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.