One Ning I found that would be really useful to me in my teaching, and for anyone who is inspired by the idea of using technology for educational purposes, is Technology Integration in Education.
Just by browsing around the site I can see that it would be a great resource for me as a teacher who wants to bring technology into the classroom. Right on the main page, there is a discussion about software/programs that I've never heard of, so I am certain that it would expose me to different technologies to use in the classroom that I'm unaware of even existing! The community seems to be developed in a way, too, that everyone is interested in sharing with one another. They tell about how their experience with the technology went, what they chose to do with it, and what they would suggest to other teachers. One post that really struck my attention was "Skype Collaborative Projects." It seems like a great idea-sharing website that could inspire me to try unique things in my classroom that I would not think of otherwise. They also have webinars posted, which I would love to listen in on/watch, a resources page which I know I will need once I start using technology in the classroom, and they also discuss everyday teacher topics like how cell phones fit in to the classroom. All in all it seems like a great community to be a part of!
Showing posts with label Technology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Technology. Show all posts
Sunday, September 26, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
I Didn't Know...
Today, I viewed the video "Did You Know?" and now I truly agree that "shift happens."
Some of the things that stood out most to me:
-Computers are soon going to not only exceed the capabilities of the human brain, but eventually the human race! What could this mean for us as humans? Are we going to rely on computers for everything - information, household chores, homework? I think technology making our lives more efficient is a great thing, but when it rules our lives and leaves us dependent upon on it, it might not be so beneficial anymore.
-The facts about the 21-year-olds really struck me. I was just a 21 year-old last month before my birthday. In the 3 years that have passed between the making of this video and last August, how many more hours did my age group accrue in watching TV, talking on the phone, and logging in to the internet? Again, I'm uncomfortable at how much my life revolves around technology! These facts & figures made me want to grab a book and head outdoors to enjoy nature!
-100% of India's 2006 college graduates were fluent in speaking English. When is the U.S. going to wake up? We are one of the few countries that does not educate our students in more than one language from an early age. If only I had started Spanish in 1st or 2nd grade, I might have been fluent by now! I think language is one of the issues that our nation needs to begin focusing more on! Plus, the benefits of a bi-lingual education have shown that students often end up with greater control over both the primary and secondary languages, even more so with the primary than they would if that was the only one they studied (if this is still true from what I learned last fall). Es el tiempo, los Estados Unidos!
-The idea about our students entering career fields that don't even currently exist is both exciting and scary at the same time. How can we as teachers fully prepare our students to be successful in a job field that we know nothing about? I think the questions at the end are valid - what are schools doing to prepare students to be 21st thinkers and workers? This should be a question that all of us, especially as teachers, are asking. What can I do to help my students be better prepared to participate in a world that is growing and evolving exponentially?
-It's really incredible to reflect back on all of the changes that have taken place in my lifetime. I was born in 1988. When I was born, computers were sparse, cell phones were still unheard of in the general population, and the Internet was still just an idea being worked out. My parents had one landline telephone, one television and no computer. Now, today, we each have our own cell phone, our own television, and our own personal computer. This is crazy! The video touched on so many different things that have been created/expanded - eBay, MySpace, the English language, online dating, Google - the list goes on and on. It blows my mind to think that a world existed without these tools or these realities of ours. It's both mind-blowing and exciting at the same time, and I can only imagine all that is to come and what the content of a Did You Know? 5.0 video would include!
from: www.evolutionoftechnology.com
Some of the things that stood out most to me:
-Computers are soon going to not only exceed the capabilities of the human brain, but eventually the human race! What could this mean for us as humans? Are we going to rely on computers for everything - information, household chores, homework? I think technology making our lives more efficient is a great thing, but when it rules our lives and leaves us dependent upon on it, it might not be so beneficial anymore.
-The facts about the 21-year-olds really struck me. I was just a 21 year-old last month before my birthday. In the 3 years that have passed between the making of this video and last August, how many more hours did my age group accrue in watching TV, talking on the phone, and logging in to the internet? Again, I'm uncomfortable at how much my life revolves around technology! These facts & figures made me want to grab a book and head outdoors to enjoy nature!
-100% of India's 2006 college graduates were fluent in speaking English. When is the U.S. going to wake up? We are one of the few countries that does not educate our students in more than one language from an early age. If only I had started Spanish in 1st or 2nd grade, I might have been fluent by now! I think language is one of the issues that our nation needs to begin focusing more on! Plus, the benefits of a bi-lingual education have shown that students often end up with greater control over both the primary and secondary languages, even more so with the primary than they would if that was the only one they studied (if this is still true from what I learned last fall). Es el tiempo, los Estados Unidos!
-The idea about our students entering career fields that don't even currently exist is both exciting and scary at the same time. How can we as teachers fully prepare our students to be successful in a job field that we know nothing about? I think the questions at the end are valid - what are schools doing to prepare students to be 21st thinkers and workers? This should be a question that all of us, especially as teachers, are asking. What can I do to help my students be better prepared to participate in a world that is growing and evolving exponentially?
-It's really incredible to reflect back on all of the changes that have taken place in my lifetime. I was born in 1988. When I was born, computers were sparse, cell phones were still unheard of in the general population, and the Internet was still just an idea being worked out. My parents had one landline telephone, one television and no computer. Now, today, we each have our own cell phone, our own television, and our own personal computer. This is crazy! The video touched on so many different things that have been created/expanded - eBay, MySpace, the English language, online dating, Google - the list goes on and on. It blows my mind to think that a world existed without these tools or these realities of ours. It's both mind-blowing and exciting at the same time, and I can only imagine all that is to come and what the content of a Did You Know? 5.0 video would include!
from: www.evolutionoftechnology.com
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