonder what will the negative effects be on these young minds.
"It's Not About the Technology" by Kelly Hines
Kelly Hines addressed quite a few factors in this post that I completely agree with. There were four in particular she listed that related to education with technology. The first was teachers must also be learners, the second was on teaching and learning not always being the same thing, the third was related to technology being ineffective and essentially without good teaching, and the fourth factor was on a 21st century without technology.
We need to be willing and open-minded to learning daily. Finding ways to enhance learning is just as crucial and important as learning itself. Going hand-in-hand with that, one of the points Mrs. Hines made was technology being ineffective without good teaching. Technology can make a world of difference, however, teachers much be willing to learn how to use it so they can pass it along to their students otherwise there is a lot of money as well as time being wasted. Technology is a tool that must be used in a 21st century classroom, but with any tool, teachers are still the key component to good teaching.
Is It Okay to Be A Technologically Illiterate Teacher?
Karl Fisch, who is the author of The Fischbowl and Director of Technology for Arapahoe High School posted an essay in 2007, and in it stated: If a teacher today is not technologically literate – and is unwilling to make the effort to learn more – it’s equivalent to a teacher 30 years ago who didn’t know how to read and write. It’s getting increasingly harder for teachers to successfully run the classroom while being technologically illiterate. I’m not saying all teachers have to know about the latest gadgets and everything about technology, however, they must be technologically literate. They must be willing to learn and use technology in the classroom. Students are expected to compete in a global society and be prepared to be problem solvers using technology. Five years ago teachers were challenged with using technology to present material. Now, they should be teaching students to use technology to solve problems and create new products.
The comparison between a teacher who doesn’t know how to read and write and a teacher who doesn’t use technology is harsh, however, with the increasing technological advancement of our world, this comparison is becoming a reality.
Gary Hayes Social Media Count
I think my jaw was wide open not even 10 seconds into watching this. I think astounded and overwhelmed by the numbers are two words to describe how I felt. It is amazing how much these numbers change every single second. This is proof that the world is in constant motion and constantly changing. What does this mean to me as an upcoming teacher? I think this is enough to show how important it is for teachers to have some technological background and understand what is going on not only with technology, but in the world.
The internet has had a booming increase over the past year. Some of the statistics that stuck out the most were: there are 900,000 blog posts that are put up every day. 20 hours of video are uploaded to You Tube every minute and Facebook has 600k new members every single day. These numbers are hard to believe and it really makes you realize just how huge of an industry the web is and how much people rely on it in their daily lives.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Did You Know? & Mr. Winkle Wakes
This video was incredible. I was in awe at all the facts it presented. Did you know we live in an ever-changing society? Did you know how technological this world we live in is becoming? Did you know how we compare in comparison with other countries? I believe the purpose of this You Tube video was to evoke a sense of wonderment about the future. The video gets us thinking about where we are and where we are going in this world full of technological advancements. It makes me think of the need to become more open-minded. This is an essential attribute that is needed in accepting the changes and becoming lifelong learners instead of resisting the inevitable and being left behind.
If we are not willing to accept change and do things differently we will indeed be left behind. The same thing is true for our future students. If they do not learn to become problem-solvers and team players their choices and opportunities for their future will be limited in the ever-changing technological world that lies ahead. Educators today and tomorrow must be able and willing to expose their students to the opportunities that await them in our technological world so that they are prepared to compete world-wide in the job market.
The “Did you Know” video provides us with some astounding facts and statistics about how much has changed and how much progression has taken place. This leads into Matthew Needleman’s video, “Mr. Winkle Wake’s”. It’s unbelievable how much the world is and has changed. The integration of technology plays a large role and makes us realize that the outside world needs to be incorporated into the classroom. Keeping up to date with technology and changes will allow us and our students to be constant learners and not fall behind.
It is definitely true how much times have changed over the last 100 years. However, the fact that as they video progressed and Mr. Winkle felt comfortable going into the school because it was the same as it was 100 years ago is not particularly true. I have volunteered at several elementary schools and all of these schools have integrated technology into almost every lesson, between smart-boards, computers, and activities on the internet. Not only did I think the use of technology was a great learning tool, I noticed how much the children loved getting to learn via technology. The children we will be educating are the children of tomorrow and will rely on technology to function in their daily lives. Educators are learning to immerse their students in presentations through technology. Now, their challenge is to teach students to use the technology to create new products and solve problems.
“Why Don’t we get the Best out of People”
“We are educating people out of their creativity.” Ken Robinson believes that because of the fact that we are being educated to become good workers, instead of creative thinkers. I agree with the ideas that he presented. He really opened my eyes to how important creativity is. Creativity should be nurtured. How dull would our world be without artists, and creative thinkers, and people who bring color and beauty into it if they were told exactly how and where to create their art. Every child comes to school believing in themselves. After a child is in a structured classroom, their confidence in themselves begins to fade unless they adhere to “staying within the lines” of expectations.
