Reflection on the Course

I have enjoyed the class this semester. It has taught me of many new programs, as well as different and creative ways to use them in the classroom. It also shown me how dependent a our society is on technology, with how it is used so much and in so many different ways.

Moving forward, I want to bridge the gap in the digital divide between what students use personally and what mediums teachers use to educate with in the classroom. I feel that this will incorporate more students' minds into the material, and hopefully will help them learn new ways in which they perceive how technology can be used.

Yellow Group Post #2

I think there is a definite disconnect between the technologies used in the classroom and ones used personally by students. Other than in my previous blog, about how one teacher used a video game to teach students about the Normandy Invasion in WWII, I have not had a single teacher who attempted to bridge this divide.

I think the divide is so present simply because most teachers cannot think of a way to incorporate it into their curriculum. Other than Math Blaster, which is designed for children under 10, how else would a teacher incorporate video games into a high school geometry lesson? There is only so much you can do with a medium, and then there is also the problems which may arise by multiple students using it (different computer types, glitches, crashes, ect).

Personally, I think it comes down to the lesson being taught and the teacher's own creativity, which, hopefully, will both be available to me when I enter the classroom to brighten young minds.

Technology in my Life (Yellow Group Blog #1)

While most of my childhood was spent using technology in the form of video games, high school made me use the computer for everything from writing papers, to building websites, or creating PowerPoint slides. Perhaps the most interesting way I saw both of these worlds combined was in my senior year of high school for a history class.

Usually, when the World War II period is reached, most teachers put on the opening scene of Saving Private Ryan or part of Pearl Harbor (which really has only one good part: the only action scene and not the two hours of Ben Affleck talking). This teacher, however, took the class down to the computer labs where we played a First Person Shooter game named Call of Duty.

The game was authentic with everything from the clothing of the soldiers, to the guns we fired with our character, and the maps we played on (which were modelled after the actual towns where battles took place over in Europe). The students were organized into teams, and we were to use the actual tactics the soldiers back then utilized to defeat the other team.

While some may argue the merits of this lesson, our class was able to take to it quickly. It was combining something I enjoyed thoroughly as a child with a subject usually confined to a dull lecture. Its something I have never forgotten, as it transcends the usual walls of what teachers and students consider to be schoolwork and learning.

Technology in the Classroom

Whenever Technology in the classroom comes up, it had varying results for me. Sometime I have had teachers utilize it in wonderful way, with interactive presentations featuring various movie clips, funny pictures, or interesting information. I have also sat through a forty-page PowerPoint slideshow which was crammed to the max with definitions and phrases the teacher simply repeated verbatim.

In a past ISTC class, we met online twice a week. There, the students and professor posted back and forth on BlackBoard, as well as fulfilling other obligations via the web. It was more or less successful, with the only crutch being the constraints of BlackBoard and its tendency to hiccup or crash. By the end of the course, we compiled all our work up to that point in an online porfolio, which was posted on the tiger.towson page.

I enjoyed using different mediums for the class, such as SharePoint and Excel for homeworks and projects. I thought it was a great way for all the different ways of accomplishing a task on the web to be shown to people who may have not used them before, and it also challenged us as students to think about how we may utilize these mediums while teaching.

Entertainment

Tv
Radio
Wii
Movies (Redbox)
Music

Technology Today- PTE

Today we have technologies like the Internet, television, movies, computers, and video games. This technologies allow for people to enjoy themselves and get distracted from problems in their lives such as those caused by the economic recession. These types of technologies are affordable to most people allowing for a large amount of people to take advantage of them.

Entertainment Today

Country Music
Television
IPod
Wii
Xbox
Guitar Hero
Facebook
Twitter
Computers
Cell Phones
Computer Games
More Country Music
Concerts
Nature
Coutry Music Concerts
Movies
TigerFest
Alcohol

Technologies "lift Americans"

Technologies today such as the television and internet can lift our American spirits. For the internet, you can keep in great contact with friends. It is nice to be in touch with people you can't visit or dont see day to day. For the television, new sitcoms have been very popular because of the increased drama and excitement.

Laura/Ashley Blog

Internet- facebook/twitter...other social networks and email allow people to communicate with others

Radio- Music, talk radio allow people to keep up on current events, affordable

Ipods- not necessarily affordable, but music is a big thing that can lift people's spirits

Television and Movies- allow people to zone out of real life, an escape from reality

This course has exposed me to a lot of technology. It helped me improve on technologies I was previously exposed to and introduced me to new technologies. I have learned when and where it is appropriate to use these technologies. I now see how important technology is in the classroom. As a student now, I liked using technology in class. I am sure my future students will also enjoy this. Knowing how to use popular and effective technology is what I will take away from this course. Also, I am walking away from this course knowing technology does not always work out as planned. So I know I need to set extra time aside when planning technology oriented plans and to always have a back up lesson. Moving forward, I would like to spend more time on making websites and become more familiar with SharePoint. By the end of the semester I think this will happen.

Reflection (Morrisa)

This course has really taught me how to be patient with technology and also realize that technology has its flaws and it's not at all perfect! I learned a lot about how technology is being incoroparted into the classroom more so now, than ever before. I still have the same views about technology because of my experience with technology in the course. But it has given me the opportunity to know what is out here for students to use if I choose to use it. The principles and standards I understand better since the start of the course and I've learned how to apply those in my classroom. The hardest assignment I think in the course is the final project. I remember how to do it in class but there is so much to it by the time I get home I forget. It really deals with the learning theories page with all the links that go with it. After this course I would like to continue to learn about different technologies to use, but easy ones that will work with me and not stop working! lol I really enjoyed myself in this class and it was very much so my best class this semester!

Reflection

This course has been helpful for me. I did not enjoy learning about technology integration before. I never really knew how I could apply it to my classrooms and make it interesting for my students. But I have learned about a lot of different softwares that I had not heard of before. They seem like they would help out and allow my students to have fun. I learned about all the benefits of using technology.
I have also learned about different issues that come about with technology integration in a classroom. The idea that classrooms could become online only is not one that I like. it makes me want to learn more and be there to prevent this. The classroom provided information on how to properly use technology in the classrooms in a way that will help the students, not teach them.
There were also discussions of the different teaching styles and other technical aspects of teaching- like requesting the useage of software and evaluating it.
I am glad that I have taken the class. It has taught be to be aware of the different technologies available and also know how to properly use them. I also think this class has helped me learn more about teaching in general- how to work with a classroom, lesson planning, and being aware of a students individual needs.

Laura Miranda

Reflection

After reflecting on what I learned this semester, I realized that the most important thing I will be taking away from this course is a more open view towards technology. I became aware of various technologies and learned different ways to integrate them into the classroom. The most enjoyable part of the class was when we learned how to use Moviemaker. It was something that was really interesting and something that I might use in the future. The Inspiration Web software is something that I might use in the classroom. I realized how much I wasn’t up to date on the current technologies. I now place a greater importance on keeping up with the current technologies because the students are already using them and they can be beneficial in the classroom. The most open eye opening thing for me was that I realized that I really need to use technology so that I can reach all the different types of learners. What I would really like to learn more about going forward is how we can make sure everybody has equal access to the same technologies. I know that many students have an advantage over me in school because I cannot afford the same technologies that they use in the comfort of their own home. I live an hour away from school, so I can’t always drive up to the computer lab to take advantage of these technologies. I feel like I’m part of the digital divide and I want to learn how to keep students such as myself from becoming disadvantaged. - John Wagner

Reflection

This class was beneficial to me in more than one way. I became up to date on many new and various technologies, while at the same time learning how to integrate them into classroom settings. It opened my mind up to realizing the out of the box ways that technologies can be used. I enjoyed learning about moviemaker the most because it something that can always be useful. It is a fun way to bring life to a project that would otherwise be boring. However, I do wish that some more time was spent on website making and our online portfolios because I think that making a website could be another way to do a project, and that there is so much more that can be done with it that we haven’t learned. If I were to go on with this class I would like to receive information on more specialized technologies that would be helpful for students with learning disabilities in my content area.

