Megan

Chapter 9:  Chapter 9 talks all about technology and the future. Technology has grown so quickly within such a short amount of time, with newer and more advanced devices/programs. When it comes to working within a classroom with all of the advancing technology, I believe that it is something that you need to take day by day due to how rapidly everything is changing. It seems like once we finally completely understand one thing, it either gets upgraded or newer and better forms come into the world. With programs like Wikispaces, I believe that things like textbooks will not be necessary in the classroom much longer. Personally, I learn better through interaction and actually using my hands and motor skills, but with the way that technology is progressing, maybe the children are too. Maybe they do not need to hand-write math equations to memorize them, or create time lines on poster board to remember important dates in history. Children may be becoming more tech-savy then we are. When I become a teacher, if technology does take complete control, I will do my best in order to say up-to-date with everything.

Chapter 8: One of the most obvious benefits of using a wiki is the ability to offer a quick way to collaborate textually, while creating a content rich website. Where the knowledge of the group is greater than an individual and the end product is the result of group interactions. While Wiki’s are open, they provide a means to verify the validity of recent additions to the body of the pages. The most prominent is the “Recent Changes” page, which is a specific list which numbers recent edits or all edits made within a given time frame. You can use Wiki’s for student projects (where group members need to contribute at different times from diverse locations,) for collaborating on ideas and organizing documents, use as a presentation tool, as a group research project, or manage school/classroom documents.

Chapter 7: When I hear the term “virtual environments,” I initially think of the Sims. To me, and also defined by the book, they are interactive online systems where multiple people can share in the development of a narrative. Not ever using one of these “virtual environments” before, I decided to join one. You create your own character (avatar) and have complete control over what they do (how they act, how they interact with other avatars, their job, their relationships, their entire life.) Personally, I do not see how these “environments” are in any way beneficial in the classroom. Yes, the student will learn a new technology software, but in aiding them through their learning process I see these programs causing nothing but distractions. Plus people can become so wrapped up in this world, especially younger children, and completely loose sense of what is real.

Chapter 6 Reaction:   Students today are surrounded by visual learning tools on a daily basis (cell phone, television, and computers.) Visual learning tools are becoming very popular, and very useful, with the rate that technology is advancing. There are also sites like Youtube that are filled with nothing but videos and photos. Photos and videos keep children more interested in the lecture/presentation, and if they are more interested than they are more likely to understand and remember what you are trying to teach them. Also, using visual learning tools will promote high-order thinking and creativity with both children and teachers.The students that are more of a visual learner now have an easier way to study. With things like PowerPoint, Smartboard and Prezi, the students now have the ability to learn through numerous visual programs. Personally, I am not a visual learner and I learn more through writing notes and memorization, but programs like Smartboard amaze me so I know that they would amaze children. These visual learning tools help to get a more active and participating classroom, and with doing so, students will comprehend material and learn.

