Final Thoughts and Reflections

             

As a future art teacher I have learned a variety of strategies and tools through my experience and involvement within this course.  Integrating Technology across Curriculum has taught me how to incorporate a range of technology uses within my content area.  I’ve learned that I can include social media devices throughout my lessons in order to display student’s work, while creating a place for them to interact with myself, other students, and the community.  Throughout my experience in this course I have learned a variety of teaching strategies and technology based interactive activities, in which I will use as a future teacher.  Some interactive activities, in which I have learned to use, and will use are, white board activities, blog pages, podcasting etc.  With these advanced learning resources and information, I can create an environment that is not simply confined by the walls of a classroom, but a place that allows for creative expression and encourages real world knowledge.

Respons to: Listening to Themselves: Podcasting Takes Lessons Beyond the Classroom

            

                   The article “Listening to Themselves: Podcasting Takes Lessons Beyond the Classroom” by Maya Payne Smart is based upon the benefits and uses of students learning and using technological devices such as podcast.  Through integrating such technology, like podcasting to the classroom this helps to engage and motivate students, as well as help them to connect to the world beyond the confines of the classroom walls.

             For example the article speaks about a teacher from Tovashal Elementary School named Coley.  Coley uses podcasting and has created a class website for students to upload their work, communicate with each other, and to research educational information.  Through creating this class website in which allows for students to communicate and share their work motivates them, due to the fact that their audience is not just contained to the their fellow students, but their audience becomes global.  Coley also mentions that he shows his students how often their class website is viewed and how many views stay such positive things about their work.  With such positive feedback form people all over the world, this motivates the students to do their best work. 

            “When technology is used educationally, podcasts can empower students and teachers to become content producers rather than content consumers, and they can give them audiences beyond the classroom.” says, Smart.  Through student created podcasts they not only get to listen to themselves but, they become more aware of their performance, and what they are trying to convey.  Student created podcasts also reinforce course concepts, develop writing skills, hone speaking ability, and even help parents stay current on classroom activities.

Social Media Find Place In Classroom

The article “Social media find a place in classroom” written by Greg Toppo, posted in USA Today, focuses upon the integration of social media within the classroom.  The article touches upon topics such as, the benefits and fears of utilizing social media devices and networking tools and how effective they are in correlation to student learning. 

It is becoming quite common that many educators, schools and communities are promoting the use of social media in the classroom.  One of many educators, in which support and promote these ideas, is principal of New Milford New Jersey, Eric Sheninger.  Principal Sheninger introduced the use of the social networking tool, Facebook to his school in order for him and his teachers to communicate with students and parents.  He allows students to access sites such as Facebook for education and appropriate promotional use.  He even updated the schools web page by replacing the old web page with a school Facebook page.  Principal Sheninger, his teachers, parents and students utilize the school Facebook page more than ever.  This personalized school Facebook page created a place for the students to comment on current events, display their personal work and communicate with the educational community. 

“Being literate in 2011 means being digitally literate,” says Chris Lehnmann.  Rather than banding mobile devices such as, cellular devices, the principal also encourages students to power up their cell phones, in which he refers to as “mobile learning devices” to respond to classroom poles and quizzes.  Like many others, principal Sheninger believes that through incorporating social media devices in a productive educational manner allows for students to learn beyond the confines of school.  He expresses that by using such tools pushes kids to create higher quality work, and pay attention to important issues such as audience, quality research and copyright laws.

Although, there are many benefits in incorporating social media within the classroom, there are still many fears in conjunction with this idea.  One of the largest objections to this idea, is that the use of these social sites will create a negative impact on kids if they are able to access and encounter irrelevant or offensive material.    Many feel that this particular fear is commonly blown out of proportion, due to the fact that kids can access such offensive sites at outside of school.  Although there is no stopping or completely controlling what kids are viewing on the internet, parents and educations can guide and navigate students to use social media in a positive and productive way.  Teachers can do so by focusing on advertising, sharing and discussing meaningful work done with social media.  With the write tools and guidance we can provide more and more learning tools and expand beyond the horizon of traditional classroom learning. 

Technology Autobiography

Throughout my life technology has played a tremendous role in my life and I don’t know where I would stand without it.  When reflecting upon just a few out of many technologies that have made an impact in my life and my future, specific technologies such as cellular phones, computers and the internet come to mind.   