Reflection

I think that this course really helped me to learn more about different technologies. It also helped me to know how beneficial it can be to incorporate technology in the classroom. I can more effectively tell the difference between technology that is beneficial in the classroom and technology that may not be appropriate. Learning how to evaluate different software will help greatly when I become a teacher. Software like the inspiration web and digital stories with be a good thing to use in the classroom.
I think it will be important to stay on top of current technology. It is important for teachers to be comfortable using different technologies because students today grow up with technology. I would like to learn about even more ways to use technology in the classroom.

Reflection

I enjoyed taking this class this semester and I am glad it is a requirement. I feel like I have learned a lot and even though I already knew how to use some of the programs like, Inspiration, it was a good review. More time should have been spent on website making and learning how to build your online portfolio. I enjoyed the projects we had to do, especially the digital storytelling project. It is a good way to make your project and your story more personal. I feel I have found a new appreciation for technology and find it more beneficial for inside and outside the classroom. I was also able to see that there are disadvantages for using certain technologies inside the classroom.

Reflection

Entering this class, I had no idea the amount of information that I was about to learn. In ISTC 201, it was more of a recap of the technology that I had been used to. But this class introduced me to a large amount of new technologies. Concept webs, blogging, wiki's, etc. opened my eyes to a whole new world. I really realized that all class, even Special Ed. settings could use assistive technology to help kids' learning process. I also feel a lot more updated all together with the computer.
If I were to go forward with this class, I would like the teacher to work especially with my content area. I would like tips for when I become a Special Ed. teacher. And also learn activities specialized for my age group. I wonder if infants/toddlers would benefit from anything technological. I believe that would be interesting for me.

Reflection

I really liked learning how to make digital stories and I think it will be beneficial in the classroom and outside of the classroom. I also think students will have fun making them. It would be a good project to do in the beginning of the year for students to introduce themselves. I would still like to learn more about website building. I feel that we did not spend enough time learning how to make our online portfolios which relates to the websites that some teachers are required to have with the school system.

Reflection

I am very happy that I had to take this class because, I actually have learned a lot. I feel that I have a new found of appreciation for using technology in the classroom and feel more comfortable with it. Now I know that there is technology and software out there that is benefitual for students, in the their learning process. Also I can somewhat imagine me as a teacher, implenting some of the technologies we talked about such as, the inspiration web; which I really like. I even got to thinking about the teaching methods I would use in my classroom. I was also able to see the disadvantages of using technology in the classroom more clearly and how I as a future teacher could address theses problems within my own classroom or school. I have concluded that the constructivist approach is the best approach to teaching all students. So I m glad I took this class and I value all of the information I was taught.

Reflection

When this semester first started, I did not expect to learn things that I already did not know. However, that of course was not the case. Without the information I learned in this course, there would be many things I would not know that would limit my potential effectiveness as a future teacher. Being a student, I always knew that technology is not always used effectively. However, this class really gave me a lot of the tools I need to use technology in the classroom in an effective manner that will help me accomodate different types of learners and help those students that need assistance with technology. Without gaining the information I learned in this class, there is a great chance I would not have used technology in a beneficial way or even the possibly I would have used very litle technology at all since I would not know how to use it to benefit all of the different types of students.
Since I know there is so much more to learn about educational technology, I will use what I learned in this class as a basis to continue my education in learning about the capabilities and benefits of using technology. I think that it is very important to continue learning this information because the generation I will be teaching is growing up in a very technology oriented society. To teach students most effectively, I will be sure to use technology as a way to reach my students. Since this is what they are growing up with and are becoming increasingly informed about, I must continue to explore more and more ways to teach with technology in my classroom.

Reflection

When we began this semester, I thought that I knew a lot about technology and its integration in the classroom.  More specifically, I thought I knew a lot about the failure of technology in the classroom.  Like most of the other students in the classroom, I had seen a lot of PowerPoint presentations that bored me to tears, but seemed to be what teachers thought was "educational technology."  Throughout the course, I've learned to expand my definition of educational technology.  I probably never would have thought to incorporate a classroom blog or a classroom web-page in my future classroom if I had not experienced how efficient they were in this class.  Also, I have begun to look at educational technology differently.  While I always knew that Assistive Technology could help students with disabilities, I never thought that incorporating different assistive technologies, like UDL technologies, could help typical students.

As the semester is coming to a close, I hope to continue to learn more about technologies that can support the different learning styles of my students.  In addition, I hope to learn more about the current and emerging technologies that may be particularly helpful in the classroom.  Finally, I hope that I will learn about the technologies that my students are using and be able to either incorporate them in the classroom, or be able to make comparisons between educational technologies and everyday technologies to highlight the application of educational technology features in the real world.

Final Blog

Like most students my experiences with technology in school haven't been the best. I have had teachers who have tried to use technology in the classroom without really knowing what they were doing. It is very frustrating as a student to have teachers who are inexperienced with the technology they are attempting to use. Through this course we have learned a lot about using technology in the classroom. I have learned about how to use it (technology), when it is appropriate to use, and about different technologies I can use in the classroom. By taking this course I hope not to be one of those inexperienced teachers I talked about. I will try my best to remember what I have learned in this class and apply it to my lesson plans when I become a teacher. In my opinion, one of the best things I have learned through this course is about the Universal Design for Learning (UDL). I think that using technology in the classroom is a great was to engage all types of learners. When I begin to teach one of my main goals will be to use technology effectively in the classroom, so that the curriculum that I am teaching appeals to all types of learners. I would like to keep learning about technology while I move further towards my teaching career. I would like to keep learning about different and new types of instructional technology. I think that it is very important for teachers, especially new teachers, to be educated in using technology in the classroom. This is because todays' students are known as the 'technology generation', by knowing how to use technology in the classroom we will be able to appeal to this young generation.
Kathlyn K.

Yellow Group

At first thought, I don’t tend to think of things such as – cell phones, video games, You Tube, social network sites, etc., - as technologies that should be incorporated into teaching. Thinking about it a little deeper, I realize that some of these things could in fact be very useful in the classroom. I think the reason I don’t tend to think about incorporating them into teaching is because I often view them as forms of entertainment. I do see the value of using them in the classroom. Social networking sites can be used to communicate, just like how we use the discussion board on blackboard. Certain video games can be used such as Math Blaster, which teaches students how to solve math problems. When I think of video games, I tend to forget that they have ones specifically designed for an educational purpose. You Tube is absolutely one piece of technology that I think can be very useful in teaching. I have already seen teachers incorporate video clips from You Tube into their lessons. I think as generations advance we will see more of the technologies we use every day outside the classroom being used inside the classroom as well.

John Wagner

Yellow Group

There are a lot of technologies that would be appropriate for in classroom use and for outside the classroom use such as for homework and projects. We learned about different technologies during the Software Evaluation projects. These software are very useful for review of what was learned in class.
I think that technologies we use everyday should not be incorporated into the classroom. There are some exceptions such as students exchanging cell phone numbers for homework or help needed after class, facebook groups to discuss projects or homework, and email addresses to also discuss homework and/or projects.

