Importance of Technology in Education

Internet Calendars

noreply@blogger.com (Augusta) — Sun, 7 Dec 2008 13:16:00 -0500

Check out my Internet Calendar!

Google Calendars are a great way for teachers, parents, and students to all be on the same page with regards to what is going on in the classroom. Check out the tutorial I have created below to see how you can be apart of this calendar.

Map Mashing!!

noreply@blogger.com (Augusta) — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 12:45:00 -0500

View Larger Map

Map Mashing is a a form of technology that is readily available for you to use in the classroom. The Map that I created is designed for fourth grade classrooms. In fourth grade students are now learning about Michigan History in their classrooms. This map has some of the important cities well known in Michigan. Students can navigate around the map and learn about these cities. It is cool how they can see where everything is located in relation to thier city they are living in now. It's easy to see a map on paper. To interact with the map adds a whole new significance to learning. It is an authentic lesson and new. Most children will not have had experience using Map Mashing.

With your classroom each of them could be given a state and asked to find 5 significant cities and discuss what their importance is. Then they could all be uploaded into a classroom blog, so that all students can observe everyone's state. It's different than the repetitive read from books about a state, and write a report on them. This activity is something that is not difficult and organized so all can navigate around the map.

noreply@blogger.com (Augusta) — Wed, 5 Nov 2008 11:04:00 -0500

Vidcast

Podcast

noreply@blogger.com (Augusta) — Wed, 5 Nov 2008 10:47:00 -0500

Podcast

Test 5

noreply@blogger.com (Augusta) — Wed, 5 Nov 2008 10:40:00 -0500

Podcast

Test

noreply@blogger.com (Augusta) — Wed, 5 Nov 2008 10:24:00 -0500

Here is a link to my podcast.

Learning is a continuous process...

noreply@blogger.com (Augusta) — Mon, 3 Nov 2008 16:47:00 -0500

It is important tha as future teachers we take the time to learn new technologies that can be incorporated into your class. I have learned that through using blogs, webpages, audio editing, and video editing software, etc that there are many problems you can run into when learning. Which learning is a continuous process. It can become very frustrating, but when you finally do figure out how to use the software and programs the end result is well worth the struggle.
I definitely would put myself in the "Computer Illiterate" category, and I have learned so much through tutorials and becoming comfortable with the software and programs.

It is definitely worth it to continue to learn about the programs that are easily accessible and there for your use. To have a class that can incoproate technology into their everyday routines will allow for students to enhance their learning.

Video Podcast

noreply@blogger.com (Augusta) — Sun, 2 Nov 2008 18:39:00 -0500

Video podcasts are the same as audio podcasts with the only difference being one is audio and the other video. Video podcasts are a great way for students to post their ideas to other students who can easily access the information all over the world via the web.

Check it Out!

Audio Podcast!

noreply@blogger.com (Augusta) — Sun, 2 Nov 2008 18:37:00 -0500

A podcast is an audio file archived on the Internet in a way that can be automatically accessed by personal computer, or MP3 portable playing devices.

Check it Out!

Learning from the Technolgy Conference

noreply@blogger.com (Augusta) — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 22:07:00 -0400

This conference was a very helpful experience for me. I passed up the opportunity to go to the Technology Conference last year, and was thrilled that for 7 dollars I had a really cool experience. I can honestly say that throughout my college career I have only really applied myself in my education courses. I have always done well in my classes, but never really pushed myself. Taking this online class was one time where I picked a class as an elective that I knew would be a challenge. Technology is changing everyday, and our future classrooms are going to have to start incorporating this into everyday activities. I have learned so much in this first 5 weeks of class than I have learned in a lifetime. Even though at times I get very frustrated trying to figure out how to navigate these sites. I have learned such a tremendous amount of information that I'm excited to use one day in my own classroom.
In the morning session I learned about the importance of technology being integrated into the classroom. Our world is going in the direction leading toward advancements in technology. New information is evolving everyday. There are also fun and exciting ways that you can incorporate everyday activities into technological experiences. The possibilities are endless!!! In a classroom you can have children use blogs, make webpages, search information, etc. There are so many different ways that you can use technology that is interesting and not "traditional" for students. I see now how teachers would feel overwhelmed with venturing out of the box, but there are easy tools out there to help you! Many of the tools and sites you can use are safe and free!!! The big issue is taking the time to discover the possibilities and actually APPLYING yourself and challenging yourself to learn about the technology that is out there.
I definitely think it would be efficient and helpful to use technology for assessment purposes. If you have the technology available for your classroom, it would be easy and convient to hold online quizzes and assignments. Then it is easy to post these assignments for all students to observe and learn from/comment on. Using technolgy in this way can really help make a community of learners, because all of the students are collaborating and working together. They are becomming teachers themselves, helping their peers.
Also, using technology and incorporating it in the class can be fun! Students might find it to be a lot more exciting to create a web page discussing a topic than to create a poster board presentation that they have to present to the class.

This past semester my eyes have definitely been opened to the idea of technology and my future classroom. I have learned so much already through this online course and the conference. I think it's imperative to keep learning and using technology to stay fresh and on top of new things that are out there.

Blogging in the Classroom

noreply@blogger.com (Augusta) — Thu, 4 Sep 2008 20:07:00 -0400

The field of education is always changing, especially with the advancements in technology. To be a teacher in today's world it is imperative that you are current with the ever changing technology that could act as a tool in educating your students. With so many forms of technology readily available at your fingertips, it is our job as future educators to educate ourselves on how we can use technology to give our students the most opportunities for success in today's world.

Blogs are a fun and interesting way to get students and teachers working together on assignments. Working as a class and team will help them discover new information. A teacher can use a blog as a way to pose a question regarding a subject matter discussed in class. Students can then comment their opinions on the questions that are directed to the class. Students can work with other students by commenting on the posts. Therefore, Teachers can work directly with students without sitting right next to them.

Blogs serve as a way for students to work with their peers. They can post comments on blogs and respond to those comments. Students can get input from each other and build on their understanding of the information. You can connect with your small class, the whole school, your community, and even around the world, all via blogging.

Blogs are different than traditional means of assessing information learned by students. Using a blog is not the same as a traditional question and answer format. Students get the opportunity to comment on other posts and post their information for peers to read. There is a lot more than just teacher/stundent involvement.

I have been fortunate enough to experience using/creating a blog during education courses i've taken at Michigan State University. I was assigned to incorporate a new way of teaching technology to other future educators using that technology. After creating the blog and working with other people in the class on experimenting with it, I could definitely see it as something to use with a future class of mine. Depending on the area where I teach, most children have computers at home, to where I could incorporate this into homework assignments. It could also serve as a form of communication with parents and keeping them up to date with what their children are working on in my classroom.