1. How does this topic fit into what I have learned already in this course?
Technology used the way it was shown in chaper 9, follows Theme 1 by making learning active. The kind of technology projects that the book talked about requires students to use: problem solving, decision making, deductive reasoning, heuristics, top-down processing, working memory, long-term memory, metacomprehension and creativity. Many of the projects talked about will build the students’ schemas. Projects like this take all the things we have learned in this class and puts them all to use. John Dewey would love these projects.
2. What am I still not clear on in this week's reading(s)?
My questions this week are not really on what I read, but are connections to what I read. In our elementary schools, K -3, I would say that this are probably 3 -4 teachers, out of about 35 teachers that use technology in a way that advances cognition. Not only that, but a great majority of the same teachers are not computer/technology savvy at all. My daughters attend high school in the same district and there are only a few of the high school teachers that are using technology to promote cognition. My district is in Carlinville, which is a rural community. I am just wondering if technology weak in our district because we are rural and are behind the times, or is this what it is like in many districts. Let me know – thanks.
3. Under what conditions would I apply this material to my own teaching/work?
Technology is something that I love and can really get into, so chapter 9 was great. I can’t wait to try a project like Monsters, Mondrian and Me (p.s. I could not get into the site that the text recommended to see the artwork and paragraphs related to that project. Did anyone else have luck?) The children will have to use several skills: technology skills, writing skills, art skills, problem solving skills and colaboration. In order to have the other class get the picture just write, they class sending the info will have to work together to figure out have to better get their image across using words only.
I would like to set up a class website again so we can get parents more involved in our learning environment. I know I personally am always surfing the web to find other teacher’s website to find new ideas. I think having webcam conversations with classroom in other countries would be a great learning tool too.
I know whenever I have done a technology project with my students, I usually end up learning just as much as them because first I have to learn the program and second, the kids usually catch on more quickly than me and then are able to navigate better than me. So I end up asking them questions. And the students learn from each other.
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Technology really does affect cognition. It helps students to understand and learn better a lot of the time. I think that a class website is a great idea because getting parents involved (or trying to) is so important in education. I hope that in the future your district can get more technology savvy so the students know more about technology for when they graduate and hopefully go to college.
ReplyDeleteHey Jill,
ReplyDeleteI teach in a rural district too. Like your school, we do not have many teachers that take advantage of technology. We have a lab where every class has at least two assigned times per week. We also have a portable building that has been turned into a computer lab. I am not sure if it is the size of the district. For me, I sometimes feel as if I need more support when trying new things especially anything tech oriented. With very few people around me trying things, I just get frustrated not having people that I can work with to solve issues that arise. And we all know that happens with technology.
I would love to get together with your third graders next year. If you get settled in and find you have the time, look me up. I think it would be fun to just have e-mail buddies! Contact me if you are interested. Here is my e-mail: kputt@blufordschools.org If you have the chance, check us out on the web, http://www.blufordschools.org/putt/default.htm
Thanks and good luck in third grade!
I know whenever I have done a technology project with my students, I usually end up learning just as much as them because first I have to learn the program and second, the kids usually catch on more quickly than me and then are able to navigate better than me. So I end up asking them questions. And the students learn from each other.
ReplyDeleteThat's right we never stop learning, there will always be something new to learn, or when you are thinking to apply the program in your classroom request training funds from your work and take training on the application.
I don't think it's funding that is the problem because there is a ton of funding for school districts (you just need to be a grant writer to get the money). It sounds like you should ask someone on your professional development committee if you could receive some training or bring someone in to help train the entire staff (I know our school always asks us what we want an inservice day about). I know Carlinville is rural, but they could use that mentality for the better by providing technology to use with farming or the 4H programs. It would be interesting to begin a program on growing more eco-friendly foods or more eco-friendly farming using technology. That would be an exciting research project to try and get government money then you would have technology in place at your school to then use for other learning contexts. To me, I would want the rural districts to have more technology because it could help their farming or environmental work to be cost productive/saving in the future. And I just remembered, we don't have a lot of technology in the district (Wentzville) but we have a technology committee that plans 2 major events for the year to earn money for new technology. We had a hot dog bash in the fall and raised $3,000 dollars for our technology and the kids and parents had a great time eating and playing carnival games. Maybe you could suggest that for the fall since you are a veteran teacher at your school I'm sure a lot of other teachers look up to? Just food for thought!
ReplyDeleteI don't think that anyone is behind on technology. I believe that it is more of an emphasis in some areas than others. It is something that has to be sought after and implemented.
ReplyDeleteAs far as you starting a class website. At my school we are moving into this by basically doing what we do in this blog. Create a blog, and maintain it as a class tool for assignments, special announcements, and even things like sub-plans. This mode may be something you think about implementing, especially if you are not good at doing HTML codes.