Yellow Group

Certain technologies can be very beneficial in a classroom, or for students to use after class as review. We saw several examples of these during our Software Evaluation Projects. Each software evaluated proved to be- in one way or another- useful to the students and teachers. There are also websites, set up by schools, that allow teachers to post their homework, policies, and contact information for parents. These software were designed for students and teacher usage, and therefore were helpful and appropriate.
I do not know of the appropriateness of using technologies that I use everyday. I cannot imagine that a cell phone would be of use in a classroom. It would not be bad for students to exchange cellphone numbers or email addresses with eachother for projects or if a student misses classes. However, I do not think it would be appropriate for a teacher and student to exchange a phone number for obvious reason.
I certainly do not think twitter or myspace would be very useful for students or teachers. First of all, I do not really like twitter. It is not very helpful, other than allowing one to "follow" people and see status updates. Myspace has become the ultimate spot for spam and other un-scholarly advertisements, making it, in my opinion, not appropriate at all for a classroom of any age. It also does not really have any applications that would be useful.
Another technology I use daily is facebook. Although, facebook may have some silly applications that would not seem useful to a classroom, it would allow for a group to be created, in an environment, not bombarded by advertisements. I feel that facebook has an overall cleaner look to it than myspace would. I also think that it is more private than myspace. As a teacher, I would not feel uncomfortable with my students maybe having a group/page that allows them to post questions to each other about materials they are learning. But I do not think I would allow them to use facebook during class time. I think that would just lead to them wasting the period looking at other people's facebook pages, as opposed to paying attention to the lesson. I also would not have a problem with the usage of blogs, like the one we are using now. Blogs as a simple, straightforward, way for students to post their information on the Internet for other students and teachers to view. I would make sure to use proper privacy settings on the blogs.
Technologies of any kind have their own advantages and disadvantages. Some are more appropriate for a classroom than others. Ultimately, I think it is up to the teacher to decide what they find appropriate and useful in their classrooms.
~Laura Miranda

Yellow Group

When asked to create a list of technologies that would be incorporated into classroom use, I'm not surprised that everyday technologies like Facebook, blogs, Twitter, video games, and You Tube do not come to mind immediately.  While some of these technologies may be useful for instruction, I think that there are many reasons why teachers should be careful to integrate them into the classroom for instructional purposes.  First, the "everyday technologies" of teachers, like Facebook and blogs, are also the "everyday technologies" of students, especially students at the secondary level.  Because many of these technologies include personal information about teachers' and students' private lives, not to mention their personal opinions about non-academic material, it is important to respect the privacy of and private spaces created by teachers and students alike outside of the classroom.  Second, "everyday technologies" are often harder to filter for content-appropriateness.  For example, because sites like blogs and You Tube are user-driven, students may stumble upon inappropriate videos or blogs.  In addition, students may use these technologies to search for non-academic materials which may create distractions in the learning environment.  Third, some parents may not feel comfortable with their children using open technologies like blogs or technologies that show personal information, like Facebook.

Those these concerns are all valid, "everyday technologies" could still be used effectively as a supplement to the classroom.  For example, teachers may have students swap AIM screen names and email addresses in order to find out about make-up assignments or to communicate outside of school for group projects.  Also, teachers might set up discussion boards for the class to access outside of school to study collaboratively before a major exam.  Though these technologies may not be entirely appropriate for whole-class, in-school use, they may facilitate learning outside of the classroom and foster a community of learning in a digital space.

Question:
In the technology integration scenarios that you’ve worked on in class, I haven’t seen many examples that incorporate technologies that you probably use every day – cell phones, video games, You Tube, social network sites, maybe Twitter, blogs… (what else am I missing?). Why do you think that you don’t tend to think of those technologies when you’re asked to incorporate technology? Do you think they might in fact be useful, or do you see a disconnect between your personal technology use, and technologies you’d consider using in your teaching? If so, why?


It's not that I do not believe that we should leave the technologies we use every day out of our integration, but that they are harder to monitor and filter. Some content may not be suitable for use in a classroom, and teachers need to be aware of that. These types of technologies may be useful in the classroom, but there is also a line that needs to be drawn, some things such as Facebook and Twitter are more personal and in my opinion have less of a place in the classroom. I'm not familiar at all with using a cell phone as classroom technology (other than our text messaging system here at Towson), but would be willing to use it given the proper information on how to incorporate it. Also, for sites such as facebook and twitter, they may be useful for certiain age groups (I'm thinkking more like high school and college) to be used for discussion and even something like a "buddy system" for missed notes and assignments.
~Stacey Rogers

Green Group

I would not typically incorporate these types of personal technologies into the classroom because I feel like they could easily be a distraction. If a student were assigned to use YouTube, a social networking site, or even a cell phone, there are very many options accessible to the student that would keep the from staying on task. From my own personal experience, being on the Internet alone was enough of a distraction. I was easily capable of surfing other websites instead of completing the assignment. By students actually being on one of the websites students most likely use during their free time, they will be even more tempted to wander off task.

In certain situations, I do think this technology could be useful. I think that by incorporating blogs can make it easy for students to share ideas with their classmates and read about their peers' perspectives on different topics. I also think social networking sites can be useful in group projects in which students have to work outside of class. However, other than what I listed above, I do not see how many of the other personal technologies can be incorporated in the classroom and be beneficial to the students' learning. As I mentioned in my examples, I think that these types of personal technologies would best be incorporated outside of the classroom. Clearly, staying in contact with students is sometimes necessary outside of class and these types of technologies would provide an easy means to do so. However, actually incorporating them in in-class activities would only provide distraction. When students are in school, there are many times the students are looking for ways to have fun and pass time. If they have the opportunity to use websites that they could find some type of enjoyment out of in school, they would most likely take advantage of the situation. Therefore, I think it is necessary for educators to use their best judgment in choosing the technologies they use in their classrooms. I know when I become a teach, my incorporation of personal technologies will be scarce and will only be used in appropriate situations.

Red Group-Amanda Heilman

There are many technologies that do not fit the teaching setting. Many technologies that I use every day such as a cell phone, video games, facebook, etc. would actually be a complete distraction when teaching a lesson to a class. Although these technologies have many positive sides to them, the main purpose of them is to be personal pleasure. For example, Facebook could easily be used for communication between students and teachers. But also the distraction of looking at pictures and friends would be completely distracting. These day to day technologies are useful but the distraction defeats the purpose.

Red Group Blog #2

I think the reason we tend to leave out technologies like cell phones, social network sites, and You Tube when we are integrating technology into the classroom because the purpose of those technologies is mainly for social reasons. I think if we incorporated these types of technologies into the classroom it would cause disruption and would be a great distraction. Another reason why I do not think these devices should be included into the classroom is because they are not censored. It is very hard to monitor a site like facebook or You Tube when using it in a classroom setting. I also think cell phones and video games are inappropriate for the classroom. When I was in school I got my cell phone taken away a few times for having it out during class; if students are allowed cell phones I believe they will not pay attention during class. If students are given cell phones for a class I think they will most likely spend that entire class period texting their friends or play game. I believe there is a big difference between technologies used for social or personal reasons and technologies used for educational reason. Educators should be able to monitor their student’s use of technology in the classroom. Technology that we use in the classroom should have one main purpose, to educate.
Kathlyn Kaiser

Red Group

I do not think that these are the types of technologies that should be incorporated in the classroom. Things like cell phones and facebook should not be mixed into the classroom environment. They are more out of classroom technologies. I feel that it would distract students in class if these were incorporated. It would be hard to get them to really focus on their work if they are around these things. You also may have trouble controlling what they are seeing or what they are doing. I think things like You Tube could be helpful in the classroom if it was censored. Its a nice thing for the teacher to use to go along with the lesson. It can really help the students see what they are teaching. Certain internet sites can only be used if there is a way to control what the students are seeing. There is a difference between the technologies you use in school and the technologies you use at home.

Red Group

I was always taught that school and home are two different places and so there are certain things that I use at school and then certain things that I use at home or outside of school. I don't think of using facebook, video game systems and cell phones in the classroom because I was always taught you don't do that at school and if you do you will get in trouble. So when asked to think of technology in the classroom those things don't come to mind. Sure I have seen students use them in the classroom but that means that they are off task and not paying attention to what is going on. I do not think that it is a good idea to incorporate those technologies into the classroom because the line between school and outside of the school becomes blurred. I was raised to be on my best behavior outside of the home and when I was at home I had more slack because I was not in the public eye. So I think if we brought these things from home into the classroom, students would act like they are at home and not in a learning environment. I also think they would get distracted easier because they are familiar with the technology and know other things to do besides what the task is. It is also to keep your personal life and your school life seperate from one another because sometimes you just need a break from it all.

Blue Group

I think it is for me, the fact that these technologies wouldn't be appropiate in the classroom. It would take away from the learning process, which is already complicated when you have to deal with the disciplining sudents, most of the time. Also it would cause students to become distracted, in a sense that if you did give an assignment for your class ( high school) to maybe twitter about a field trip that they went on the other day. I could see this leading to become a distraction, because they will open a "new tab" where they will be switching back in forth between facebook and twitter, instead of focusing on their assignment. Also another factor is that, if your working in a elememtary school, not all students have access to computers or/and internet in their homes, and may can not go to the library. Thus you have to limit the technology into classroom only, meaning no homework assignements requiring interenet and/ or computer. Another fact is that my content area is special education-elementary, so how would twitter, facebook or cellphones be of benefit in the classroom, I really don't know.

