Technology, It's Useful

Using technology in today's classroom is a must. Students today are digital natives, the speak they speak the digital language and will need to utilize multiple technologies in the future. With our society becoming a technology inferno, our future inhabitants in in our society must be fully prepared and educated about all aspects of technology. It is hard to expect this of every classroom.

With some students not having access to computers, although most public libraries have access to computers, teachers have a hard time teaching a technological based curriculum. Students experiencing technology strictly through what the teacher is doing will still show more advancements than if they have no experience at all. So it is important as teachers to utilize technology.
Some ways to utilize what most students already have cell phones. Using them as data keeping devices. If some, but not all students have computers, assign group projects where students with computers have to work with students with out. Of course, you would have to do some prior research and make the groups yourself. the research can come on the first day when you ask them to write down specific information about themselves. You can utilize a computer lab at school, or even write a grant and try to gain some free or super cheap technology. There are plenty of ways to have technology in the classroom for it to not be there.

If not all students have technology you have to find ways to implement it into your classroom. You will be putting every student at a disadvantage if you don't. It is our job to prepare them for society. Technology in the future will completely run our society. So we must teach every student to utilize its use. We must find ways to connect every student to a computer in order for them to truly succeed in society.

Cell Phones In The Classroom

I read this article that touched on both sides of the cell phone debate. I personally think they both don't quite hit it. They are to extreme. It is absurd to think that a student will stop bringing there cell phone to school. It is equally absurd to think that students don't already know how to use all the features of there cell phone two days after they recieve it. We need to find a happy medium where students understand that there is a time and a place for everything.
The article states, "The goal of an educational setting should be to give students the proper tools to succeed once they step into society." This is a great theory. All classrooms should be a reflection of real society. Especially at the high school level. The assume in saying this that cell phones are a part of every day life, which they are, but students need to learn to utilize there phone. I don't know about you, but I have a sister who just turned sixteen, you give her a blackberry she will have it all figured out in two days. You don't see cell phones in board meetings, doctors offices, courtrooms, why should they be in the classroom. If we are trying to implement a societal structure why not really teach them there is a time and a place. Not to say that the doctor, or lawyer, or business don't have their cell phones in their pockets. In the day and age a cell phone is the first point of contact one may have with their family members and friends. These are important values to teach and allowing students to bring the cell phone, just in-case of emergency, and understand the proper way to go about using the cell phone politely in a professional setting.
I also feel that right now with the turn of cell phones to mini computers, students will now have access to information at high speeds at their finger tips. Still these phones are expensive and assuming every student as one of these qualities phones is saying every student in your school doesn't have a disability, just isn't going to happen. We as teachers need to stress a professional learning environment, and provide the guidelines for proper cell phone use in society, and allow them to utilize it as a tool, but only in the proper setting.

Power Point to The People

Monday at 1:30 pm I was excited and intrigued to see what my awesome classmates were going to come up with. I particularly enjoyed the topics of discussion, Jaws, Jeopardy, Romeo and Juliet, all were awesome. I liked how most people I think except me used custom graphics to display some of the flow of there ideas.
Most people have good presence on the stage, but some where stuck behind the podeum or on one side of the display. Some of the slides were also hard to read. Its hard sometimes when the display doesn't reflect the resolution on your laptop screen. I did like everyone's use of their video especially jeromy. He had one slide with four pictures and one of the pictures was a movie. It was unique and engaging. I also enjoyed chrissy's way oof producing a jeopardy board on the slide show. Awesome. Although some slides through out had too much text or not enough color overall I feel everyone seemed to hit the presentation on the nail.
After seeing everyone's presentation I noticed some attributes mine was lacking. I should have implemented some custom mapping. I also should have used some sound and maybe another video for the middle of my presentation. But overall I felt I did pretty well meeting the criteria. Its hard when trying to make on of these for a high school class I fell animations are important in keeping the kids engaged, but in a professional world no animations is the way to go.
I always enjoy using power point. I feel its a visual aid and a guideline for your lesson in hand. You can utilize it for every day use. Just simple anticipatory sets or games of jeopardy can be created using power point. Although some times lectures can be boring adding the power point aspect can add a little excitement. I will use this in my class room and feel utilizing all technology is only going to keep me a step ahead of my students.