During the last few months as a graduate student and step mother, I have learned many new things regarding technology in our world today. The technology class I am enrolled in has taken me out of my technology comfort zone and pushed me to learn new tools for my future not only in education, but life in general. Not only will these tools be applied to my classroom and library(one day), my husband has already been asking me create a website for his business. Also, while helping my 8 year old step son with 3rd grade math, I decided to dig into some Web2.0 tools to spark his interest. He loves the math games I found and is beginning to improve in class. With this said, the article, Technology Integration: Ideas That Work, shared many ways to use technology in our classrooms, which can also be beneficial in our lives and our children's lives.
The article states that technology is no longer being taught as a subject but is being used as a tool to teach our subjects (Star, 2011, para 2). I have to agree with Star. By watching my stepson get excited about math when using a math game website, I realized how these tools must be used to reach our students.
Keypoint 1: Websites
The article discusses how websites are an essential tool to use in the classroom and library. Websites such as refdesk.com can be used to gather a wealth of information for teachers to use daily in their classroom (para 5-6). Students, teachers and librarians can search weather, foreign languages, and current events. Another example of using websites was for students to communicate to each other through the chosen site of the teacher. The teacher can monitor students' conversations and facilitate with the assignments. Other examples that were mentioned for teachers and librarians to use were blogging sites, puzzlemakers, epals and brainboosters.
Keypoint 2: Excel/Powerpoint/Word Processing
I didn't realize how valuable a tool Excel, Powerpoint and word processing could be until I read the article.
Word processing can be used in a variety ways on a daily basis in the classroom. One teacher states that each day she has the students type something on their word processors stating what they have learned that day. The students would then have to take the page home at the end of the week for parents to see (para 23).
PowerPoint can be used as final presentations during research projects. One example mentioned was that students were assigned a research project over World War II. Students were able to pull facts and pictures from the internet to create their powerpoint presentation (para 14).
Excel is also a great tool to create charts and graphs with students. This can be used in all subject areas.
Keypoint 3: Teacher and Administrators
Most students come to school already having more knowledge and experience using technology than teachers. The article gives examples of teachers learning the technology and starting off slow with their students. The teachers begin to learn the technology from the students. This has made their confidence level rise and made them able to become even more creative with technology as a tool in the classroom.
Administrators are also an important factor in the success of technology in our education system. The article states that administrators should make sure their teachers are provided with the technology and also the instruction on how to use the technology. Without the support of the administrators, the technology program would most likely be very weak.
One new strategy that I plan to use in my classroom or library is for my students to "write their brains out". Dr. Squires suggests that the most powerful skill to teach students is writing. He suggests that students use the word processor, email, text messages, and chat rooms to "write their brains out" (para 25-30). Brilliant!
Another strategy that I plan on using in my classroom or library are websites like refdesk.com that have a thought of the day, word of the day and current events. Many insightful discussions and learning can take place daily with these types of topics.
Keypoint 1: Websites
The article discusses how websites are an essential tool to use in the classroom and library. Websites such as refdesk.com can be used to gather a wealth of information for teachers to use daily in their classroom (para 5-6). Students, teachers and librarians can search weather, foreign languages, and current events. Another example of using websites was for students to communicate to each other through the chosen site of the teacher. The teacher can monitor students' conversations and facilitate with the assignments. Other examples that were mentioned for teachers and librarians to use were blogging sites, puzzlemakers, epals and brainboosters.
Keypoint 2: Excel/Powerpoint/Word Processing
I didn't realize how valuable a tool Excel, Powerpoint and word processing could be until I read the article.
Word processing can be used in a variety ways on a daily basis in the classroom. One teacher states that each day she has the students type something on their word processors stating what they have learned that day. The students would then have to take the page home at the end of the week for parents to see (para 23).
PowerPoint can be used as final presentations during research projects. One example mentioned was that students were assigned a research project over World War II. Students were able to pull facts and pictures from the internet to create their powerpoint presentation (para 14).
Excel is also a great tool to create charts and graphs with students. This can be used in all subject areas.
Keypoint 3: Teacher and Administrators
Most students come to school already having more knowledge and experience using technology than teachers. The article gives examples of teachers learning the technology and starting off slow with their students. The teachers begin to learn the technology from the students. This has made their confidence level rise and made them able to become even more creative with technology as a tool in the classroom.
Administrators are also an important factor in the success of technology in our education system. The article states that administrators should make sure their teachers are provided with the technology and also the instruction on how to use the technology. Without the support of the administrators, the technology program would most likely be very weak.
One new strategy that I plan to use in my classroom or library is for my students to "write their brains out". Dr. Squires suggests that the most powerful skill to teach students is writing. He suggests that students use the word processor, email, text messages, and chat rooms to "write their brains out" (para 25-30). Brilliant!
Another strategy that I plan on using in my classroom or library are websites like refdesk.com that have a thought of the day, word of the day and current events. Many insightful discussions and learning can take place daily with these types of topics.
Resources:
Starr, L. (2011, June 14). Technology Integration: Ideas That Work. www.educationworld.com. Retrieved November 2, 2013, from www.educationworld.com.
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