Blue Group- Post #2

I think that these sorts of "casual" technologies are often left out of technology integration activities for a number of reasons. The first of which being that they are things that we use so often that we completely overlook them. It's easy to forget that the items we use so often (cell phones, iPods, etc.) could be useful tools to facilitate learning. Another reason is that we do use these items so casually and we don't want to "mix business with pleasure". There are probably a lot of college students who would agree with me in saying that I don't want my professors to look at my facebook. I don't have anything incriminating on there, but the thought of one of my teachers reading what my friends are writing on my wall just really creeps me out.
YouTube is a site that is really under-utilized in the classroom. I have a professor this semester who finds all sorts of cool videos and incorporates them into our lessons. It's a nice way to get class moving and enables us to think outside of the classroom. Finding videos on subject areas something really easy that teachers can do. Posting videos is another great way to take advantage of the site. Two of my roommates were in a sign language class last semeste and they had to post videos on YouTube of them saying stuff. They then had to view their classmate's videos and figure out what they were saying.
There are so many casual technologies that are right underneath of our noses. We only need to realize that they're there, and then figure out how to use them in our classrooms. In a non-creepy and non-invasive way.

Yellow Group

It is clear that there are certain technologies that really do help students learn when they are implemented in the classroom. Especially those that have to do with electronic media, such as movies, computers (the internet), recordings, newspaper slides, film strips, and even educational video games. Each of these things can enhance student's ability to learn, especially since the lecture format of the old days does not mix well with our technologically savvy lifestyle. However, these technologies also have the potential to distract students as well due to their multi-functional natures as being both potentially educational and, without proper supervision, used for entertainment purposes.

In my own experience, when ever we were allowed to use the internet in class, chances are some students were not always following what the instructor was doing. More than likely, they were checking other sites that had nothing to do with the curriculum. When watching informative movies, most students would not pay attention because as long as the teacher was not speaking, then they figured they did not have to listen. Though their use in the classroom can be very helpful in teaching, they could also create distractions for some, but certainly not for all.

Now that I am in college, technology seems to be less of a distraction and more of a helpful tool that needs to be implemented in the case of research and communication. However, that may just be because when I was in grade school, technology was not as advanced as it is now. In college, things like audio recordings, newspaper slides, and online journals become much more important when researching for papers. In fact, the internet is an endless source of scholarly writings and key documents that you cannot find in your local or school library. It is essential that when used in the classroom, no matter the grade level, that it remains an instrument of learning. The speed of technology has saved me on more then a few occasions and I am sure that it can do the same for others.

-Tim Wellein

Yellow Group

Looking back at my technobiography and my last post about technology in the classroom, I do think my attitudes about and experiences with technology in my life have shaped what I think are good/bad uses of technology in the classroom. I also see some differences and similarities between my technobiography and my classroom post. In both posts I didn’t use technology very much when I was younger. This is also reflected in my classroom experiences as it wasn’t integrated much in my education either. Having had so much fun playing gameboy and Nintendo when I was a kid paved the way for me to be open to new technologies in the future. The example I used of a good use of technology in the classroom was when I had a teacher do a good job of using PowerPoint and it made lectures and note taking less stressful. This was because the teacher gave us an outline of the important parts and it helped me to feel like I was on top of what we were learning. She never overwhelmed slides and limited her slides to an outline rather than word for word of what she was covering.

My experiences this year with technology have left me very frustrated. It helps me in many different aspects of my life but also this year it has caused me more stress than I’ve ever had. Having teachers give so much homework that involves the use of a computer and having to be online makes my life very difficult. This semester I am honestly hating school and can’t stand it, all because of technology. I’m traveling on a bus all day on Thursdays and Sundays so I don’t have internet access and I can’t use my computer at all because my battery doesn’t last more than 5 minutes before it dies. There are no outlets on the bus to plug it in so it works. I can’t afford a new computer, new battery, or a wireless card and plan that connects through a cell phone provider to give me access to the internet while I’m on the bus. On top of that for this class my computer won’t allow me to access the e-reserves, so I have to access them at school when I’m only here 3 days a week and have very limited time. Another class I have puts some of the assignments up online in a docx format and I don’t have the new Microsoft Windows to open it. Then to top it all off, I am in a different hotel every weekend and always have issues with getting an internet connection; it is always something whether their service is down or their connection is unbelievably slow, etc. So, technology has made my educational experience this semester miserable.

Yellow Group

In my life, I often find that technology can complicate a problem more than correct it.  I often find that relying on technology is not effective, like when trusting an ill-made GPS system or an incorrect internet-provided set of directions to your destination.  While the technology is a nice alternative to reading a map en route, it can also cause more harm than good if you are in an unfamiliar area.  For this reason, my experience and attitudes towards technology will definitely effect the way I incorporate technology in my classroom.

I think that technology should be used in the classroom only when it enhances the material being taught.  For this reason, I would consider myself to be a person of convenience when it comes to technology.  Looking back on my technobiography, the technologies I used and enjoyed were technologies that made my life more convenient, like a computer upgrade, or the option of wireless internet access.  In my personal life, my use of technology made things easier for me to understand and were also uncomplicated.  In my teaching, I hope that the technology I integrate will be the same - easily understood and simple.

Looking back at my classroom post, I notice that I was timid about using a SmartBoard at first, but became more comfortable with it after I realized how the technology worked.  In the same way, the games played on the SmartBoard made the material easier to understand, and also provided a frame of reference when studying for tests.   Both my classroom post and my technobiography point to my opinions about the appropriate and inappropriate uses of technology in the classroom.  Namely, I think that technology should be a support to content, not just the use of technology for technology's sake.  In my life and my classroom experiences, technology that has been used as a direct support of content or for personal convenience has made lessons and life experiences much simpler; however, lessons in which technology was used just to use technology often failed to capture my attention or teach me something new.  Throughout my technobiography and my classroom post, both reflecting my opinions about the appropriate use of technology, I agree with the use of technology as a support system for content and for convenience, but not for arbitrary reasons.

Green Group

I would have to say that I'm not that technogically savvy. The only time I use technology is when I'm playing my Wii my boyfriend just bought me, the Internet, Microsoft Word and Powerpoint. I do not usually use the computer unless I have to. From my dvd player that gets on my nerves sometimes to my gps I use in my car. Technology sometimes gives me an headache. It does not help that I'm not patient.
As for using technology in the classroom it is important that students are using it appropriately. It is also important that the teacher is well informed on the subject they are teaching and that it is clear for them to understand the topic. When using the powerpoints, make sure the notes are short and can be elaborated on. You should also maybe add pictures or videos to capture the students attention.
In my high school technology was rarely used so maybe that is the reason to why I have very strong views about not cooperating that much technology in the classroom. But I also have to realize that kids today are growing up in a world of technology. Myself as a teacher, has to be trained in the programs needed and be able to make sure the students understand and use the technology properly.

Green Group

As we grow up we see what technology works for us and what technology we tend to throw to the side.  Such as videos that teachers will play to teach students, that have no real type of interaction what so ever with the student, and because so,  the information is lost.  

Technology such PowerPoint and outlines, I found, tend to be a better teaching aid.  Maybe because the two stay organized and the information is split in a way that easier for the student to understand.  The other, once again, give the student no real interaction with someone or something.

My similarities were that I believe that in order for students to truly learn the material, the best way of doing so is to use a hands-on way of learning because the students would actually feel as if their gaining the information directly from the teacher and their also able to ask questions.  

