I feel that using “Web 2.0” in the classroom leads to students being more involved and excited about projects and class assignments. Using wiki’s in the classroom can also create better writers which in today’s society is a good thing. Students are already absorbed in technology and by incorporating it into the classroom they can become better students.
I look forward to using more of the things that are on the web in my lessons. It will be a gradual process but one that will benefit all involved. Because “Teaching and Learning in the 21st Century” is heading in the direction of more technology and more hands on experiences than in the past.
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Thing 4
The biggest change in education today is that we are now educating for a global market rather than for a local market. Children today encounter people from around the world more easily than when I was a child. I remember having to lug books out of the library to do a research project on another country or looking in the World Book Encyclopedia. Now students with just a few clicks of the keyboard are able to access a wealth of knowledge on every country. Students are even able to talk with people around the world.
In the Did you know video I found it amazing the amount of hours that 21 year olds have watched TV, played video games, talked on the phone, and the amount of emails and IM’s they have sent. Was I surprised in those numbers? Not really. I think we all know that the kids we face in the classroom are easily racking up those numbers as well. Gone are the days of going outside to play with your friends in the neighborhood. Today, kids are able to play video games against people all over the world via the internet.
In the classroom, things have changed but they have also stayed the same. Students are still sitting in desks in rows listening to teachers lecture. Students are still expected to be quiet in the rooms and to not get up and move around. Students are still being assigned homework just for the sake of giving homework. The comparisons from today’s classroom and yesterday’s classroom can go on and on.
I think the challenge for teachers is how are we going to start moving away from what has been expected in the classroom for so long to what children are expected to do in the classroom today. Hopefully this 23 Things course can help move us in that direction.
In the Did you know video I found it amazing the amount of hours that 21 year olds have watched TV, played video games, talked on the phone, and the amount of emails and IM’s they have sent. Was I surprised in those numbers? Not really. I think we all know that the kids we face in the classroom are easily racking up those numbers as well. Gone are the days of going outside to play with your friends in the neighborhood. Today, kids are able to play video games against people all over the world via the internet.
In the classroom, things have changed but they have also stayed the same. Students are still sitting in desks in rows listening to teachers lecture. Students are still expected to be quiet in the rooms and to not get up and move around. Students are still being assigned homework just for the sake of giving homework. The comparisons from today’s classroom and yesterday’s classroom can go on and on.
I think the challenge for teachers is how are we going to start moving away from what has been expected in the classroom for so long to what children are expected to do in the classroom today. Hopefully this 23 Things course can help move us in that direction.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Thing 3
I have been blogging since June 2008 and really enjoy it. Even though I don’t get onto my blog on a daily basis to add something new, I do find myself wondering what will be added next. This blog is based around my family. It is mainly for my friends and relatives to view that aren’t around to see my kids grow up. I have blogged about injuries to new jobs to the first day of school. This blog gives those family members and friends who live far away a chance to see what is going on in our lives.
How does it feel to share my thoughts publicly? Well, like I said before I enjoy it. I know that I can’t always make that phone call or email to people to let them know what is going but I can always take a few minutes to jump on the computer and type up a few sentences or download a couple pictures. This way I am hitting a larger number of people that I can’t reach otherwise.
I do have fears when it comes to blogging just like anything else. I worry who actually is looking at the blog. I know I can’t control every aspect of life but the thought does on occasion creep into mind “who is really out there”.
Now as a teacher I do understand and appreciate the concept of blogging even more. I know that working in education that kids love technology. That is what they know. They have grown up with computers in their homes and schools. I feel it is time to start embracing this technology and look forward to ways in which I can bring the world of blogging into my classroom.
How does it feel to share my thoughts publicly? Well, like I said before I enjoy it. I know that I can’t always make that phone call or email to people to let them know what is going but I can always take a few minutes to jump on the computer and type up a few sentences or download a couple pictures. This way I am hitting a larger number of people that I can’t reach otherwise.
I do have fears when it comes to blogging just like anything else. I worry who actually is looking at the blog. I know I can’t control every aspect of life but the thought does on occasion creep into mind “who is really out there”.
Now as a teacher I do understand and appreciate the concept of blogging even more. I know that working in education that kids love technology. That is what they know. They have grown up with computers in their homes and schools. I feel it is time to start embracing this technology and look forward to ways in which I can bring the world of blogging into my classroom.
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