1. The Networked Student by Wendy Drexler:
I really enjoyed the video, The Networked Students. I thought it was put together very well and was easy to understand. I was unsure about what a personal learning plan was, but by watching this video it provided an insight. This video was about a student attending the 21st Century High School. I couldn’t believe he only goes to school three days out of the week and the other two days online. He also has no text book and never has lectures.
This shows a different kind of learning and yes in some ways make me nervous. As he had developed his own virtual textbook and personal learning plan which creates organization and new information at hand. This makes my job more intense because I have to keep up with the new tools and applications to keep my students up to date. I believe this kid of student will have an advantage when it comes to technology because he or she was exposed to it earlier.
I am not sure if I am ready to be a teacher, let me rephrase that I am not ready to be a teacher in the 21st century. I realized I have a lot of catching up to do and how tuff it is sometimes to keep up with technology. Still I think it is definitely worth it, because, as explained on the video, students in the 21st century will need a teacher. They will need a teacher to show them how to build networks, communicate properly with others, to organize information that is valid and of course guidance.
2. A 7th Grader's Personal Learning Environment (or PLN)
I really liked how organized and neat the seventh graders personal learning environment was. She organized her blocks into categories, for example class work and social networks. My personal learning network is just getting started, but is coming together very well. This is my first PLN and I am using symbaloo to keep all my information organized and up to date. I like how you can add whatever website you like to your personal learning plan and how all the information is kept together. I hope to expand my PLN and learn to use it better as time goes on.
3. Critiques of Smartboards
Michael Staton has a couple of points when it comes to smartboards and why he does not like them. For example, he states how expensive smartboards are and how schools don’t have the money for them. He also goes into how interactive boards do not give students an adaptive learning environment and how it enables social feedback. What really caught my eye is when he stated smartboards do not reduce a teacher’s work load.
Well I have a different opinion and agree with the k-12 Teachsters blogspot about smartboards. I agree with them, because I have seen students interact and use the smartboard in educational ways. Smartboards are great because they make information fun to learn and also get the students wanting to learn. It is not about the teachers and their workload; it is about getting your students involved in learning. The smartboard also brings technology into the classroom at younger grades, like kindergarten, which provides exposure to new tools that involve technology.
K-12 Teachsters blogspot http://medt3401.blogspot.com/2010/06/interactive-smart-boards.html
Learning never ends. That applies to everything, not just technology. And a teacher must be a model learner!
ReplyDeleteAnd building your PLN will never end either.
What do you think about the cost/benefit argument about smartboards? I look forward to your evaluation after you have done your smartboard lesson.
I like how you were truthful about not really being on top of technology and that you have a lot of catching up to do. We don't know everything, but as you continue your journey and continue to learn about new technological tools you will get a feeling that you are getting to the goal that you are trying to reach. Most of the time technology is not something that someone has to teach to you, as you try and learn more about technology you can pretty much just figure it out yourself.
ReplyDelete