-milousm

Green Group

As stated in both my technobiography and most recent blog post, technology has been a pretty important part of my life. From using it for fun, to communication with friends I have not seen in years, to it's usefulness in a classroom, technology has been around me since I was a child.
I have seen that technology has its pros and cons in and out of a classroom.
Being able to have colorful and informative powerpoints and interesting videos in a classroom has definitely made learning more effective for me. I have seen it used in many useful ways. From learning to use Microsoft office applications to the "drill and practice" software I used in high school to teach special needs students typing, technology has had it's benefits. I have a hard time imagining school life without the use of computers or PowerPoint's. This semester I am taking a music course where our professor uses his ipod to let us listen to samples of music from each time period we learn about. There is also a cd given with the course for students to take home. The ipod and cd make the material less dry and is incredibly helpful when learning about tempo or meter, because one can actually hear the difference between a piece of music in "4-4" time and "2-4" time.
However, I have had experiences where technology was not helpful at all. Some teachers would put videos on during class that were, supposedly, related to the subject; but really had nothing to do with what we were learning. Most of the time, if movies were on, I would fall asleep or work on other assignments. I've had negative experiences with teachers who use powerpoint ineffectively because they simply read from the paragraphs on the screen, making the class very dry. Classrooms that have computers for every student with access to the Internet can be negative as well if there is no one watching what the students are doing on the computers.
To summarize, technology can be very effective in a classroom if used properly and appropriately. However, if the technology is a video used to distract the class or a poorly prepared powerpoint, it can have negative consequences for the student. They will not learn the material or feel any interest to do so.
- Laura Miranda

Green Group

As I expressed in my technobiography, I am willing to learn and embrace any new techonologies that will benefit and enhance the quality of life. Although I did not directly say this in my blog about technology in the classroom, my opinion about this subject in the classroom is relatively the same. In my opinion, there are some technologies that I do not find useful and relevant in my life and therefore choose not to use these items. I do not think technology should be used just because of its amazing capabilities and its availability. However, if a technology would be beneficial to my life, I would embrace such an item in order to receive whatever benefit that technology would bring.

I think that technology in the classroom should follow the same guidelines. If there is a technology that will enhance learning and be very beneficial to the students, this technology should be used in the classroom. However, if there is a technology in which the relative advantage of its use is not as readily apparent, I think the time and money that would need to be invested in this technology would be a waste. If some sort of cost-benefit anaysis could be used, I would suggest educators use this type of a system to determine when they should use certain technologies in their classrooms.

The only major differences I see in my technobiography and my blog about technology in the classroom is the dependence I have on technology in my own life. Many of the friendships I share with people from high school and earlier periods of my life are maintained using technology. Without things like Facebook and AIM, I would lose contact with many of these people because they are away at college eight or nine months out of the year or our social paths do not meet for long periods of time. In this sense, I think that it is beneficial to be dependent on these technologies for these reasons because otherwise, relationships may be lost.

On the other hand, I do not think it is beneficial for students to be dependent on technology in the classroom. Although I think tools such as calculators and dissection simulations can be beneficial in cases to save time and to give students experiences they would otherwise not have, students should not become entirely dependent on these technologies. By avoiding dependency , students would be forced to learn basic arithmetic and algebra and would receive the benefits from actually dissecting an organism. Though certain technologies may be able to enhance the learning of this information, physically performing things that technology could do can make the experience much more realistic and give the student a well-rounded experience of whatever the topic may be. I think a balance between the use of technology and doing activities without it would create a more effective presentation of information.

Red Group

I believe that technology is very important in schools today. In our world today we are faced with many different types of technologies many times a day. Whether we are dealing with cellphones, computers, T.V's, or microwaves, technology is used by everyone, everyday. I think it is important to teach our students how to use these technologies, if we don't they may have less opportunities the future. Technology has made everyday living very easy, however, we need to make sure we don't grow to dependent on technology.

Technology can make everyday tasks very simple and quick, and can be very useful in classrooms. Yet, I think technology should be used in the classroom to support the teacher, and not be used instead of the teacher. If teachers can incorporate different technologies into the lessons, I think the students will benefit greatly. In my opinion if we can balance the use of technology in the classroom with more traditional teaching methods, this will be the best learning environment for the students.
Kathlyn K.

Red group

My views on technology in the classroom are definitely shaped by my experiences. I've seen several formats of data storage emerge and die out already for example. Part of whats hard about embracing technology in the classroom is choosing the technology that's going to be around long enough to be useful to the students, have an effective library of educationally relevant materials for student to view, use, or otherwise learn from and with, and be cost effective for school districts to manage and maintain. There is also the reliability and compatibility aspects of technology, especially as you integrate newer technologies into existing systems. Any equipment that is cutting edge today will be an antique within 5 years. Will it still work with whatever new systems are available then? Will it still be supported by the manufacturers, installers, and developers? Will you be able to find new software, new videos, new games for it? And most importantly, will any of it actually help your students learn or will it needlessly complicate the classroom?


What technology is "appropriate" is definitely based on a mixture of the instructor's proficiency with the technology and the school's ability to properly maintain it. Even something as simple as an overhead projector is useless if there are no bulbs to put in it for example.

One thing that connects my techno-bio and my classroom posts are the evolution of technology. A good example has been the migration of instructors to power point from overhead projectors with plastic slides. Another is going from filmstrips and slideshows in elementary schools to DVD's in high school.

Red Group

I think that technology is an important part of the classroom. I always thought it was beneficial when teachers incorporated technology into the lesson. Since technology is so important now, it was helpful to have it around as we were going through our younger school years. It is something we use everyday. However, using too much technology in the classroom can be a hindrance. It is possible for teachers to use too much technology. It should be something that supports the teaching and not doing the teaching. Since some teachers are not familiar with a lot of different types of technologies they can use, it is hard for them to incorporate it into the lesson effectively. It is also very easy for something to go wrong with the technology being used causing the teacher or student to be thrown off.
I think there are a lot of similarities between my technobio and my technology in the classroom posts. The early experiences I had with technology really helped me to be able to understand and use it now. Since my generation grew up with the changing technology, it is easier for us to handle new technology and be able to use it quickly and effectively.

Red Group

I think I have a very open eye on technology. When I started this ISTC class, I was slightly hesistated on the new names of "wiki" and "blogger." Though, as soon as I paid close attention to the technologies, I was ready and excited about learning new things. Once I learn about a new technology, I almost always think of it as a "good" use and a way to further education in the classroom.

Looking back at my technobiography and classpost, I believe that I have always been open to technology but that also doesn't mean that I haven't struggled along the way. In most cases I need to practice a few times before I am assured with a technology. But once I have the confidence I explore the technology to become well educated with it.

For example, once I was enrolled in this class, we recieved an email about blogger. I very curiously searched through the website while I made my account. I was a little concerned with some of the aspects but they were cleared up as soon as we got to class. Now, I think blogger is a productive technology and should be used as a way of communication outside the classroom.

Red Group

My experiences have shaped the way I view technology. I feel that when I am taught how to use a certain technology I feel more comfortable using it then when I am just handed something and told here figure it out. I took computer graphics in high school and was taught how to use Photoshop, by the end of the semester I felt that I learned a lot and could make some pretty decient projects. I have never really been taught how to use all the functions on a TI-83 graphing calculator, so I don't really feel comfortable using it to try and find an answer because I don't know if what I did was correct, so my answer may not be correct. I feel thats how a lot of teachers are with technology, they know bits and pieces and that is all, so that is all they use. They have this fear of being out done by a student or doing something wrong and being embarrassed. Most of my positive experiences with technology have come from the teachers who are younger and know more about technology and how to use it. I had an english professor last semester who was a bit older who still used a slide projector to show pictures and then I had a history professor who was younger who used the projector and digital images. I got more out of the history lesson then the english lesson because the quality was much better. I feel like I am exactly like these teachers, use the technology that I know and forget about what I don't know.

BLUE GROUP

Technology can be beneficial, creating vibrant and easy exercises in the classroom. It can also help keep the teacher organized and assist them with problems in grades, attendance, etc.. However, as I have just learned, technology can be a hassle and what has happened this weekend is a perfect example of the folly of hi-tech. 

