My Spring '10 semester is almost finished. It has gone by amazingly fast. It seems like yesterday that I was sitting in class looking at my computer hoping that it wasn't too obvious that I hadn't used a lot of technology. Now, I realize that technology is a big part of my everyday life. I know more about it then I thought! I would be lost without my computer, cell phone, or ipod. I did learn many different ways to utilize the technology that I already knew how to operate. For instance with my computer, I learned to blog, Twitter, Flicker, and utilize Google Docs.
My biggest struggle occurred the first week of class. We did a file management exercise. I hate to admit it but my idea of file management was pushing save and adding a new file to the hundreds that already existed. I hadn't thought of making new folders to organize the massive list. It took me a few tries to get my brain wrapped around this concept. I was worried that the files might get lost, but everything worked out well. It was actually easier to find my files after I organized them.
I enjoyed learning about the different resources available to teachers. Twitter for teachers was a great lesson. I was fascinated by the fact that the teacher could be out sick or something and still have a conversations with the class, great tool! The Blogger was another tool that I enjoyed learning to use. I'd worked with many of these technologies before (I'd read blogs) but I didn't know how easy it was to create my own. It was one of those things where you'd like to try to figure out how to work something but you just get too busy. This class--nicely--forced me to figure out these technologies.
As teachers, I think we need to help students use the technology that they will need to work with in their lives. Actually, most students could probably teach the teacher on these new technologies, so using them helps engage students in their studies. A student might be more willing to write using a computer than a paper and pencil. I read an article--can't think of the name of it at this moment--but it talked about the writing lives of students. They go home and write in blogs, chats, texts, e-mails . . . They write with technology and they don't even realize that they are 'writing'. I think that teachers should utilize those technologies that students enjoy so that they will write in the classroom.
For my final project, I utilized Twitter and Chatzy.com. I wanted to use the technology that students use at home. I had a professor that talked about his son being able to text in his pocket with his cell phone while the teacher was talking. I'd like to give students the permission to use that texting technology in the classroom at appropriate times. Students seem to enjoy chat rooms as well. I can't blame them. I do it too. Why not have a classroom chat? My hope is that if I include the technology that students use in their lives then they will be more willing to work in the classroom. I hope to foster an intrinsic learning style within the classroom with technology.
My CI 306 tech. class was a great experience. I would recommend that anyone taking this class have patients. Sometimes technology doesn't go smoothly. My troubles were caused by operator error. But, taking the time to learn to use technology will make any classroom better.
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