Chapter 4: Inspiring Student Learning with Technology

Focus Question: How can teachers create change in classrooms using technology?

Automate is using technology to reproduce existing practices (learning from computers) verses Infomate which changes existing practices (learning with computers). Type I technology applications represent the traditional uses of computers in schools (instruction and record keeping). Type II technology represents new directions in technology use (interactive and problem solving software).

Digital pen is a writing device to records what someone has written or spoken so it can be accessed on a computer that converts content into typed text that can be copied, edited, or e-mailed. It can be used to automate recordkeeping, or it can be used to infomate by capturing words and drawings and uploading them on the computer at the end of the day (and even possibly uploading them to a class website).

A tablet PC (a portable computer with touchscreen technology) can be used to simply automate by replacing books and notebooks, but can be a highly resourceful tool when used to infomate by compounding on key terms in group discussions and being posted to class websites where all the students can retrieve them.

OneNote and Google Drive are wonderful tools that provide documents that can be shared online between groups of people. These groups can then edit and compound upon the subject matter given creating unique class notes. A teacher could use this as a daily tool for students who think of questions they’d like to ask and posting it online for the teacher to review the next day. It is also a resourceful tool for groups to share their work with each other and have it all in one place.

Tech Tool: Online Technology Integration Resources

Edutopia is a wonderful website sponsored by George Lucas, the creator of Star Wars. It is a great resource to inspire innovation in teachers. It develops a community of teachers from all over who have collaborated ideas. They have a section for PBL (project based learning) that emphasizes the key steps. There are lots of resourceful links like their classroom guides andeducation downloads.

In this video from Edutopia a teacher actively engages in student centered teaching while incorporating technology that is being manipulated by both the students and the teacher.

InternationalSociety for Technology in Education seems like it would be a great resources for teachers except that it cost a substantial amount of money (about $200), and if I’ve learned anything it’s that “the best things in life are free.” Even after you’ve paid for a membership you have to continue to pay to look at resources like books and webinars.

National Council of Teacher of English is a professional association of educators in English Studies, Literacy, and Language Arts.  Once again this is a website that requires a paid membership; however, this one is substantially cheaper at $50. Is it a $50 well spent though? Depending on how much you think the content is worth it may be, but I cannot view it without paying. The cost for viewing the webinars is $295 member/$595 nonmember for 8 videos.

Chapter Summary &Connection

The teaching style throughout this chapter was focused on student centered teaching and how we can incorporate technology with that instead of automating technology with the old ways.

• As teachers we can make power points, but are we engaging our students and involving them in the process?
• Video recordings have always been a favorite among students but are we using it to enhance a lesson or teach the lesson? We need to be careful not to allow ourselves fall into mundane habits.
• We can use digital cameras, digital thermometers, Excel, e-mail, AIM, blogger, and other resources to enhance our students experience in the classroom.

I have no doubt that I will be an inside-out kind of teacher (appropriation stage) when it comes to its use in my daily life and in the classroom. I already use technology in all of my classes that I can’t see it being any other way. My computer is truly my technology based office. I can’t wait to start the invention stage of technology and developing my own wiki. I love using blogger and all these technologies in the classroom, I feel like it really adds to my experience.

As I am coming into teaching where being technologically suave is asked of us I don’t feel like I’ll have problems incorporating it into my lesson plans. If anything I always love a good challenge.

Because of digital inequality I’m sure I’m going to have times where I feel stunted by my ability to reach all my students. If I can engage all my students in the classroom, with no negative repercussions for lack of internet outside of the classroom then I think I’ll do good. Even though I have been exposed to computers my whole life I have not always had the privilege of having a working computer or the internet at home. For several years we only had my dad’s “work computer” on an old dial up system that I was not allowed to touch. It wasn’t till I was 13 that I used the internet freely outside of school. I had to be disciplined and use my time in the library and at school wisely to get the work I needed to do on the computer done.

One-to-one laptop computing would be a dream, but it still depends on the teacher on how it’s used. For now the One/Two/ Three time seems like an excellent practice of rotating groups and giving specialized attention while working on the multiple intelligences of students.