First off, I had my cell phone alarm set for 8:30 am yesterday morning to wake me up for work. This is how I wake up, I set the alarm on my cell and the ringtone is loud enough to wake me from my slumber. Well, as it turns out, a minute detail went awry. Instead of there being a tiny little "am" next to 8:30, I learned after waking up on my own accord that for some reason the time was set for 8:30 pm. Great, now I'm late for work. I work all day and come home to go right to sleep (forgetting, once again, to set my alarm). So here I am, 10 am on a Sunday morning and I have yet to post my blog. I try and I try, but for some reason this blogger website would not respond to my commands. I could post a comment, no problem. But it seems like every time I click the link to post the blog (it took me 20 minutes to find the link itself) the page refused to load. Now, I'm a patient guy, but I know we all hate this. We're spoiled on high-speed internet and whenever anything goes a second slower it can be very frustrating.

That said, I'm finally posting my blog and as far as a high-tech classroom is concerned, I think I'd rather just stick with books, a blackboard, and attentive students. 

Blue Group

There are a lot of similarities between my technobiography and my post on my views on technology in the classroom. I love my cell phone, iPod, and lap top just as much as any other college student, but simply for the convienence of them. I'm really uncomfortable with technology when it gets complicated.

I've experienced this complication in school so many times. Power points that won't open because of formatting issues, people communicating too much via the internet and the communications resulting because of that, and so many more complications. These experiences have soured me on technology in the classroom.

Some professors will make a Power point and then read off of it, but then you've got professors who are entirely technically inept. I think that technology in the classroom needs to be a good mix. Technology should only be an addition to teaching.

There are some amazing technologies out there and I hope that in the future I'm able to get over my techno-phobia and expose my students to the latest technology out there, giving them the best start I can.

Blue Group

Technology is a very important aspect of education today. It is something that we deal with everyday of our life. It is important that we learn how to use it for educational reasons because it comes up in everyday life. Technology is now used for everyday tasks, such as e-mailing, research, and projects. There are many pros and cons to technology.

Technology is a very fast and easy way to gather information, and communicate with people. Technology can be very helpful in the classrooms when it is used in the right manner. I have been in classrooms where teachers have just read off of the power points, and I never quite understood what the purpose of that was. I do not think that the entire class should be based on technology because I believe that that the defeats the purpose of having a teacher. However, if a teacher can use power point, and other electronics for educational purposes in the right way then I believe that that is the most useful because that is what students today are used to.

I, myself try to stay up to date with technology because I believe it is a very important part of our everyday life.

Blue Group

From my personal experiences with technology in the classroom, I believe that technology is very exciting for students to use; particularly the computer, PowerPoint or internet. Because you are not sitting there 7-8hrs a day hearing a teacher talk with pencil and paper in hand; so boring. Students with various learning styles: visual and auditory learners, students with special needs, students with vision problems, students with hearing problems and many more are, able to benefit from this technology. As for teachers they are able to understand the writings because everything is mostly typed. Also it’s a different way to teach a subject that may be hard to teach or for students to understand in an auditory way, so you can use a software, power point or other websites to help.
However, technology in the classroom can cause a huge distraction. One moment your typing your research, then flicking on to face book, then flicking back to your research, this back and forth between typing your paper and searching face book or playing games can cause harm; such as having grammar errors in your paper, due to your attention not fully being there on your paper. Also it can create mental laziness because you’re not using your cognitive skills as much. You make a spelling error click spell check or you have a math problem, just plug in the problem into your graphing calculator. Another important thing is that when some students don’t understand the technology right away and struggle with it. Also when computers go down and there’s no one available to fix it immediately, that causes a problem and the teacher has to now think of another way to teach.
According to my past two blogs the similarities between them is that I am still amazed at how far technology has come and now that it has come this far; at first cassette tapes to cds to I-pods, I wonder what’s next. I really can’t picture life without it. I’m really excited to see how technology will continue to have an affect in the classroom and how it may affect teachers.

Blue Group

I recently realized how important technology is in the classroom. I never thought it was unimportant, I just never thought about it. Technology is all around me. Technology is frustrating and expensive sometimes but it helps in most aspects of my life. I like technology because it usually focuses on making a task have quality and efficiency.
I think technology is a great tool in the classroom. Like we talked about in class, it is only a tool, it needs someone to used it for the correct tasks at the correct time. The use of technology makes learning a better experience and seems to be more efficient. I would rather have my future classroom taking a look at the next powerpoint slide instead of watching me erase the chalkboard.
This view of technology in the classroom is similar to my technobiography. My typing class in second grade, my cell phone, my GPS, and my car all help me accomplish tasks in a timely manner with better quality than before. Technology is great and is a necessity to keep up with the rest of the world.

Classroom Tech

#1

My relationship with technology starts off in my younger days with my mother buying me a Nintendo Entertainment System or NES for short along with the one game that comes with the system, “Super Mario Bros. and Duck Hunt.”  Videogames were a great way to past the time.

In school, teachers used computer games to teach us to read, to write and to learn mathematics along with instructional videos.     

As I grew, so did my love for entertainment technology with The PlayStation Gaming Console, The PlayStation 2.  Later, my family purchased our first computer.  I can remember my mother having me set the entire system up along with internet and a security system. 

In high school, I found love for Digital Media, television to be precise.  The lights, the cameras, the editing systems.  I loved it.  TV is where my heart lies and is why I am here at Towson pursuing a degree in Electronic Media and Film. 

 

#2

In education, technology is quite possibly the best tool to learn from.  I was a visual learner, the computer games the school provided me with allowed me learn in fun entertaining ways.  They informed me if an answer was right or wrong on the spot and taught me why an answer was right or wrong.  Also, not all students are hands-on learners, it’s always best to have different ways to teach students.  I mean we’re all different. 

My class had 33 students and one teacher.  With computer technology, the teacher did not need to have one-on-one time with each student during those computer lab times because the student already had help for the cpu.  My classmates that were experiencing problems could then have the teacher give them the personal help they needed.  It was a great way to teach such a large group of students.  

Technology in the Classroom

I have had several experiences with technology in the classroom. My experiences have varied from personally using the technology to actually being instructed with technology (ie: powerpoint, or overhead projections)

One of my most memorable personal use experiences was in high school, it was a web design class and it was one of the classes that everyone wanted to take. I mean who wouldn't want to spend 75 minutes in a computer lab "playing" on the internet?! That's what everyone thought anyway, granted there was a little bit of "playing" most of what we did was work. The programs that we had were Adobe Dreamweaver, and Microsoft Front Page. More then half the class was more comfortable with Front Page so that is what we used to design our web pages. I think that this was a positive experience because it taught us skills that we most likely would not pursue on our own, and it tied in with previous classes we had taken in the computer lab and we could put our skills to the test! Our teacher was very knowledgeable about the software (as well as computers/technology as well) and it made the experience and extremely positive one.

Another experience I had was in a class here at a community college. The professor used PowerPoint as the ONLY instruction method for the class. He basically stood up at the computer and clicked the mouse, occasionally adding some comments of his own. Much of the information was outdated and the links that he attempted to incorporate were broken or completely ridiculous! It was a very negative experience of technology use in the classroom. If a teacher is going to use the technology in their classroom then they need to know how to use it properly and not as their only means of teaching.

Classroom Technology

Prior to college technology wasn’t integrated much in my education. If technology was used it was more of a side thing like using a computer to type a report or searching the internet for information. Even when I started at community college my first few teachers still used overhead projectors or wrote notes on the boards. Eventually I took a communications class in my second semester at community college where the teacher used PowerPoint presentations to do her lecture. She was one of those great examples of how to use PowerPoint to accent your lecture not run it. She never overwhelmed slides. She limited her slides to an outline rather than word for word what she was covering.

Her use of PowerPoint made lectures and note taking less stressful. I always felt like I was on top of what we learning because she gave us an outline of the important parts. All we had to do was take notes on the specific information. If I missed something in class I wasn’t as worried because I would simply refer back to my slides and the outlines would usually remind me of what we covered. I also felt like me and the other classmates were more engaged and open to discussions. We weren’t frantically trying to write everything down so we were more interactive with the teacher and each other. I also felt like we all weren’t worn out after class! Sometimes taking notes from a board or based on what someone says can be exhausting!