Cell phones are a technology that is significant in the lives of almost all people.  They help people communicate around the world, as well as down the road to the local pizza delivery service.  Like, a majority of the world cell phones play a role in my everyday life.  I use my phone to communicate to friends, family, peers, my job etc.  I also turn to my phone to use the internet when I am unable to access a computer.  Although, cell phones have various useful applications, the most useful thing they have done for me is save me from dangerous situations.  Throughout my life my car has broken down, I have been in car accidents, I have also witnessed dangerous events etc.  All of these not so positive experiences could have been a lot worse if I did not have a cell phone that allowed me to contact the authorities, AAA, as well as friends and family for help. 

Like cell phones, another technology that has impacted my life in a major way is computers.   While growing up I did not have a great interest in computers or many technological devices for that matter.  Although I had access to computers at home, school, and in my community I was always drawn to art and hands on activities.  I can remember being intimidated by computers at times, because somehow had a preconceived notion that they were just too scientific and mathematical for me to comprehend, and those were subject areas in which I struggled with throughout all of my education.  I am not completely sure as to why I had such feelings about computers, especially when my father is a computer scientist. 

On the other hand I lived with my mother who was a teacher for thirty years, and although she was in a field of education in which technological advancements are constantly made and encouraged; she didn’t have a strong passion for learning new technology.  With my mother’s lack of interest in becoming educated with technology such as computers, this reflected upon her children and her career.  In my household I was not informed of all the positive benefits that computers bring, most likely because my mother didn’t have much interest in learning the benefits of computers.  Later on my mother retired early for more reasons than one, but I can remember her saying one thing I will never forget.  She said to me, “ I just feel that technology has taken over my job and I don’t even know how to use it.” She felt that technological advancements were taking away from her teaching strategies that she had used throughout her entire career and that it was unfair. 

 Although, the use of computers at home was not strongly emphasized, my peers were all up to date with all types of technology, especially social networking devices; but I still felt that computers were somewhat unnecessary in my life.  I wasn’t until I graduated high school and enrolled into community college, when I started to gain a strong and comfortable relationship with computers.  This comfort probably developed due to the fact that I had to do a large amount of research for all of my classes, in turn computers and the internet became useful tools in my life.

Throughout, my college career and life, the internet became more than just a useful tool for research for me; it became a world of unlimited possibilities.  I became interested in social networking devices, such as Facebook in order to connect with distant family, friends and acquaintances.  I now rely on the internet to pay a majority of my bills, send emails, make purchases, etc.  Although, the internet provides me with unlimited possibilities, one of the most important things it has helped me with is my future as an art teacher.  As a future art teacher I have learned many useful knowledge and tools in college.  One of the most important things I have learned how to do is develop my own personal website.  My website consists of my professional art teaching portfolio.  My website is comprised of various examples of lesson plans, teaching strategies, my artist statement, my resume, mini multicultural activities, and my personal art work.  I know that this website will benefit me and help me in numerous ways by increasing my chance of getting a job as an art teacher, developing as an artist, as well as selling my artwork.  Without my exposure to the internet and learning how to create a website in Google sites, none of this would be possible. 

Over all, these three technologies are highly prevalent in my life and in the lives of others.  I have come along way in regards to adapting and embracing technological advancements throughout my life, education, career and future.  As a future educator I recognized the role technology has played in my life and it is something I plan to encourage and share with my students.  I also know that I will never stop learning and I have the will enhance and expand my knowledge upon the ever changing and developing technologies in order to benefit my students, family, friends, and myself. 

Response to: National Education Technology Plan Puts Technology at the Heart of Education Reform

In an article provided by The Journal author David Nagel focuses upon the release of the final version of the Obama administration’s National Education Technology Plan (NETP). This plan was released by United States secretary of education, Arne Duncan. Essentially this is a federal policy statement that puts technology at the heart of proposed changes to the way education is delivered in the United States.

In a previous draft of the NETP, revealed in March of 2010, suggestions were made in regards to proposed fundamental changes to classroom instructions. These changes consisted of incorporating business like practices within the classroom, as well as extending learning through implementing longer school sessions and creating more access to internet based learning.

