Technology Moments with Marianne

“Going Global with Alan November”

I found this presentation by Alan November a bit dreary. He presented the problem, that our students are not globally competitive. He backed up his points with good reasons. He talked about the internet as opening up the door for any one to receive a top notch education no matter where they live. This puts Americans, who are used to being at the top, on a lower level. Yet it seemed very bleak to me. His solutions seemed very general. He talked about getting skype, podcasting and blogging.  I would have loved to hear specifics of how these tools could build up our classrooms.  In conclusion, I agree with November about the need to turn every classroom into a global communication room.

Are copyrights stifling creativity?

Mr. Lessing discussed the idea that certain copyrights are destructive to student creativity. I thought he was an excellent public speaker, although I didn’t like some of the examples of his work.  I thought his presentation was amazing and captivating.

 I agree that student can learn a lot from remixing and enhance their creativity. However, we are teaching children not to respect intellectual property. I think that the character education is more important then the creativity element in this situation.

I really loved this presentation by Clarence Fisher. It was not just a summary about Web 2.0, but rather a very insightful presentation on how web 2.0 affects our teaching and student learning. He discussed how Web 2.0 is changing and broadening the possibilities of what happens in the classroom. He also discussed why it is so important that we change the way we teach. I agree with everything that he said about the importance of collaboration and relationships. He used video to show us the rural, small town that he lives in, so the audience can understand just how collaborating with other students from across the country has significantly impacted his teaching.  He talked about how every classroom is a global communication network.  Finally, he wrapped up his presentation talking about how technology is all about connections. I really enjoyed his presentation because he really got me thinking about why we do what we do. It’s more then just using tools, but it is about knowledge and learning.

This presentation really amazed me. It showed low income kids coming up with wonderful videos about peer pressure and other social topics. The creativity of the kids was very inspiring. He also talked about blogging, and how it has really positively impacted these’ kids writing skills. I found this video to be very inspiring and uplifting, that technology can have so much impact and make a such a difference in the lives of these less fortunate students.

Last week in class we discussed the issue of copyright. We used the CAN I? acronym to help us determine whether different issues were fair to reproduce or not.

Can I use the Windows XP operating system disk at home, please?

The answer to this is a maybe. First, the character is for commercial not education use. Second, the amount is only one, but what does the license say. Does it allow for teachers personal use on their home computers. Third, if it is not included in the license, then I am lowering the market value because the teacher would have bought it if he/she didn’t take it from school. So, in conclusion, it all depends on the license.

Recently in class, we had a very interesting discussion regarding the Web 2.0 classroom.  When asked what my opinion is regarding this matter, I really had to think long and hard about it. At first, my maternal instincts kicked in and I was adamantly opposed to young elementary school students being exposed to the “public” internet, and even worse, exposing themselves. The security and safety of these students really came to play. In addition, why give students a tool that they can easily misuse for wrong purposes. I could only see the negatives to it.

However, when I sat down to think about it, I realized I was only examining the issue very narrowly. There was so much to gain from the Web 2.0 classroom like the collaboration element, and the writing practice that comes from blogging, and the way it captivates students. I don’t think that the pride that comes from reading comments on a student’s blog could ever be replicated in a traditional classroom.

Also, I started to think about these new technologies as a given in most students lives already. If they are not exposed to it in a safe way, who knows what kind of trouble they could get themselves into. There are two sides to every coin, but I really feel that the benefits to a web 2.0 classroom far out weigh the negatives.  

After reading a very interesting article on literature circles last week, I decided to expand on it this week.  This is a rubric for a freshman English class studying book, Kindred, by Octavia Butler. The students have been studying and analyzing this book in their literature circle using technology.  They analyzed the story using various drawing and concept mapping software. They also researched using the internet. Finally, they presented their findings to the class through any form of technology of their choosing. It is very apparent that the use of technology deepened their understanding of the story.  

9^th Grade Literature Circle Project

Book Analysis:  Kindred

Performance Objective: In your literature circle, analyze the book Kindred, by Octavia Butler. Each person should have one of the following roles: Discussion Coordinator, Vocabulary Elaborator, Literary Expositor, Graphic Organizer, Graphic Illustrator, Background Researcher and Connector.  (Please see attached role sheets for more specific explanations of your role).  Create a website, PowerPoint presentation, video, or any other form of technology to present your analysis to the class. Please post soft copy of all materials to Blackboard.

I read a very interesting article discussing the basics of the literature circle.

The literature circle, introduced in 1994, is an excellent instructional practice, which relies primarily on student discussion to strengthen the student’s understanding of different literary texts. Supplement technology to literature circles can take students even deeper in their learning and understanding of the text.

The following are some suggestions to incorporate technology to literature circles:

1.       Students can complete various brainstorming and pre reading activities using software programs such as Inspiration and Kidspiration (such as KWL concept map or brainstorming activities)

2.       Students can continue to use these programs or any on line journal software program to record their opinions, feelings and questions. They can also use this journal to write notes for their assigned roles

3.       Students can use on line discussion programs to further their discussion, and comment on each others’ work.

4.       Students can evaluate themselves and the group as a whole on- line

5.       Technology can also assist the teacher in differentiated instruction. Specifically, teachers can modify different software exercises to modify student needs.

6.       Students can create a website (depending on skill level) to publish their new “creations”.

There are so many ways where technology can further expand on literature circles.  

When I think about instructional technology, the first word that pops in my mind is “change”. Technology is changing everything in the world around us, from the way we communicate (cell phones, email), to the way we cook (rice makers, nu-wave ovens).  Technology is improving life in every industry and in our daily lives. This is also true for the field of education. Instructional technology can be a very valuable way to enhance student learning and solve classroom challenges. I remember listening to my 4^th grade teacher lecture endlessly on Christopher Columbus’s voyage. Today’s students can createthe voyage themselves using software like MapMakers Tookit. I am always amazed at the many creative ways technology can make a lesson captivating . Of course, technology isn’t the only way to get the point across. But in today’s classroom, where there are so many diverse learners, it can be a very powerful method that reaches home for some of the most difficult learners. 

However, technology does have its down sides. With all this “change”, it is difficult for some teachers to keep up with it, learn and it, and apply it to help their students. (That is one reason why the school based technology specialist is so importantJ! Also, technology is a tool that can be used the wrong way, for example, as a “babysitter” for students. Or school districts can invest so much money into it, and teachers choose not to use it at all.

In conclusion, I truly believe that instructional technology is a wonderful resource that can enhance student learning and teacher productivity if it is used the right way!

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