This blog contains all the information you need to successfully complete EDCI 271: Classroom Applications of Educational Technology. This will be a hybrid course which means part of the time we will meet face to face, and the rest of the time we will meet in hyperspace! This will help you understand how technology can be used to teach and learn. You will be able to discuss more knowledgably about the pros and cons of distance education after having this experience.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
More thoughts about Cases
There wasn't a ton of time on Thursday to complete our discussions of the two cases. Did anyone have anything they would like added to that discussion about the two VERY different ways that teachers teach with the internet?
Technology is a great way of a new learning style when being taught the correct way. A student does not learn the information being taught when the teacher is giving them step by step information and filling in the blanks on a piece of paper. Instead they need to be able to look up the information themselves and have fun with whatever the topic may be.
Students thrive when we trust them to explore on their own. Of course, we need to monitor their searches to a point, but to tell them directly where to go and what to find defeats the process of research. I know that I have fun searching in the internet. Why steal that joy just to complete an assignment? I agree with sarak, let them have fun with the topic.
I agree that we should let the students search freely on the internet to a point, however, it depends on the grade you are teaching. I'm sure children in the earlier grades would have a lot of trouble researching and may get frustrated on where to go, that't why for them I would definitly show them where to search, just let them find the answer on their own.
I agree with all comments mentioned above! Yet, I think something special about being a teacher is being able to give students the gift of not just knowledge, but wisdom. If you give a student a little piece of paper with two or three sites on it, what benefit, what learning experience does he or she derive from it? How much more meaningful would it become if you teach them how to search for something and to find articles or information appropriate for it. That is another learning process that allows them to take learning to a new and deeper level. Application, yes, and evaluation.
I think that it depends on the grade level and how much experience you've given your class to search freely on their own. If it's 2nd grade and you've never had the children do an activity where they search for answers on a website, then I would definitely give them a list of a few sites. But if the children are older and you know they've had experience with this type of activity before, then I don't see why they couldn't search for themselves for sites from which to gather information. However, it would still be a good idea to guide them to a kid-friendly search engine for their free searching =)
I think the other case study was more effective in using technology though. I thought the activity sounded like fun! I would have loved to do something like that when I was that age. It was awesome how the students had freedom to search for information on their own using a kid-friendly site. They also had the freedom to choose to they'd represent their information. And the fact that they had to choose someone in modern life that represented the god they chose was fabulous because they could relate the two and really make the connection to remember traits about their chosen Greek god.
I really liked the use of technology is case #2. She let her students do their own research using a kid-friendly search engine and then guided them in what sites where appropriate to use for the topic being discussed. This allowed the children to become more familiar with the computer and it also put responsibility on them in deciding to stay on task and use only the search engine given. The main thing that I really liked in this case is how a lot of choice was given to the students. It is important for them to be able to express themselves in their own way.
Technology incorporated into the classroom can be engaging and enhance all the students in a variety of ways. The different uses of manipulatives that can be demonstrated to help instruct, clarify, and to help students to gain more knowlege is invaluable for their futures. With proper supervision, along with choices and clear instructions, students will be able to thrive and grow. They need this to make clear informed choices in their future studies or in their careers. The need to have a sense of freedom, encourage their self esteem, and to be able to communicate with other students for their opinions. This helps to build community within the classroom and outside the arena of just book learning with the handouts to complete and homework that can become boring. The use of technology, with guidance can help prevent some behavioral bordedom problems that could arise. Technology is a wonderful tool if utilized in an appropriate and engaging manner. An example would be to use computers for virtual mathmatics. Taking apart geometric shapes to understand the angles, comparisions of congruent angles by placing them on top of one another. Even the taking the different shapes apart to make another thus involving imagination and creativity >to make a picture to print to take home. What an exciting concept to even use virtual technology in the sciences for outer space projects! Endless possibilities if we as future teachers make the time to creativly use the technology provided to us.
7 comments:
Technology is a great way of a new learning style when being taught the correct way. A student does not learn the information being taught when the teacher is giving them step by step information and filling in the blanks on a piece of paper. Instead they need to be able to look up the information themselves and have fun with whatever the topic may be.
Students thrive when we trust them to explore on their own. Of course, we need to monitor their searches to a point, but to tell them directly where to go and what to find defeats the process of research. I know that I have fun searching in the internet. Why steal that joy just to complete an assignment? I agree with sarak, let them have fun with the topic.
I agree that we should let the students search freely on the internet to a point, however, it depends on the grade you are teaching. I'm sure children in the earlier grades would have a lot of trouble researching and may get frustrated on where to go, that't why for them I would definitly show them where to search, just let them find the answer on their own.
I agree with all comments mentioned above! Yet, I think something special about being a teacher is being able to give students the gift of not just knowledge, but wisdom. If you give a student a little piece of paper with two or three sites on it, what benefit, what learning experience does he or she derive from it? How much more meaningful would it become if you teach them how to search for something and to find articles or information appropriate for it. That is another learning process that allows them to take learning to a new and deeper level. Application, yes, and evaluation.
I think that it depends on the grade level and how much experience you've given your class to search freely on their own. If it's 2nd grade and you've never had the children do an activity where they search for answers on a website, then I would definitely give them a list of a few sites. But if the children are older and you know they've had experience with this type of activity before, then I don't see why they couldn't search for themselves for sites from which to gather information. However, it would still be a good idea to guide them to a kid-friendly search engine for their free searching =)
I think the other case study was more effective in using technology though. I thought the activity sounded like fun! I would have loved to do something like that when I was that age. It was awesome how the students had freedom to search for information on their own using a kid-friendly site. They also had the freedom to choose to they'd represent their information. And the fact that they had to choose someone in modern life that represented the god they chose was fabulous because they could relate the two and really make the connection to remember traits about their chosen Greek god.
I really liked the use of technology is case #2. She let her students do their own research using a kid-friendly search engine and then guided them in what sites where appropriate to use for the topic being discussed. This allowed the children to become more familiar with the computer and it also put responsibility on them in deciding to stay on task and use only the search engine given. The main thing that I really liked in this case is how a lot of choice was given to the students. It is important for them to be able to express themselves in their own way.
Technology incorporated into the classroom can be engaging and enhance all the students in a variety of ways. The different uses of manipulatives that can be demonstrated to help instruct, clarify, and to help students to gain more knowlege is invaluable for their futures. With proper supervision, along with choices and clear instructions, students will be able to thrive and grow. They need this to make clear informed choices in their future studies or in their careers. The need to have a sense of freedom, encourage their self esteem, and to be able to communicate with other students for their opinions. This helps to build community within the classroom and outside the arena of just book learning with the handouts to complete and homework that can become boring. The use of technology, with guidance can help prevent some behavioral bordedom problems that could arise. Technology is a wonderful tool if utilized in an appropriate and engaging manner. An example would be to use computers for virtual mathmatics. Taking apart geometric shapes to understand the angles, comparisions of congruent angles by placing them on top of one another. Even the taking the different shapes apart to make another thus involving imagination and creativity >to make a picture to print to take home. What an exciting concept to even use virtual technology in the sciences for outer space projects! Endless possibilities if we as future teachers make the time to creativly use the technology provided to us.
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