Since technology was introduced into the classroom, it has greatly affected the way that students interact today. With all of the technological advancements in our culture today, children are faced with a completely different world than their parents grew up in. As educators in this new world, we must adapt to the changing ways, and integrate technology into our teaching efforts. At the very least, we must realize that our students are going to be influenced by it in their daily lives.
Socially, technology has changed the way that children interact with one another. Instead of face to face interactions, students have many more ways to communicate to one another including texting, IMing, e-mailing, social networks, etc. What are the possible negative connotations of this alternative form of social interaction? Is it possible that the children of the world will become anti-social towards one another and never leave their dark internet connected rooms? I believe that teachers should educate students on the different social networking technologies and remind them of certain “rules” or “guidelines” that students should follow when using them (just as if you would teach them normal social etiquettes).
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Distance Education
Exploring Distance Education
After having explored several virtual classrooms online, I am intrigued by the concept. Instead of going to a public of private school throughout your K-12 experience, it offers students a different environment for their learning. Thinking back to my own schooling experience, I would not give those times up for anything…but I can completely see why some children would appreciate the alternative learning.
One plus that I can see from having these virtual classrooms as an option for learning is that it offers student flexibility. They are allowed to take their learning into their own hands, and I can see that this would give some children a feeling of ownership and pride. It would also be very convenient for students that are not physically able to attend a school. Although accommodations could be made for these students, sometimes it is simply easier for all involved for the student to take this alternative course and go to school virtually.
There would be some fallbacks to virtual schooling however. For example, students probably would not be able to experience the same level of social interaction as students who attend a public school. These children may not learn the necessary social behaviors that guide our everyday actions. They may become overly withdrawn or shy because they have not experienced real child-like behaviors.
Both the good and the bad possibilities are not necessarily concrete. As with everything else, the outcome depends on the particular person and situation.
Being a “virtual,” or online, student would be challenging. Students who take this unconventional learning course would have to be very self-motivated and organized. In order to maintain the pace that the curriculum requires, students have to be their own time-managers and they must hope/know that they can be successful in a completely independent environment.
Personally, I do not know if I would be capable of teaching an online course. I would need to have guidelines and specific ways to communicate with my students. I would feel lost and out of control in an online classroom, because I am the type of person that really likes to monitor a student’s progress and make sure that they are on the right track to succeed.
After having explored several virtual classrooms online, I am intrigued by the concept. Instead of going to a public of private school throughout your K-12 experience, it offers students a different environment for their learning. Thinking back to my own schooling experience, I would not give those times up for anything…but I can completely see why some children would appreciate the alternative learning.
One plus that I can see from having these virtual classrooms as an option for learning is that it offers student flexibility. They are allowed to take their learning into their own hands, and I can see that this would give some children a feeling of ownership and pride. It would also be very convenient for students that are not physically able to attend a school. Although accommodations could be made for these students, sometimes it is simply easier for all involved for the student to take this alternative course and go to school virtually.
There would be some fallbacks to virtual schooling however. For example, students probably would not be able to experience the same level of social interaction as students who attend a public school. These children may not learn the necessary social behaviors that guide our everyday actions. They may become overly withdrawn or shy because they have not experienced real child-like behaviors.
Both the good and the bad possibilities are not necessarily concrete. As with everything else, the outcome depends on the particular person and situation.
Being a “virtual,” or online, student would be challenging. Students who take this unconventional learning course would have to be very self-motivated and organized. In order to maintain the pace that the curriculum requires, students have to be their own time-managers and they must hope/know that they can be successful in a completely independent environment.
Personally, I do not know if I would be capable of teaching an online course. I would need to have guidelines and specific ways to communicate with my students. I would feel lost and out of control in an online classroom, because I am the type of person that really likes to monitor a student’s progress and make sure that they are on the right track to succeed.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Emerging Technologies in the Classroom
Second Life-
This is a free online virtual world, developed by Linden Lab, that allows people to create avatars (digital versions of people) and like the name implies, lead a second life. From the look of the game, you are pretty much able to do anything you want. You can shop, create, work, dance, explore, play, learn, and even love! Second Life acts almost like a chat room, but allows the “residents” of Second Life the ability to say and do so much more than what they can through simple text. In some ways, it reminds me of the game “Sims,” but it includes everyone with access to the internet and allows you to communicate on a global level. http://secondlife.com/.
Second Life could be an interesting addition to the classroom environment. Although I don’t think I would personally use it for a standard classroom, it would be a great tool for internet classes or distance degree programs. Students and teachers that were never able to interact before (besides e-mail or digital chats) would be able to interact with digital characters or “avatars.” It would open up a new world of opportunities for those participating in the internet classes. Students could even demonstrate their knowledge through oral presentations! Very cool technology for those students and teachers of online classrooms.
