Current view of Technology-final post

Technology is very important! As we have all learned this semester, there is tons of different technology tools that we can use in our future classrooms! I feel that it is very important to incorporate technology into early childhood. This could be done by using computers, digital cameras, scanners, leap frogs,smart boards,etc. Technology helps get the students more involved and the more involved they are the more they learn!
I want to go back to my first post though when I said that it is still important for students to be able to survive without technology. I still agree with this. Technology is great, but what if you are stranded somewhere and your laptop battery is dead? no electric? You should be able to know basic skills to help you survive. I feel that technology is a great tool that should be utilized by all people, but it should not control them, there is more to life!

Blog Post #11 non computer technology

I think cameras are a great tool to use in school. This could include anything for digital cameras to video cameras to even the regular disposable cameras. There are hundreds of lesson plans you could create using cameras. Examples: classroom scrapbook- full of pictures of children through out the year doing different activities; at the preschool/toddler age you could make a poster of how to wash your hands correctly and use pictures to show each step; great for science lessons- take pictures and have children label different parts of animals and plants; and you could also have the children take pictures and then show them how to develop the film!

Blog Post #10 ERIC Reflection

After hearing several presentations, I have realized how much technology is really going to have an impact over my future classroom! There were so many ideas and topics presented. The most interesting thing though for me is the digital divide. I feel that that will be a issue for me when I begin teaching. We have learned so much in this class about technology and using it in our future classrooms, but what if we don't have that option? What if I end up teaching it a school that has very limited technology and computers from like the early 1990's?

Obviously, the students will be behind in technology. How do you teach them about technology then? I mean it is obviously a huge part of society now days, so how do we prepare the students for higher education and job placement if they are so behind?

Also if the kids are behind, we can only imagine how far behind in the technology world their parents are. I know my brother and I were having a conversation about the Internet and blogging and I overheard my mom say to my dad " I feel so lost, I have no idea what they are talking about!" and my parents are middle class!

The digital divide is real and if we want our students to survive in the world, we need to help them bridge the gap!

Blog Post # 9 website

http://www.4teachers.org/

Blog Post #9

4Teachers.org works to help you integrate technology into your classroom by offering online tools and resources. This site helps teachers locate and create ready-to-use Web lessons, quizzes, rubrics and classroom calendars. There are also tools for student use. Discover valuable professional development resources addressing issues such as equity, ELL, technology planning, and at-risk or special-needs students. (This is the description on the website)



Overall I feel that this is a very good website! I feel that this website would be very useful to teachers that may or may not have a lot if experience with technology. One feature of this site that I really liked were the success stories for real teachers sharing their ideas and experiences with using technology in their classrooms. Overall I would rate this as a great resource for teachers!

Blog post #8

This video shows education today. What do you think?

#7-Half-Way Reflection

I have to admit this class really scared me at first, but now as I look back on what I have learned this semester it is truly amazing! Even though the imovie was a little frustrating I feel that it was well worth it and I think it would be a great project to do in my future classroom. I think it would be neat to make one at the end of the school year . The movie could show pictures of the children throughout the year making artwork, going on field trips, etc. You could then give every child a copy to take home and share with their families!

A great website for kids- 4kids.org

#6- Interent use in the Elementary Classroom (part 1 and 2)

I feel that there are many pros and cons to using the Internet inside of an Elementary classroom. It is very important to introduce computers and the Internet to children at a young age since the world revolves around computers today. The Internet has some wonderful sites that young children can navigate all by themselves. My favorite is 4kids.org. this website allows children to play free educational games! The only thing that bothers me about Internet usage is that there needs to be guidance from the teachers and the parents (if it is to be used at home); this is very appropriate to ensure that children are not using inappropriate websites!

Kindergarten Standards

I think the having standards for Kindergarten is for the most part a good thing. Teachers should have an idea of what they are expected to teach their students. There is one thing that bothers me about this though, and that is the fact that some Kindergarten students might not be ready to learn all of the standards! Some of the children may have gone to preschool and are pretty comfortable with a school setting; however, there might be some students who have never even set foot in a school before! It may be harder for those students to adjust and learn all that is required by the end of the school year!