Reflection of current activities!

      Before I had started this class I used to think about being an elementary school teacher and what I would have to do. Yes, I thought about technology, but I never actually realized how much technology has integrated itself into schools, even in elementary schools. I learned what padlet is and I love the idea of the creativity in it and allowing the children the free rein but also being supervised. Blogs can also be used as a good idea to get all the classmate’s ideas together. I never would have even thought about that. If I had to pick my greatest challenge in integrating technology into the classroom, I think it would have to be getting the kids in elementary to pay attention. Kids that age tend to get excited especially when it comes to technology. Some parents may not let them use technology that much or when they get to do something different then their normal routine they tend to get excited because its different and that is something they enjoy. So, getting everyone to calm down and listen to instructions and keep them focused throughout the assignment, I think that will be the most challenging part of adding technology to the classroom. I think that if you keep a firm tone and your kids respect you, then it might be okay. You just need to make sure that they know you won’t back down and I think it may be best to go over the rules one more time before you do. Explain to them that if they listen to the explanations and understand the assignment then they can get to their work and use their technology. Kids seem to enjoy that more if they know they have their reward coming up. As long as you work with the children and they respect you and the way you teach and you teach them in a way they all understand, I think that you can get very far in the minds of the children.

Assistive Technology...

     Assistive technology is a device or an equipment that can help a person with disabilities learn and communicate better. It helps them by working with and sometimes around their challenges while helping them using their strengths. Even though it says technology, it doesn’t mean that it is just technology. It can be simple adaptive tools like highlighters and flash cards or it can be high tech tools like text-to-speech software or any software that can help them online. There is going to be students in your class that have a learning disability, whether it be slight or noticeable. You need to be able to look out for these things. Some students may be able to use high lighter to label their work so they know what goes where and they can see the colors and know, some students however, like students that dyslexia, some need to use the text to speech software because it is hard for them to read and understand. However, you will always have the slight issue of some of your students not needing the assistive technology help and they might see other students using it and want to use it as well. Especially at a young age, kids get very jealous and want to do the things that other people do. They tend to yell out “that’s not fair” because they simply just don’t understand. I think this is the chance to take time to explain why. I think you should take time in your class to explain about the differences in people and how everyone needs help. You should probably ask their parents before you do this though, I defiantly recommend this because some parents feel as though it is their place to take care of it. So just remember, sometimes you must take the time out and change your plans to fit certain criteria or something that comes up. If you have questions of it being acceptable to certain parents, I recommend calling them or emailing them to ask. There is nothing wrong with that.

Blogs and/or wikis?

     I personally have never used blogs or wikis in my personal life. I used to want to start a blog, but I never got around to doing it, however I do think it is a great way to get all your thoughts and ideas out there. I have never actually heard of wiki before this class. It is where they gather all the content and the structure from the browser. Kind of like the Wikipedia. You could use the Wiki in school if you had to do some quick research. Blogs can be used in school to jot down the classmate’s ideas. You can either start a blog and have the kids add their ideas in to it and make it a group collaboration or you could let each kid write their own blog and make it their own personal blogs. It would be their own special ideas. I recently learned what a padlet is. I really enjoyed this website and I think that it would be great for students to read and learn. You decorate it to your own style and put your own question on there. Then the other kids in the classroom go to your padlet and answer your question. They can either put their name on there after they answer it or they can leave it anonymous. It is their choice. So, say you are teaching a specific subject, you can start the subject by saying think of one question you have about this subject and make it your question. Then you can either have them answer it then and then later that day or the next, go through and look at them as class and see if they can answer them or you could go through out the whole semester and every now and then make it a homework assignment to go through and look and see if you can answer one of the questions. Then when the time comes for a big test, that could be your review is going through and answering them. I think if you use one of those three at least, it would be a great way to improve writing. At least those are the ways or some of them at least, that I would use those three tools.

My view of technology integration in a Classroom...

      I believe technology today should be integrated into the classroom. Technology is a major thing that everyone knows how to use. Sometimes even the children will know how to use the technology better than their own teacher. I believe though it should be a bring your own technology kind of thing or more commonly known as BYOT. You don’t want to give out your personal technology to use and rely on the other children to take care of it, because if something does happen to it, then it will be your responsibility. My sisters high school gave every kid a laptop that can be used as a table. They had to sign the paper saying it was registered to them and that if they messed it up then they would pay for it. Then everything became technology base. Most of the time the teachers used the laptops to do lesson plans or have them do their assignments in the school on it. Then they went home and did their homework on it. They turned the laptops in at the end of the year for inspection. I like this idea; however, I think that there is a lot of money involved for the school who may not be able to afford it. I think that it should a BYOT thing. Unless the some of the kids can’t afford that, then they need to be held to the side in private without making a big deal so they won’t feel embarrassed and see what you can do to help them. There needs to be a set number of rules to that the children will know and that they can easily follow. Like make sure their own technology is charged and only have them out when you give them permission. Therefore, I completely agree with technology being integrated into the classroom.