Later in the semester she gave us an assignment where we had to give a speech and use PowerPoint to enhance our speech. This was pretty intimidating because I had never put together a PowerPoint presentation. I soon realized that it was a fun way to spice up your presentation. I ended up doing really well on that presentation and became more comfortable with the enhancements that PowerPoint can bring.
The teacher did a great job in using the PowerPoint presentations to add to her lectures. She also helped to increase our learning and enjoyment of the class because note taking became less stressful. We also learned the basics of PowerPoint so we could take that with us to our future classes. It really helped that she tied in the PowerPoint notes with the topic of communication and how it can be a tool to do just that. Applied lessons such as this, I feel, are always more enjoyable for students and a key to longer retention of skills. - John Wagner

Technobiography

Upon receiving this assignment I had to ponder for quite some time as to the role technology played in my life as I was growing up. Interestingly my first thought was that it played none. After some further thinking I realized that my inclination that it played no role is only because many of the technological components of my younger years are so outdated today that I don’t even consider them technology anymore. It is a great example though of how quick technology changes and things become outdated.

Having said that, the first thought that comes to mind is my original Nintendo game system I received from my grandfather in second grade. Hours upon hours I enjoyed playing duck hunt and paperboy. If it hadn’t been for my Nintendo I would have gotten into a lot more trouble as a child when my parents weren’t home. About a year later, my grandfather then gave me a gameboy. During my young elementary school days I don’t recall using technology much in school. For the most part, at this point, technology for me was more about enhancing my play time. At the beginning of middle school I became more aware of technology when I got a pager. By the time I got one, most of my friends already had them. I had longed for a pager and the ability it gave me to communicate with my friends. In high school computers were now common place. Our school was stocked with Apple computers. Most classes had one, while some classes that utilized more typing in assignments usually had half a dozen. We were allotted class time to do research and type up reports. We even had some lessons in keyboarding and how to do good online research.

Once I left home my interactions with technology shifted. I got a cell phone, a laptop, stereo equipment, and an electronic dictionary. My use of technology became more functional and less entertaining. Within a year or two of living on my own I was making online purchases and downloading songs from the internet. Often, I’m quick to say society is too dependent on technology, and in many ways we are. In reflecting like this though, I see how much convenience and opportunity technology has afforded me. I don’t think I ever want to return to the days of using a pager or go back to using cassette tapes. - John Wagner

Views on classroom technology

Last semester in my math class my professor introduced a program called Geometer's Sketchpad and I feel that program helped me learn and understand Geometry a lot better than what I had learned on paper in the past. The class took place in a computer lab so everyone had a computer to work on. The professor first introduced Geometry on paper and had us avoid using the computers so that way we could understand the general principles and not rely soley on the computer to figure out the answer. Once we understood the basics, we moved onto the computer and relearned everything that she taught us. It made learning Geometry so much simpler because I could draw the figures on the computer to scale and not have to worry about using a compass, protractor or ruler. I could also make duplicates of the shape and move the shapes around to fit without making a big eraser mess on my paper. The professor new a lot about the program and was able to answer any questions that students had. She also made the class fun by showing us how to draw interesting pictures using Geometer's Sketchpad and how Geometry is used everyday. Most of the class was able to understand using the computer and found this software to be very useful. I feel the way I was taught Geometry was very useful and worth my time. It does help to have a background in Geometry before you use the software because you can easily get the wrong answer to a problem if you don't know what you are doing.

Technobiography

Computers have been a part of my life since about 3rd grade when there were 6 computers in my classroom that we used to practice math and spelling. In 4th grade my family got their first computer and I remember looking at it and not really knowing what to do and being afraid to touch it, in fear of breaking it. In 6th grade all the teachers at my school got new laptops and technology became more visable in the classroom. My first class in high school was a computer class where we were supposed to learn the proper way to type and how to use the different Microsoft programs but that class was an epic failure because we did not have any computers to learn on! All we had to use were old keyboards, which did not benefit anyone because there was no way to check your progress. I was very disapointed with this class and remember thinking about my future at that school and how I was ever going to learn anything without the proper materials in the classroom. I have been exposed to other types of technology besides the computer such as television and PA systems. In elementary school and high school I was on the morning announcements. It was cool to see how a video camera hooked up to a certain cable could broadcast a live show throughout the school building and then in high school to be able to speak to over 2,000 people at once was a really great feeling. My favorite piece of technology though is my digital camera, without that I would be lost in life because everyone that knows me knows that I almost always have a camera on me taking pictures of just about anything!

Technobiography (re-post)

My relationship with technology started much later than others in my mind. I did not recieve a game station until I was in the eight grade, but let me add that it was a Nintendo 64, while many others had Playstations at the time! We owed a typewriter, video cassette player and televisions in my household. But as I got older and technology advanced so did my family. It started with my father wanting to own every piece of technology that would make his life easier. When we recieved our first PC, my mom made me install the Mavis Beacon typing teacher software. From that point on I became a typing master and explored the world in my own living room. Technology is a great thing but I have to say my whole life is not on my laptop. Too many misfortunes have happened in which I have lost papers, pictures and sometimes my favorite games due to the break down of the software. Knowing that we would be using the computer and other technologies in this class had be pretty apprehensive. I rather be writing a paper by hand than typing a paper on the computer. Years ago we would not have all this technology and they were just fine. I just hope we do not get too dependent on technology.

Technology and Me

My main interactions with technology would definately have to be video games. Growing up as a child, all I can really remember is either running around in circles outside or playing with my Nintendo system.

Games aren't really bad for children, and my parents didn't seem to mind too much as long as I was not in front of the TV for hours on end. Playing Nintendo taught me hand-eye coordination, as well as the need to destroy all aliens I may encounter.

Growing up a little more, I began using the computer for internet and Word programs for school. As my dad worked as a computer programer, he was always quick to show me complex steps on our fast 255 mghz PC.

Throughout High School and college, cell phones and cars took precidence as the lead uses of technology in my life. Though I have never really used my phone for more than texting or calling people (as that is what a phone was created for), I understand how the newer models are replacing the idea of what exactly a phone can do.

Technology has always been present in my life. As I grow older, I expect it to become a larger and larger force at work being integreted into everyday society.

Posts #1 and #2

#1- Technology plays a big part of my life, but only a pretty basic level. I've never been very comfortable with it, computer classes in elementary school being my least favorite class. I took a keyboarding class in high school which taught me how to be fast typer, but before that I never really saw a need to be familiar with the computer.
Now, I use my computer daily. I use the internet to do research for school,keep up with my classes on BlackBoard read the news, email, to keep in contact with my friends through Facebook, and watch videos on YouTube. But that's pretty much it. I'll write my papers on Microsoft Word, or create the occasional PowerPoint if I have to. I never got into the My Space thing, and I don't use AIM, mostly because I have plenty of other things that distract me the stuff I need to be doing.
I also use my cell phone and iPod daily, but they aren't anything fancy. I don't any desire to upgrade to anything fancy. All of the touch screens are too sensitive for me and it's way too much for me to try and figure out.
My digital camera is also something I use frequently, and this is a technology I totally get behind. I love being able to make sure I've got the shot I want, right away.

#2- I think that technology is really important to incorportate into the classroom. Just because I'm the only person who gets chills trying to work an old-school overhead projector doesn't mean that I should deservice my students by not taking advantage of every mode of learning available when I'm a teacher. People learn in all different ways, and if I can reach even a few students by some form of technology, then all of the stress would be worth it.
My only fear is that people are trying to push technology too much in the classroom. When I was a kid, I remember watching a movie that took place in the 21st century on a space station. The girl went to class with a bunch of other students, but her teacher was a hologram from earth. At the time I remember thinking how cool that would be because I could probably figure out a way to wear my pajamas to school, but now the thought of a hologram teacher just scares me. I know of so many times when I've needed that direct contact with my teacher, something that wouldn't be able to be achieved with a hologram teacher. I know that this is a ridiculous concept for this course, but we do have comperable situations. And don't even get me started on online text books. I get the convieance of them, but nothing will ever be as satisfying to me a highlighting in a book. I'm all for saving trees, but I'll recycle til the day I die if it means I don't have to give up underlining. I think it's important for kids to learn these skills but how are they going to do that from a computer. So in conclusion of this part, I am totally in favor of technology in the classroom, as long as it doesn't take over the classroom.
Recently, I was exposed to a great math program that helped me understand a concept really well. It's a simulator who's name I can't recall, but it was great because it demonstrated that no matter what the measurments for a 90 degree triangle, the pythagorean theorm will hold true. It enabled you to pull the triagle all around, all the while letting you watch the measurements change, but the equation stay the same. It was really cool. The teacher used this method to prove her point, as well as a demonstration with string or something, like they used to do in Egyptian times. She asked us which model helped us understand the concept more and the entire class raised their hands for the computer simulator. My teacher utilized this program excellently and it's something we're going to be learning from the rest of the semester. It'll be a good learning experience for me, I really think I'm going to benefit from it. Math is my weakest subject and I need all of the simulations I can be exposed to.
(My teacher only used the technology for 5 minutes, so I'm not really sure what else it's capeable of.)
So I know that my students and I can benefit from technology, it's just learning how to utilize it correctly that's the problem.