Wireless technology-
Wireless technology emerged with radio devices, and has slowly progressed to greater heights since then. After all, wires are overrated! Over short distances, people can communicate to one another or to other technologies with these devices through radio and/or infrared signals instead of traditional network cabling. This is a technology that is not new, but the recent advances are allowing greater mobility and freedom for its users.
This technology not only applies to phones, radios, and now computers, but it is being applied to classroom technologies as well. Using a wireless mouse in the classroom gives a teacher the liberty to move about the classroom while presenting information across the room. If I had a classroom of my own, wireless technology would be very useful. It would allow me to accomplish so much more in a day because it would save me time and effort that could be extended to my students instead. Because wireless technology makes daily classroom activities easier, students would be able to focus on gaining knowledge instead of navigating around wires and cables. They might be less tripping accident too! There are many ways that wireless technology can and has benefited the classroom setting.
http://compnetworking.about.com/od/wireless/WiFi_Wireless_Networks_and_Technology.htm.
Interactive Smart Board-
The Smart Board is a product of SMART Technologies. The outward appearance of the board looks almost like a regular whiteboard, but this board is very different. Through a unique software, the board acts like a touch-screen, allowing you to control and write on the board just through touch. The components are connected wirelessly (another example of wireless uses in the classroom) and viewed over a projection on the interactive board. Through the touch of a finger or pen tool the Smart Board alters that contact into mouse clicks or “digital ink.” They are available as front, rear, or flat-screen projectors. The boards are covered in “resistant” material that can translate your touches into actions on the home computer.
The Smart Board would be an interesting tool in the classroom and I can see, due to its multipurpose abilities, that it would save a great amount of time in the class and allow teachers to move through lessons seamlessly and allow students to actively participate in a lecture setting. The Board would appeal to hands-on or kinesthetic learners as well as visual and auditory learners.
http://www2.smarttech.com/st/en-US/Products/SMART+Boards/.
This is a free online virtual world, developed by Linden Lab, that allows people to create avatars (digital versions of people) and like the name implies, lead a second life. From the look of the game, you are pretty much able to do anything you want. You can shop, create, work, dance, explore, play, learn, and even love! Second Life acts almost like a chat room, but allows the “residents” of Second Life the ability to say and do so much more than what they can through simple text. In some ways, it reminds me of the game “Sims,” but it includes everyone with access to the internet and allows you to communicate on a global level. http://secondlife.com/.
Second Life could be an interesting addition to the classroom environment. Although I don’t think I would personally use it for a standard classroom, it would be a great tool for internet classes or distance degree programs. Students and teachers that were never able to interact before (besides e-mail or digital chats) would be able to interact with digital characters or “avatars.” It would open up a new world of opportunities for those participating in the internet classes. Students could even demonstrate their knowledge through oral presentations! Very cool technology for those students and teachers of online classrooms.
Wireless technology-
Wireless technology emerged with radio devices, and has slowly progressed to greater heights since then. After all, wires are overrated! Over short distances, people can communicate to one another or to other technologies with these devices through radio and/or infrared signals instead of traditional network cabling. This is a technology that is not new, but the recent advances are allowing greater mobility and freedom for its users.
This technology not only applies to phones, radios, and now computers, but it is being applied to classroom technologies as well. Using a wireless mouse in the classroom gives a teacher the liberty to move about the classroom while presenting information across the room. If I had a classroom of my own, wireless technology would be very useful. It would allow me to accomplish so much more in a day because it would save me time and effort that could be extended to my students instead. Because wireless technology makes daily classroom activities easier, students would be able to focus on gaining knowledge instead of navigating around wires and cables. They might be less tripping accident too! There are many ways that wireless technology can and has benefited the classroom setting.
http://compnetworking.about.com/od/wireless/WiFi_Wireless_Networks_and_Technology.htm.
Interactive Smart Board-
The Smart Board is a product of SMART Technologies. The outward appearance of the board looks almost like a regular whiteboard, but this board is very different. Through a unique software, the board acts like a touch-screen, allowing you to control and write on the board just through touch. The components are connected wirelessly (another example of wireless uses in the classroom) and viewed over a projection on the interactive board. Through the touch of a finger or pen tool the Smart Board alters that contact into mouse clicks or “digital ink.” They are available as front, rear, or flat-screen projectors. The boards are covered in “resistant” material that can translate your touches into actions on the home computer.
The Smart Board would be an interesting tool in the classroom and I can see, due to its multipurpose abilities, that it would save a great amount of time in the class and allow teachers to move through lessons seamlessly and allow students to actively participate in a lecture setting. The Board would appeal to hands-on or kinesthetic learners as well as visual and auditory learners.
http://www2.smarttech.com/st/en-US/Products/SMART+Boards/.
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