The article10 Emerging educationl Technologies boast about the advantages that technological tools have benefitted both teachers and students. Instead of educators frowning upon the technology movement of implementing technology into the classroom, educators need to be a accepting and embrace the benefits that technology has to offer. Technology has become a major influence in our worldly societies. As we progress through the future, technology is becoming more and more advanced. One of the main purposes for schools is to serve as a mainstream for educating and preparing students for their future. Since technology has become an important assesst in today's society, it is critical to expose and educate students with the technological tools that are available. These technological tools are beneficial for both students and educators allowing for the enhancement in the learning and teaching experiences. These technology advancements are an effective way to turn away from the vintage educational methods and innovate a new way for learning.
Although technology can be expensive and unaffordable at times, this is no reason to eliminae the use of technology in the classrooms. As mentioned in the article Five Ways to Bring Technolgy into the Classroom without the Gadgets, there is still a way to implement technolgy into learning experiences without having actual devices. There are very engaging online tools that bring the learning at home to allow more collaboration and interaction inside the classroom, and students are then able to go to school more prepared to advance onto the next content area. I did a tutorial screencast on blend space, which is a free online educational tool that provides a creative and unique way to present a lesson. With blend space, teachers can plan a variety of lessons, worksheets, quizzes that are readily available for students at home, and students are, also, able to interact and work with other students and teachers. The online learning gives teachers the opportunity to offer more assistance during class time, especially to those students who need the extra help. There are many advantages and innovative ways for implementing technolgy into the classrooms that can be pleasing and enjoyable for both student and teachers.
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
Monday, March 16, 2015
Week 4; Flippin the Classroom!
After reading these articles, the flipped classrooms seems to engage the students with a more involved learning experience, and it changes the role of teacher. This system eliminates the teacher's role as the primary informant of knowledge and skills, and instead, enables them to become another resource for information. Then the general notion of teacher-centered is transitioned to student-centered where the students are the main focus. It allows for students to take charge of their learning environment where they can create topics of discussion, freely and critically express their own ideas and experiences, they can choose to further explore material of their liking, and they can review and complete assignments at their convenience. It makes both the teachers and students more readily accessible to communicate and collaborate. Then the teacher and students become the active learners in this process as the articles all pointed out. This does not disregard teachers in general, but changes their responsibility as observers in guiding their students learning.
The role that the teacher is taking with the flipped classrooms reminds me of the teaching method I currently practice as a Montessori teacher. It is student-centered where I stand to the side and observe the children, and if I see a child is struggling and needs help, then I either guide or redirect them. The classroom is arranged where children can freely explore their environment and choose a work material of their interest. The child then becomes engaged with hands-on material, and they are actively learning with materials they enjoy. Another similarity, children are able to learn from each other hence the mixed age groups in the Montessori environment. I work with 3 to 6 year old, and the younger children learn from the older children who lead by example. I feel that role of the teacher as a guide in observing the developmental learning needs of their students can be beneficial to the students educational experience. The main conceptual differences between the flipped classroom and the Montessori class is one is in digital form and the other is a physical form.
I feel that students in present time have more opportunity and a variety of tools that are beneficial for their learning experience making it more appealing to learn. These educational tools have not been part of my education experience until I reached the college level, especially, with this technology class. With participating in this technology in education course, a variety of technology is being introduced, and I know it is only going to get more advanced. Students in this day and age have a great advantage with technology becoming a part of the classroom. Technology has been a beneficial factor in encouraging and promoting their learning experience, and I can only imagine what is yet to come!
The role that the teacher is taking with the flipped classrooms reminds me of the teaching method I currently practice as a Montessori teacher. It is student-centered where I stand to the side and observe the children, and if I see a child is struggling and needs help, then I either guide or redirect them. The classroom is arranged where children can freely explore their environment and choose a work material of their interest. The child then becomes engaged with hands-on material, and they are actively learning with materials they enjoy. Another similarity, children are able to learn from each other hence the mixed age groups in the Montessori environment. I work with 3 to 6 year old, and the younger children learn from the older children who lead by example. I feel that role of the teacher as a guide in observing the developmental learning needs of their students can be beneficial to the students educational experience. The main conceptual differences between the flipped classroom and the Montessori class is one is in digital form and the other is a physical form.
I feel that students in present time have more opportunity and a variety of tools that are beneficial for their learning experience making it more appealing to learn. These educational tools have not been part of my education experience until I reached the college level, especially, with this technology class. With participating in this technology in education course, a variety of technology is being introduced, and I know it is only going to get more advanced. Students in this day and age have a great advantage with technology becoming a part of the classroom. Technology has been a beneficial factor in encouraging and promoting their learning experience, and I can only imagine what is yet to come!
