How can technology benefit student learning?

I think technology can benefit student learning by allowing students an almost endless possibility of resources to learn from.  They can find so much information on the web on basically any subject.  They can watch videos, read articles, read excerpts from books, look at tons of different websites and so on.  It is so much easier  and more efficient to look something up on-line than it is to look it up in the encyclopedia or go to the library to find information on a certain subject.  I think students should get as comfortable as they can with technology that can benefit their learning.  It also will help them in the real world.  Most jobs nowadays require you to be proficient in lots of different computer applications.  As long as students use technology to enhance their learning, I think different forms of technology should be allowed in schools.  If used appropriately, technology could greatly improve their learning capacity.

What issues related to internet use exist in schools? How can you address them as a teacher?

I think there are a lot of issues that exist by students using the Internet in school.  Some examples are: 1. not using the Internet for educational purposes 2. students finding/seeing inappropriate material 3. cyber bullying 4. students giving out personal information that should not be public knowledge 5. the chance that possible predators could contact them on-line and so on.  I think teachers should always monitor, as much as they possibly can, what students are looking at while they’re on-line.  They should also use the school tracking system to make sure they are not accessing anything that is inappropriate.  I also think it is smart for teachers to discuss the rules and consequences of breaking the rules of using the Internet with their students and make sure they know that their access to the Internet can be taken away if they are caught misusing it.

Howard Gardner

I think Howard Gardner had some very interesting things to say in the movie clip.  I agree that children know what ethics are.  I also agree that teachers should act as coaches to help their students.  I like how he said that in the old days if you wanted to find an answer to a question you would look it up in the encyclopedia but nowadays you can just go on-line and find your answer on such sites as wikipedia.  I remember having to do homework when I was in elementary school using the heavy books of the encyclopedia.  Times are  different than they used to be.  We have so much more technology that is available to students.  It is our responsibility as teachers to make sure students learn how to use all of these new resources and be responsible while doing so.  Like Mr. Gardner said at the end of the clip, hopefully from all of these new resources we will have an “edutopia instead of an edunightmare.”

Top Ten Suggestions for Teachers to Ensure Proper Technology Use:

 

1.  Be aware of copyright rules.  Make sure nothing you give or show to your students is in violation of copyright laws.  Examples of things that might violate a copyright law are movies, recorded television shows, worksheets, music, etc.  Also, teach students to always cite their sources for anything that they use that is not their own work.
2. Make sure students know that Internet use is “a privilege, not a right,” as listed on the CMSNET and Kannapolis City Schools’ Internet guidelines. 
3. Inform students not to download or open anything that could be offensive or obscene.  If they come across anything that is inappropriate, have them immediately exit the screen and report it to the teacher.
4. Inform students of the consequences of cyber bullying.  If they are caught, the school has the right to discipline them.
5. Tell students to only communicate on line with people that they know and trust.  Have them report to you if strangers try to communicate with them and if they encounter anything that makes them feel uncomfortable.
6. Teach students how to use proper etiquette when using any social networking site. Inform students not to put personal information about themselves on line.  Describe how anyone can access this information.
7. Have parents sign user agreement forms in order for their children to be able to access the Internet at school. Keep a copy of all of the forms. Also, display the rules for using the Internet in the classroom to be viewed by students.  This includes information on the acceptable use policy, copyright infringement, restricted material, etc.
8. The students as well as the teacher need to only use the Internet for educational purposes.
9. Inform the students that the school can track their daily use and what they are accessing on line.  The school has the right to revoke their use of the Internet if they are caught misusing it.
10.  Teachers should not communicate with students or their parents on line unless it is in regards to school.  Also, teachers should not have anything on their social networking sites that is not appropriate.

Case Study: Is it Fair?

I chose the case study titled, Is it Fair?  It discusses a Spanish mother and father and their hearing impaired 5 year old daughter named Rosa. They are debating on whether or not Rosa should get a cochlear implant.  In order for her to get the implant it is required that she attend a special school that emphasizes speech and auditory training that is three hours away from their home. The faculty of the school also told Rosa’s parents, who speak Spanish, that they will have to only speak English to Rosa to help her in her studies.  

While I see where the faculty of the school is coming from, I can understand why Rosa’s parents have some concerns.  They would have to change their whole lives around; move to another city, find new jobs, take English classes at night leaving less time to spend with their daughter. While they should do whatever is necessary to give Rosa the best opportunity, this school is not their only option.  The school does not even teach sign language, which I think Rosa should definitely learn as a hearing impaired child.  They could find a school that is closer to their home that teaches sign language as well as speech and auditory training.  I think parents should have options and freedom of choice to choose what they feel is best for their own daughter.   Therefore, I do not think it is fair that in order for Rosa to get the cochlear implant, she has to attend a school that is three hours away that does not even have proof that it is the best school for her.

What I think about the lesson plan process…

Putting together a correct lesson plan is more challenging than I thought it would be.  I’m really glad we got to turn in a draft of our lesson plans before they were graded because I really needed some extra feedback.  I feel that Thursday’s class really helped me to grasp the concept better.  I’m sure that with time and practice the process will get a lot easier….right now it’s just going to take a little getting used to.  I’ve been working on my final draft today and I feel, hopefully, that I made it a lot better than before.  

One of the questions that  I still have is how to make sure I’m making a clear transition from each stage.  I feel sometimes it’s hard to figure out exactly where the teacher input and the guided practice stages begin and end.  I look forward to the point where I’ve done enough lesson plans that it will become easy for me.

Why should teachers care about developing students’ higher order thinking skills?

I think teachers should develop students’ higher order thinking skills to help prepare them for the future and to try to help them succeed  as much as they can. Teachers should definitely care about it because they should want their students to learn as much as possible and achieve their goals.  By teaching students higher order thinking skills I think it will help them think more independently and help motivate them to gain more knowledge.  I think it will also help improve their grades and cause them to do better in school.

Why I want to be a teacher

For the past few years I worked at a fast-paced law firm in Miami, Florida and while it was a great job, it didn’t leave me feeling very fulfilled.  I decided to make a career change because I’ve always loved children and think that I could make a real difference in their lives.  I’m very passionate about wanting to make learning fun and exciting for them and hope that they look forward to coming to my class everyday.  I also like knowing that each day will be different from the next and that you can actually witness the children learning what you have taught them.  I think that being a teacher is one of the most rewarding professions and I’m excited to be able to see children learn and achieve their goals.  I hope to be a positive influence in their lives and someone that they can look up to.  I’m excited to get started!

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