Chapter 5:  <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 80%; text-align: justify;"> Social Network is a web-based site where you are able to provide information about yourself. You have control over who is able to view what you have said. You can also “add” friends, family, or anyone that you believe you may share some common interests with (i.e. Facebook) Social networking in education can be used for teachers to share ideas with co-workers and students. It may be difficult for childhood education teachers to share information with their students because some sites have an age limitation on them, but do the sites actually check to see if you are telling the truth about how old you are? Personally, I believe that Social Network sites would be more beneficial with college aged students. Most professors have their lectures and assignments virtually now, and it is almost a necessity to know how to use these sites. I believe that Social Network sites would be a distraction to younger children and would promote negativity, bullying, and other negative outcomes.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 80%; text-align: justify;">Chapter 4: <span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 80%; text-align: justify;">I believe that productivity tools allow the students in your classroom to accomplish things are would not be possible without technology, and these tools also allow them the share their results with one another and are very open-ended. Productivity tools include things like Word Processing, spread sheets, and telecommunication programs. Apparently, the program Google docs. is the most popular, even though I have never used it before. According to Web 2.0, Google docs. would be good when it comes time to get together and create projects in a classroom. Yes, you could accomplish the same thing with e-mail, but Google docs. is run in real time, so it is more like having a conversation with one another. I personally have experience with tools like spread sheets, due to the jobs that I have had in the past. Overall, these productivity tools have definitely made life easier, for both students and teachers.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 80%; text-align: justify;">Chapter 3: <span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 80%; text-align: justify;">A podcast is an audio or video net cast (streamed or non-streamed) while a vodcast is a video podcast. In classrooms, the teacher will find podcast or vodcast episodes for students to listen to or watch. One benefit about podcasting in education is that this medium encourages teachers and young students to work together to accomplish the task of creating a podcast. Teamwork is essential and by learning from an early age about working together as a team, young children will have an advantage when they grow older. Another benefit about using podcasts is that you can use multiple learning styles in a particular arrangement. It is a known fact that everybody learns differently. Teachers can combine all types of learning styles into one format, this helps to teach a wider range of students. Another is that it is teaching children skills that they are going to need later on in life. At the rate our country is growing in terms of technology, children are going to need to learn all of these skills in order to compete in the world. By teaching children these skills, they can build on these basic skills. Using podcasting also helps to engage children in active learning. By using podcasts, children can actually be involved in creating the podcasts or they can interact with the podcasts. Either way can create a fun learning environment. Podcasting is a great way to deliver lectures on almost anything. Podcasting is also a good tool to help develop children's critical analysis and reflection skills. With podcasting, educators can deliver more in depth content then they can by simply giving lectures or showing slides. With podcasts you can have the children interact; include sound effects or music to help enhance the learning experience. Another important benefit to using podcasts is that children can enhance their creative skills. By letting them use podcasts children can add elements to their oral reports that were not possible before.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 80%; text-align: justify;">Chapter 2: <span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 80%; text-align: justify;">Twitter is a service that is available to help communicate and stay connected through a quick exchange of words, it is digital communication. With twitter, they only allow you to use 140 characters to digitally verbalize what you need to say. When choosing what to say you need to make it quick, make it relevant, and make it count. <span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 80%; text-align: justify;">Also, with twitter you have the ability to “Follow” other people with Twitter accounts, and when following them you always have the ability to see what they have to say. When using Twitter professionally, you can use it for networking, research, learning, teaching, news, information, and important updates. Twitter for personal use is more of a hobby, used to communicate with friends and family, and keep updated on charities and travel information. <span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 80%; text-align: justify;">Using Twitter as a teaching tool allows for there to be classroom activity, seminar discussion, collaboration, conferences, assignment deadlines, room changes, reading lists, etc. Twitter in the classroom allows there to be a few different things: <span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 80%; text-align: justify;">- classes: this allows there to be open discussions in a timetabled seminar, and allows the class discussion to continue outside of classroom. <span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 80%; text-align: justify;">- community: Twitter assists in creating a community-feel through linked “tweets” <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 80%; text-align: justify;">- instant feedback: with it being a very quick program, this allows very fast approval/disapproval of all recent discussions. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 80%; text-align: justify;">- technology: Twitter is available on laptops, netbooks, iPhones and other smart phones. It is available in any internet-enabled device.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 80%; text-align: justify;">Chapter 1: <span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 80%; text-align: justify;">Blogging has become very popular over the past few years. You can find blogs on almost anything on the internet, from education topics to exercise. Blogging has become a much faster and more efficient way to gather information on a topic that you are interested in. For example, educators can look into other blogs to gather information on projects and possible lesson plans. <span style="display: block; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%; text-align: left;"><span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 80%; text-align: justify;">Blogging also gives someone a voice. Being someone who hates speaking in front of my classmates, someone who turns nine shades of red every time that I stand in front of people, I believe that blogging is a good and very enhanced technology. Personally, I do not blog. I don’t write my thoughts and feelings on the internet, in other forms than Facebook, but for some people this may be the perfect way for them to express themselves. They don’t have to have the anexiety that they receive before they speak in front of other people, and they don’t have to constantly worry about how they may sound to others. If educators added blogging to their assignments, it may help educate some students, as well as the teachers. The teachers may learn that just because their student is silent in class, that the student has so much to say.

<span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 80%; text-align: justify;">Introduction: <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 80%; text-align: justify;">Technology has definitely advanced, even since I was younger. When I was growing up, it was cool to have a “walkman” after having a cassette player. Now the world has iPods and other mp3 players. We also now have portable computers, cell phones, and things like the iPad. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 80%; text-align: justify;">In education, the use of technology is also progressing every day. When I was in elementary school, we had black boards. Now teachers have access to computers, power point presentations, smart boards, etc. Children are now growing up with this technology, and may even be more technology-savy then some of their instructors. Internet is becoming a dominant way for research, hence why Boarders and other book stores are going out of business. I believe that eventually, especially in education, there may one day be no more books, just laptops and other tablet like devices. I love the way that technology is advancing, even though some may not. I believe that things are much easier to research now, but I can say, if we do loose use of books it will have a negative effect on everyone. <span style="display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 80%; text-align: justify;">No one can really predict where technology is going to be, but with the way it is advancing daily I could not imagine ever going back to the “old ways” of pencils and pens or books. Internet is a great way to share information easier, but technology almost seems to be taking away of the real conversation and one-on-one experiences.