REFLECTION

As a digital immigrant this course, EDUC 6710: The Impact of Technology on Education Work, and Society, had made it possible for me to experience what it is to be digital native. I have experienced creating wikis, blogs and podcasts. This experience has taken me to my classroom to share the experience. It has been challenging integrating technology.

Time is often a major complaint from teachers to learn and to use technology in the classroom. Due to my exposure to the resources and assignments from this course there is a better understanding in the benefits of student learning to use technology. Authors Keengwe, Onchwari and Wachirs, (2008) mentioned that technology can play an important role in restructuring teaching and learning practices that match current needs of an informational society. But, the authors also recognized the need for teachers to be comfortable with applying technologies appropriately. Therefore, teachers need professional development that would give training to prepare them to integrate technology into their curriculum.

Participating in this course has increased my comfort with using technologies in my instruction. As a teaching tool, technology can be used to learn 21st century skills such as collaboration, research, thinking skills and problem solving skills. Presently, I am preparing to model using wiki as a collaborating tool for students to complete group projects. It is conceived that students will use also use wiki as a communication tool to discuss specific topics assigned. In class assignments students are learning to use thinking skills when appropriating technology to research and to resolve problems that they may approach when researching. They have to stretch themselves beyond textbook instructions to overcome hurdles that confront them in using technologies.

As I become more comfortable is applying technologies, within a two years expand I expect that a barrier such as time will pale away. To implement technologies in my instruction with comfort and pedagogically I expect to continue as a life-longer learner. Currently, there are opportunities to attend upcoming workshops that will be held in our school campus. I look forward to continually learn how to do things differently and how to do different things with technology as quoted by Thornburg, (2004). And, it is exciting to learn with students as I go along as well as to share and learn with colleagues who can contribute their classroom experiences in the use of technology.

Keengewe, J., Onchwari, G., & Wachira, p. (2008). The use of computer tools to support meaningful learning. AACE Journal, 16 (1), 77-92.

Thornburg, D. (2004). Technology and education: Expectations, not options. (Executive Briefing No. 401). Retrieved from http://www.tcpdpodcast.org/briefings/expectations.pdf

Podcast Link: Profiling Students of today

The following podcast link is an episode of three high school students who were interviewed and shared their experience with technology in their classroom, in the workforce, at home and in their personal life. Click on the following link and enjoy the interview.

http://www.podcastmachine.com/podcasts/2250/episodes/9693

This is a first in creating a podcast; a technology that I hope will enhance student's learning experience in the classroom.

FLong

Evaluating 21st Century Skills

My reaction to the Web site for “The Partnership for 21st Century Skills”

The information located on this website it typical of what many educators are being exposed to today – the need for schools to change their curriculum to meet the needs of students in a changing world that demands 21st century skills.

In visiting this web site I was surprise to read that The Partnership for 21st Century Skills acknowledged that not only are businesses and educators impacted by the rapidly evolving of technologies, but, everyday life is impacted. Our personal affairs, such as shopping for household products or selecting health care providers, require new skills. Most information which I have encountered have focused on the workplace or schools in regards to the impact of the changing trends of technologies the 21st century. It is important to prepare and educate all people about the changes needed to succeed in today’s world that is impacted by technology and the changing skills of this century.

I agree that learning skills and 21st century skills equal ICT literacy. We must continue teaching basic learning skills that can work or be applied with 21st century skills such as the computer and multimedia tools.

Asked the question, of the implication for me as a contemporary educator – my immediate thought – how contemporary am I as an educator? Considering that I am a teacher from the days of portable typewriters to electric typewriters and of teaching Gregg’s shorthand to inputting data in word processing . . . well, as one colleague had said to me, I am becoming more emerged in integrating technology into my instruction. Every bit of knowledge that I am exposed to, students and I begin to learn together on how to do things differently and do different things with technology.

Challenges And Ideas for Teachers Using Blogs

I wished that a blog was created for my Computer Ed. class of freshmen students. There is a debate as to whether there is any benefit in students learning proper keyboarding techniques. The students are going to research online any information pertaining to the topic. Then I thought, it would be a great idea for them to experience posting their thoughts after the results of their reserach on to a blog site.What I am discovering is that since I have been exposed to the concept of integrating blogging into my curriculum I am conscious about it as situations arises such as menitoned above. And I am see more opportunities where a blog is a good tool for instructional context.One of the challenges I percieve is that the school may not agree to unblock sites that will give students accessibility to blogging. We do have a technology committee which I hope to participate in and share my thoughts about students blogging. Hopefully this will also be an opportunity to encourage others to join me in this adventure.The school is member to a program called "Edline". Here we are able to communicate with paerents and students and the public. This might be a good place for beginning some of the ideas that Richardson encourages in our resource textbook. Since Edline is new to us, installed as of last year, many are still adjusting to the idea of posting information public about the curriculum. Richardson has given me furthur ideas as to what I can do with this program. I could not only post calendars, events, homework assignments but he suggests showcasing students work or to share their reactions to thought-provoking questions,. A program like this could inspire the administrators to the idea of blogging in the classroom.

Teachers are forever learning because of their love for teaching. Blogging is a learning expereince for teachers. How to integrate blogging in the classroom to enhance student learning will be an advantagement in teacher pedagogy. Of course the challenge, which could also be an enemy to embarking on this expereince, is time. Two thumbs up for all teachers with the courage, and with the time, to integrate blogging into their curriculum.