Creativity is an imperative part in the education of a child. With the way our current curriculum plan is, teachers are solely focused on the emphasis of standardized testing; they are expected to “teach the test.” There is so much pressure being placed on memorizing facts for academic tests, that there is not much room for creativity, which results in creativity being placed on the backburner and forgotten about. If we changed our focus on the way we educate our children, maybe their true talent could be discovered.
Harnessing Your Students’ Digital Smarts
It’s definitely evident that Teacher Vikki Davis from Georgia has a passion for teaching. It’s inspiring to see someone who loves their job as much as she does. This was an incredible video. What stood out the most to me was the fact that the students get to teach the teacher. She is open-minded about teaching while using technology and drifting from the standard way many teachers use these tools. She took the information from the curriculum and applied it and made it work for her students.
She made a valid point when she said, “teachers do not have to know everything about what they are teaching.” There is always, and will always be something left to learn. All educators should be lifelong learners, not just in the traditional sense, but also in the everyday world of their classrooms. I feel motivated by her resilience and passion. How amazing it must be to enjoy what you do as much as she does! I would love to incorporate this type of teaching and learning into my classroom when I become a teacher.
This video was incredible. I was in awe at all the facts it presented. Did you know we live in an ever-changing society? Did you know how technological this world we live in is becoming? Did you know how we compare in comparison with other countries? I believe the purpose of this You Tube video was to evoke a sense of wonderment about the future. The video gets us thinking about where we are and where we are going in this world full of technological advancements. It makes me think of the need to become more open-minded. This is an essential attribute that is needed in accepting the changes and becoming lifelong learners instead of resisting the inevitable and being left behind.
If we are not willing to accept change and do things differently we will indeed be left behind. The same thing is true for our future students. If they do not learn to become problem-solvers and team players their choices and opportunities for their future will be limited in the ever-changing technological world that lies ahead. Educators today and tomorrow must be able and willing to expose their students to the opportunities that await them in our technological world so that they are prepared to compete world-wide in the job market.
The “Did you Know” video provides us with some astounding facts and statistics about how much has changed and how much progression has taken place. This leads into Matthew Needleman’s video, “Mr. Winkle Wake’s”. It’s unbelievable how much the world is and has changed. The integration of technology plays a large role and makes us realize that the outside world needs to be incorporated into the classroom. Keeping up to date with technology and changes will allow us and our students to be constant learners and not fall behind.
It is definitely true how much times have changed over the last 100 years. However, the fact that as they video progressed and Mr. Winkle felt comfortable going into the school because it was the same as it was 100 years ago is not particularly true. I have volunteered at several elementary schools and all of these schools have integrated technology into almost every lesson, between smart-boards, computers, and activities on the internet. Not only did I think the use of technology was a great learning tool, I noticed how much the children loved getting to learn via technology. The children we will be educating are the children of tomorrow and will rely on technology to function in their daily lives. Educators are learning to immerse their students in presentations through technology. Now, their challenge is to teach students to use the technology to create new products and solve problems.
“Why Don’t we get the Best out of People”
“We are educating people out of their creativity.” Ken Robinson believes that because of the fact that we are being educated to become good workers, instead of creative thinkers. I agree with the ideas that he presented. He really opened my eyes to how important creativity is. Creativity should be nurtured. How dull would our world be without artists, and creative thinkers, and people who bring color and beauty into it if they were told exactly how and where to create their art. Every child comes to school believing in themselves. After a child is in a structured classroom, their confidence in themselves begins to fade unless they adhere to “staying within the lines” of expectations.
Creativity is an imperative part in the education of a child. With the way our current curriculum plan is, teachers are solely focused on the emphasis of standardized testing; they are expected to “teach the test.” There is so much pressure being placed on memorizing facts for academic tests, that there is not much room for creativity, which results in creativity being placed on the backburner and forgotten about. If we changed our focus on the way we educate our children, maybe their true talent could be discovered.
Harnessing Your Students’ Digital Smarts
It’s definitely evident that Teacher Vikki Davis from Georgia has a passion for teaching. It’s inspiring to see someone who loves their job as much as she does. This was an incredible video. What stood out the most to me was the fact that the students get to teach the teacher. She is open-minded about teaching while using technology and drifting from the standard way many teachers use these tools. She took the information from the curriculum and applied it and made it work for her students.
She made a valid point when she said, “teachers do not have to know everything about what they are teaching.” There is always, and will always be something left to learn. All educators should be lifelong learners, not just in the traditional sense, but also in the everyday world of their classrooms. I feel motivated by her resilience and passion. How amazing it must be to enjoy what you do as much as she does! I would love to incorporate this type of teaching and learning into my classroom when I become a teacher.
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