I'll start by saying that I'm pretty excited for Teaching with Technology. Today's class was a little overwhelming, with terms like Webinar and podcasting flying around. My current use of technology pretty much starts and ends with stalking people on Facebook, though I did use Final Cut Pro and iMovie extensively in high school (which feels like a long time ago). When Kristin and Jeff started explaining why they feel it is important for us to integrate technology into our teaching, I began to realize that there are lots of cool possibilities out there. I can clearly see the opportunities that new technology tools can provide for both teachers and students alike, provided we make good use of them. (I am particularly interested in exploring the controversial topic of using cell phones as tools in the classroom...thoughts???)
What intimidates me the most about technology is how quickly it progresses, how easy it is to fall behind. I've never been one to blog, or Twitter, but I am definitely starting to see how these tools can serve to enhance a student's learning experience. Since teenagers are so heavily involved with the internet, Facebook, cell phones, MySpace and Twitter accounts... why not meet them where they are at? As future teachers, we need to utilize all the resources available to us, so that we can provide student's with ways to be expressive, creative, and unique.
I am new to blogging, and am a little (ok, very) uncomfortable with the fact that everyone will be able to read what I blog about... I feel like a big dork. But, I hope to use this as a way to mark my progress, and will hopefully be able to look back and see how far I've come. So, be nice, fellow SMACers. :)
Your observation about a blog being a public place (at least, for the colleagues in your class) is an important one. How much do we want our students to divulge online? How public is a tech-savvy life?
ReplyDeletePS - Jealous that you used Final Cut Pro. Have been wanting to use it for years!
You know, I was commenting on the fact that I've only been out of college for about 5 years and I can already see how much schools have moved toward technology. None of my professors posted readings, assignments or lecture notes online. And forget about taking notes on a laptop. Who even had a laptop in college? You touched on what will be the true challenge...staying abreast of the new technologies and successfully incorportating them into the classroom. It seems a bit overwhelming at first, but I'm excited and ready to give it a shot.
ReplyDeleteI share your concerns about having every word we write in the public domain. But the benefits far outweigh the risks. The idea that we can reach parents, students, peers, anyone interested, with a click is pretty dang exciting.
ReplyDeleteHillary, I'm so happy to see that, as a world languages teacher, you're intrigued by the possibilities of cell phones as learning tools. In the fall we'll meet Liz Kolb, who is a really knowledgeable person in this connection. I serve as her wingman on a podcast about the topic of cell phones as tools for enhancing student learning, and some of our best shows have been with language teachers who, among other things, need to be able to hear ALL of their students speak. Kristin is a major expert on podcasting, so she'll be a great resource in helping you attain some of the possibilities described in this podcast interview with Spanish teacher Ariana Leonard...check it out when you have a minute.
ReplyDeleteHi, Hillary! I agree, there are so many different tech outlets available and new ones pop up every day. Trying to stay up to speed could easily be its own full-time job, so the idea of trying to stay current while teaching seems a bit overwhelming.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, I am really glad that we have this opportunity to gain exposure to some of these new tools so that we can determine how to make them work for our needs and our own classrooms. When we look at tech as a tool that can be used as much (or as little) as we want to help us teach instead of dictating what we teach, I think the concept seems a lot more manageable.
Hello Hillary,
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about feeling a little exposed, since everyone can read what one writes. Also, you anticipated my thoughts exactly when you mention having concern about falling behind technologically. I am glad my skills will be brought up-to-date by this class, and I believe that they will. I learned web design (what limited amount I have done) on my own. Nice not to be going it alone here. I agree with Rebecca, and will add my two cents to the spirit of what she said: we can clearly have a positive, unpressured outlook with regard to tech in the classroom in that we can look at these technological tools and platforms as resources to help us, not impositions or mandates to burden or control us.
Best,
Monte
Hillary,
ReplyDeleteIn college I had a creative writing professor whose motto was "meet the writer halfway". I feel like your motto for using technology with high schoolers is the same-even though we don't understand technology (I'm slowly learning how to make comments on blogs), even though we wouldn't necessarily use it outside of class (or even inside of class) if it wasn't for our students, we'll integrate it because it is so much a part of their culture, their lives. And it's becoming less and less diffult to meet them halfway-I'm actually starting to like this blogging thing!
Danielle
Hillary,
ReplyDeleteI'm so very glad that you started this blog by admitting to being a facebook stalker, acceptance is the first step to recovery (but who are we kidding, no one recovers from being a fb stalker, it's too much fun)
I was also overwhelmed during class, at least it wasn't as bad as the presentation we had on technology requirements, I still don't know what camera to buy or what we will be uploading, or even where we will be uploading these mysterious upload-able things to!
I think we are on the page for this class, maybe a little unsure of our technological skills but excited to learn.