With the release of the newest NETP revisions have been made, but this plan does support a majority of the 2010 draft proposals. The NETP is now calling for the integration and application of advanced technologies in which are used in our daily lives.  It is believed that this method will improve student learning, increase the adoption of effective practices, and be useful for collecting data and information for continuous improvement. It presents five goals with recommendations for states, districts, the federal government, and other stakeholders. Each goal addresses on of the five essential components of learning powered by technology: learning, assessment, teaching, infrastructure, and productivity .

Accompanying the NETP, Arne Duncan stated his support of these ideas in an open released statement.  Duncan stated that throughout the past 15 years technological advancements and transformations have occurred world wide.  Agreeing that such technological advancements have taken place, Duncan feels that teachers have not advanced enough or not keeping up, along side with technology development.  He also states that educators need to be professionally developed and well connected to the content and resources available in order to effectively teach to all students.

I completely agree that the delivery of education must adapt and improve along side with technological advancements. I also feel that professional educators must also adapt and grow with the ever changing advancements in technology as well.  Children are so exposed to technology everyday without the help of schools providing it, so how are teachers that are unwilling to learn supposed to properly educated students at an up to date pace.  If Category 5 Teaching of the NETP goals are to support educators individually and in teams by technology that connects them to data, content, resources, expertise, and learning experiences that can empower and inspire them to provide more effective teaching for all learners, I don’t see any problem.  As educators we help students to learn and develop, how can we have such expectations for students if we are not willing to learn and develop ourselves.

Respons to: In Classroom of Future, Stagnant Scores

In Sunday’s New York Times, Matt Richtel wrote an article entitled, In Classrooms of the Future, Stagnant Scores.  The article is comprised of various issues, in which have many educators highly concerned when it comes to evaluating the value of technology in the classroom.   While the utilization of technology within the classroom can be highly productive and conducive to learning, there is a fine line between excessive use of technology and necessary use of technology.  In some cases the excessive use of technology can take away from the traditional nature of the classroom setting and learning experience.  Shortly into the article Richtel mentions,

The digital push here aims to go far beyond gadgets to transform the very nature of the classroom, turning the teacher into a guide instead of a lecturer, wandering among students who learn at their own pace on Internet-connected devices.

Throughout the article, Richtel focuses upon one particular school district located in Arizona, the Kyrene School District. The school district consist of about 18,000 students, in which they are provided with various forms of technology, such as laptops, interactive whiteboards and software that essentially drill students in each subject area. 

 Over time many concerns have been brought forth about the vast use of technology in which this particular district seems to praise.  Many questions and concerns about the amount of technological use quite possibly began in 2005 when the approval of a costly investment of $33 million dollars in technology upgrades was passed for this district.

 One of many concerns in regards to this overwhelmingly large investment, brought to you by the pockets of taxpayers, is that little to no improvement has been evident in students test scores.  Failure to provide evidence that the integration of technology is beneficial in improving student’s test scores insinuates that the school district has made a costly mistake.  This mistake also raises questions about the real motives behind such a large investment. 

 While I am sure that the Kyrene School District has the best interest in their students, it is quite possible that the district has lost sight of what is really important; that is student learning and not student scoring, but people so quickly confuses standards with standardized test scores. 

Although, the large investment that the Kyrene School District decided to make showed little to no improvement in student test scores, this does not mean that technology is no longer beneficial within the classroom.  What is important in regards to the use of technology, besides how it helps students develop different ways of learning, is the way in which we use the technology and the role that it plays in the classroom. Richtel writes:

Advocates of high-tech classrooms say computers are not intended to replace teachers. But they do see a fundamental change in the teacher’s role. Their often-cited mantra is that teachers should go from being “a sage on the stage to a guide on the side.”  And they say that, technology issues aside, class sizes can in fact afford to grow without hurting student performance.

As a student and a future Art Teacher I am befuddled by this statement.  I am confused because I am working towards a specific goal, becoming an Art Teacher. I work hard while learning and paying for an education that will help to prepare me to become a teacher not to play any other role or “guide on the side”.  In the article it is said that the while Kyrene School District technology spending increased the rest of the district’s budget shrunk, leading to larger classes and fewer periods of music, art and physical education.  This alarms me because the elimination of these important subjects also brings forth the elimination of good quality teachers.  Technology is highly beneficial and incising, but placed alongside poor teachers and an ever changing curriculum, this will not change student learning in a positive way.