What Do I Now Know About Integrating Technology?

According to Webster, technology is the study, development, and application of devices, machines and techniques for manufacturing and productive processes. When hearing this definition, one may assume that technology is not a necessity, nor beneficial to the classroom experience. On the contrary, technology has the ability to enhance the classroom tremendously in a variety of ways. Technology is a phenomenal tool to enhance the classroom experience, as well as engage a vast amount of learners. However, technology is only as useful as a teacher makes it. Teachers have the ability to provide students with a different type of learning through the use of technology; rather than simply being the provider of information, students are able to retain information from a variety of sources when using technology. The interactivity provided by technology no longer limits students to a textbook. Various types of technology can be used in the classroom to enhance the learning experience of students. Software such as Inspiration can help students improve their organizational skills of various sources of information, as well as aid in the writing process. Virtual Reality Software allows students to see places and things that would have not been possible without the use of technology. Integrating technology into the classroom makes an active learning environment possible, where students are involved in hands-on activities such as stimulation, research, building, and development. The SMARTboard and other software allow students to take control of their learning, stimulating students' interest in their own knowledge. Instructional methods also engage students in meaning for them, making students want to participate in learning.

What do I think about using visual thinking software in the classroom? What about the SMARTboard? What will it do for the student and me?

Visual thinking softwares, such as KIDspiration and Inspiration provide great tools that can help students tremendously in the classroom. These programs incorporate hearing, seeing and feeling types of thinking for various learners. They are great for meeting the needs of several types of learners, as they help students focus on relevant information. Software such as inspiration leads to gathering information in an easily understood format. In gathering data and visually representing ideas, visual thinking software creates a clear and easy to use format for organizing information. Concept maps help students break down concepts into individual components, allowing them to see relationships through connections among pieces of information. The SMARTboard is also a phenomenal tool in engaging students in a hands-on experience. Using technology such as SMARTboard is vital in the 21st century, and allows for a more interactive environment in the classroom. Teachers can benefit tremendously through visual thinking softwares in ready made templates. Templates offer a starting point to incorporate visual learning into the lesson. Organization is also an easier task for teachers through software such as Inspiration in templates to create lesson plans or substitute teacher guides. My eyes were opened to a world of possiblities through the use of visual thinking software. There are hundereds of templates to help guide the interactive classroom experience.

What Do I Think About Using GeoTools in the Classroom?

Geotools are a great new technology that bring a whole new life to mapping for the classroom. No longer are students confined to looking at a flat map in a textbook, or search an encyclopedia for an image of a location across the world. With geotools, students have the capability of visiting the places they learn about and see a 3-D perspective of the location. Geotools are beneficial no only for an entertaining or interactive activity in the classroom, but they are also great for visual and spatial learners. Many think that tools such as google earth can only be used in classes such as Geography. However, these programs can be used to teach a History lesson, in order to take students around the globe to the areas being studied, Science can be integrated in studying space, Math classes could make use of this tool in finding measurements, and other technology courses could use these tools to bring other multimedia into the presentation with the display of pictures or videos. The interest level of students in using geotools will be much greater, as they participate in finding locations, rather than reading them in a book. Many students will also grasp a better understanding when using geotools through viewing locations on an interactive level. As an English teacher, I may use tools such as google earth to allow students to put together a trip based on a voyage characters are taking in a story. For example, if the students were reading a book about characters migrating across the country, taking various stops along the way, the students may put together a folder on google earth displaying each location in which they stopped. They may also have to include pictures displaying the cultures of each location. Geotools have brought a new level of technology into the classroom, for, field trips can now be taken on the computer screen at the cost of nothing.

"For me, writing is exploration; and most of the time, I'm surprised where the journey takes me." Jack Dann

How can Technology Help me Improve my Teaching Practice?

Technology is a great way to extend the classroom beyond the four walls through innovative learning experiences. Communication through technology is a useful way to keep students, as well as parents connected to the class. Discussion boards and e-mail, for example, allow students to read one anothers' ideas, as well as add their own opinions. Other than chat tools, researching provides ways to participate in projects and research beyond what is being studied in class, if used appropriately with evaluation techiques. After researching is used to extend knowledge, technoogy also can be used to creatively organize the tools available, such as drawing tools, powerpoint and image editing software.

Slideshow on To Kill a Mockingbird

What am I learning and feeling about what we are learning in this class?

I feel this class will be extremely helpful in my success as a good teacher. Innovating as many different methods into the classroom as possible will only help to meet the needs of all types of learners. I have found the topics we have learned so far in this course are very helpful. I felt as if I was very familiar with Microsoft Word, however, it was great to learn the multiple things that I can do to use word and stay organized in the classroom. I have also found that the course wiki is a great way for the class to interact with one another and helps bring the classroom to the students' home. I think the course wiki is a great tool to use and I feel like I may be able to also integrate it into my classroom someday. My eyes have been open to several methods of teaching that could involve technology, rather than simply lecturing to students. For example, when making the slideshows, I chose to create one on the popular novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. Since this novel is such a popular piece in the high school setting, I thought it would be neat to create a slideshow displaying the characters, setting, and other parts of the story. This would be a great way to allow the students to connect to the story, rather than hearing a teacher simply discuss the novel. I have bean able to learn a lot about integrating technology in various ways, and found the importance of creating a good learning environment for students. I believe this class will be extremely beneficial in the future, and I am eager to learn more about various types of technology that I am currently unfamiliar with.