In my junior year of high shcool, I took a technology class. It was comprised of students from all grade levels, and was a requriement for us to graduate. The point of the class was to be able to properly use Microsoft Office applications, like "Powerpoint," "Word," and "Excel." Everyone in the class had their own computer. We sued a textbook that gave us different exercises to do during class time. They were all related to whatever application we working with. The exercises were designed to teach the class to use the application.
At first the class was rather boring, and some of it was easy, like the section on Microsoft Word. However, we learned important things about Word, like who to set up our own tabs or insert clip art and make changes to it.
I had a particularly hard time with the section on "Excel." But our teacher was very helpful. Also, other students that understood the concepts were allowed to get up and help others if they finished the exercise for that day. This was good because it allowed the students a chance to help each other.
We learned to use Powerpoint. At this point, I do not think I ever needed to use powerpoint, so the class was very helpful. Our final project was to use powerpoint to present a slide show with animations and fun transitions, to a song of our choice. The project tested our knowledge of powerpoint, because we had to time the powerpoint to the music we chose. This project was very fun and using powerpoint is very easy for me now.

Classroom Technology

When I first came to Towson as a Freshman, I was given an on line English class. This idea of taking a class on line really frightened me. I had never taken a class on line before and I had no idea what to expect. I had also never used blackboard before and I was concerned I would never figure it out. After a few weeks, I really got the hang of it and began to enjoy it. It was interesting that the entire class could be taught on line. I really learned the ins and outs of blackboard. The teacher was able to effectively teach the class by putting all the course documents on line and making us interact with each other through discussion boards. Since this class I feel more comfortable using the Internet and blackboard in association with my classes.

My technobiography

I think my first experience with technology was in elementary school. For the first time, my school was making every grade take a computer class. Before this, I had never really used a computer. This gave me the opportunity to learn more about it. We mostly played educational games but I still loved it. This class continued throughout all of elementary school. This lead me to take more computer classes in high school.

At home I really only used the computer to type papers and homework for school. I was not really into computer games but I did watch a lot of television. As I got older, the computer became a necessity. I would always fight for computer time with my sister and brother because we only had one computer in the house. It was not very fast but we seemed to be more patient with it then. AIM was a new thing for me but I loved being able to chat with many of my friends at once. In high school, I finally got a cell phone and now I can not live without it. It is strange to think there was a time cell phones did not exist. All technology has changed dramatically since I was younger. People, including me, can not live without the Internet, cell phones, and many other new devices.

Post 1: Technobiography

Technology has always been a part of my life. From watching silly little programs for children on the television as a young child, to my current addiction to facebook and constant need to have my cell phone and text all of my close friends. It is something that I do not think I could live without.

For me, technology started out as something I used to have fun. I used the computer to play games like "The Sims" and eventually got into the world of Internet communication after discovering "Instant Messenger." I also used various Nintendo consoles to play games with my friends like "007," "Super Mario," and "Yoshi's World." Even now, whenever there are big group get-togethers, someone always brings a "Wii" or "XBOX" and the craziness ensues.

It was not until my high school years that I began to associate the computer with school work. In high school, we did a lot of work on the computer using Microsoft Word or other office applications. Obviously, as a college student, Microsoft Office and Power Point are still used quite frequently. Nearly every class I have taken at Towson has required the use of Power Point to present information to the class.

Most of the other technologies I use now are probably the same as everyone else my age. I watch tv whenever I am not doing school work. Usually, I find myself listening to the televsion and looking at my laptop's screen. I use the laptop all of the time. I use it for school work and the internet (mainly facebook and email). I use my cell phone constantly, for the internet, text messaging, but rarely phone conversations, except for with my friends who do not like text messaging. Those are usually the people I know over the age of 27. I am also attached to my i-pod, especially during school because there is no way I could survive my commute without music while I drive. I think my main usage of technology is to communicate. The internet, my cell phone, and my car are essential to me.

Technology is absolutely essential to my life. I cannot imagine my life without it, mainly because I cannot imagine going through the day without talking to one of my friends via Facebook or text message.

My Experience with Technology in the Classroom

I have both positive and negative experiences with technology. But the class in which I have used the most technology since I have been in college had to be my SPED class. In this class we used powerpoints, dvds, internet and the projector and projection screen every class. The notes and even comments we made were given on the powerpoints. If it had not been for the powerpoints, the small white board in the class would have been filled with notes and the lectures would have taken much longer. The powerpoints were effective in which they had just enough, or just very little on each slide for us to understand and still pay attention. Powerpoints are used in most classes but not every teacher uses them everyday. Many students had their laptops in the classroom, taking notes as the slides were being introduced. In all, the use of technology in the classroom is very effective as long as it stimulates learning and not hinder it.

technology in the classroom

I’ve had both positive and negative experiences with technology in the classroom.

On the positive side, I enrolled in a hybrid course at AACC that met once a week on campus with the majority of the instruction and discussion done online using the college’s proprietary version of BlackBoard. The professor understood how to use the online and on-campus portions of the course and tailored each section to its strength. Lectures and other tedium were handled online, where we could easily view and study the material at our leisure. Each week a question or discussion topic was posted by the professor and everyone was expected to respond to both it as well as other student’s responses. The limited classroom time was utilized for face to face discussions and activities to enhance what was covered in the online readings and discussions. Because of its hybrid nature, we were still grouped together as a class, but school and hence the learning no longer ended as we left the building. Technology enriched the course and made it more engaging and informative.

On the negative side, reliance on technology can also hurt. For whatever reason, it was decided by the powers that be that Algebra II in my high school should be taught with and through use of graphing calculators and not through hand calculations. Without seeing how the calculators arrived at their answers for variables and without seeing how graphs were generated, matrices filled, and more it was hard, for me at least, to learn what and how to do. I've always learned best through writing and repetition to cement information and techniques into my memory, and removing the work of the calculations hurt my understanding and retention of the subject.

So I see technology as a double-edged sword. In some cases, properly used, it can enrich and enhance a class. In other cases, it can be a distraction, unnecessary complication, or oversimplify material to the point that retention and learning are harmed, not helped. Everything in moderation...

Technology in the Classroom

A time were technology helped me learn in the classroom was in my in English 102 class. We had to login on to blackboard to turn in our homework, writing assignments and respond to our classmates writing assignments (received participation points for blogging). This was new to me at the time; never had heard of it before and I thought it was very convenient. The teacher had no excuse for losing your assignment and as a student; you were able to check your grade at anytime, to see your progress in the class. Another thing was that through blackboard we were able to actually do our homework online and just “click submit”. There was a link in the course documents that went to the page where our homework assignments were at. I really like this website (for some reason I can’t think of the name) but it was very helpful to improving your grammar skills. It allowed you to read up on a certain grammar skills and then you did the assignment. After doing that, you received your results and it explained why it was the answer. I just loved it because that’s where I had trouble at. I thought this was a good way to integrate technology to improve learning, because most of the time students are always on the computer and internet. So it made it easier for students to do the work. But at the same time a distraction because you could see yourself bouncing back and forth, between your assignment and some other activity on the internet. Nevertheless, I really thought it was of benefit to all in the class, especially those who struggle with grammar skills, participating in class and turning in assignments.