Final Thoughts on TE 505

My philosophy of technology in education has changed a lot over the past few weeks.  I believe that teachers should constantly be growing in all areas of their teaching skills and the use of technology is definitely one of those skills. It doesn't matter where you are right now as long as you are gaining more knowledge and confidence as time passes. When I started TE 505, I believed that technology was just like an added bonus for those that knew how to use it. Now I think it is very important for teachers to incorporate in their classrooms, and that includes me. I have learned many new skills from Smartboard to blogging but the most important thing was learning that it's really not as hard as it seemed and it can make teaching easier and more effective.

21st Century Teachers

Well first of all, the two presentations were quite remarkable. The prezi did literally make me dizzy though. It is obvious that teaching in the 21st century means that using technology in the classroom is a must. There are so many tools that students are already using that can be utilized for educational purposes. It both frightens and intimidates me. Mainly because I am lacking in the pursuit of personal gains in navigating the technological seas of the 21st century. I also fear a society where my students will be able to video chat with students all around the world, but don't notice that their elderly neighbor needs help mowing her lawn. I do however realize that these children are racing towards a global society, and if I just sit here and complain or refuse to engage then I will become irrelevant to them. So.....my skills must improve!
Students expect teachers to be prepared and able to guide them to a place of discovery. I think they expect me to be able to teach them about technology, rather than needing them to teach me. I honestly do not know how I am going to engage them by using technology, but I will do as the presentation suggested. I will start slow, and I will collaborate with my colleagues who are strong in this area. This post has definitely been one that challenged my thinking about my approach to teaching 21st century learners.

Classroom Blogs

An appropriate definition for a blog in my opinion would be: a journal on steroids. A blog is similar to a Web site in that it is capable of having links to other sites. The most unique feature though is the post. The posts are what keep the readers coming back for more. Blogs can be useful in the classroom in many different ways. In my classroom, I will use blogs as a reading and writing tool. Hopefully I will be able to have posts that draw enough interest to encourage students to engage and comment. There are several important steps to consider in order to prepare students for blogging. Parents need to give permission for their children to participate on the blog before students begin using it. Communicating clearly what the blog is and how it functions is also important. Also, setting guidelines as to what is acceptable needs to be understood by the students.

I do agree with the seven reasons listed on Steve Wheeler's blog. The common theme of all his reasons was continuing the growth of the teacher's  mental capacities. If teachers are unwilling to stretch themselves then their I believe their students will follow suit.

The blog example was a post that would be particularly special to the parents. It was cool to see the children each have their turn to share on camera. If parents feel connected to their child's classroom, many positive possibilities await.

Thoughts during our first class!

As I am sitting in class on the first night of TE505, there are different thoughts going through my mind. "What did she just do?", is only one them. I have resisted technology for many years, and even taken much pride in the fact that I am not a techie. I mean really, I still have a flip phone. However, I already know that this class will be of great value to me as a teacher. Seeing the google tools alone will make a huge difference. I know the reality of me becoming a super techie in my classroom is unlikely, but I do believe that now I will at least be able to effictively use aspects of technology to improve my instructional skills.