Week 3;Effectiveness of Storytelling
I found the article on the Science of Storytelling to be interesting in explaining that storytelling has more effectiveness than reading information off of a computer screen or reading it through text because all areas of the brain are being used to process the information opposed to reading words and using your frontal cortex to understand the language information that is being read. It makes sense that when listening to a story you are more engaged as a listener because you have an emotional connection and understanding because of the sensorial areas of the brain are giving a sense of feeling as if we are experiencing what is being told. I can relate to this concept when someone is telling me a story or even when I am watching a movie about someone being terminally ill, a strong emotional feeling of sadness overcomes me because I relate a sad tragic experience of someone passing with my own experience I went through with my mother who passed away from cancer.
I do agree that having an emotional understanding does have more of an effect than just reading words because sometimes we are not entirely engaged in what is being read and therefore, are not fully comprehending the information that is presented. I found this to be true while introducing a the topic to my students. As I work with younger children 3 to 6 year old, I realized that when I am just blabbing away about something they are unable to fully focus, and I could see the boredom because they start to play and not pay attention. Then I started to talk about myself relating my experiences to the topic, and they show more interest. After I read a story book that is relevant, I found the effectiveness of both telling my experiences and reading a story to them as another way to explain the daily lesson because they become more focused and are actively listening, which shows when asking questions or sharing their own experiences. Therefore, I found agreeably interesting when the article stated that story tellers are able to plant ideas, thoughts, and emotions into the listeners. Teachers should use storytelling as another way to a captivate the interest of the students so that information can be fully understood and remembered.
As far as digital story telling, this concept was completely new to me until it was introduced in class, and after reading the articles. It seems that this digital method of story telling brings an even more emotional sensual understanding with the use of visual images, sounds, and music to depict a deeper connection between the storyteller and the listeners. As the article The Art of Storytelling says, that a story teller reaches deep down into our minds, hearts, and spirits, and it gives a more personal connection and understanding about the storyteller and their experiences. This method of digital storytelling is a useful tool for both teachers and students alike to express themselves and share their life experiences as another way to educate.
I do agree that having an emotional understanding does have more of an effect than just reading words because sometimes we are not entirely engaged in what is being read and therefore, are not fully comprehending the information that is presented. I found this to be true while introducing a the topic to my students. As I work with younger children 3 to 6 year old, I realized that when I am just blabbing away about something they are unable to fully focus, and I could see the boredom because they start to play and not pay attention. Then I started to talk about myself relating my experiences to the topic, and they show more interest. After I read a story book that is relevant, I found the effectiveness of both telling my experiences and reading a story to them as another way to explain the daily lesson because they become more focused and are actively listening, which shows when asking questions or sharing their own experiences. Therefore, I found agreeably interesting when the article stated that story tellers are able to plant ideas, thoughts, and emotions into the listeners. Teachers should use storytelling as another way to a captivate the interest of the students so that information can be fully understood and remembered.
As far as digital story telling, this concept was completely new to me until it was introduced in class, and after reading the articles. It seems that this digital method of story telling brings an even more emotional sensual understanding with the use of visual images, sounds, and music to depict a deeper connection between the storyteller and the listeners. As the article The Art of Storytelling says, that a story teller reaches deep down into our minds, hearts, and spirits, and it gives a more personal connection and understanding about the storyteller and their experiences. This method of digital storytelling is a useful tool for both teachers and students alike to express themselves and share their life experiences as another way to educate.
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
Week 2; Technology in Classroom
Technology is consistently advancing and improving. I feel like once you purchase a new technological device not even two months later the company is coming out with a newer and more improved device. This goes to show that technology is forever influencing and changing the world around us. Technology is one of the key components in gaining knowledge and understanding the world. It keeps us connected to current news and events that are occurring across the globe. It is an important tool for learning, researching, communicating, and staying connected with current worldly societies. It enables us to readily communicate openly and freely with others whether it be someone from another city, state, or country.
As our world continues to advance through technology, it is an essential tool for the classrooms. It is important for schools to keep the learning curriculums up to date with societal influences, and one of the best ways to do this is to introduce and allow usage of technology in classrooms. The role of schools is to educate students along with preparing them for their future, and technology will always remain in our society only getting better and newer for the future. Technology in classrooms will be beneficial for students and teachers and enhance the learning and teaching experience. It is agreeable as Mr. wolf points out that technology is a valuable tool for students to collaborate and research, which makes the students part of the learning process. https://mrstephenwolfe.wordpress.com/2010/08/02/why-use-technology-in-the-classroom-a-paper/ Technology makes learning fun and keeps the student engaged in learning. In today's society, most children have been exposed to technological devices such as tablets, cell phones, computers as a source of entertainment, and this should be taken as a rationale that technology in classrooms can make students more interested in school and learning since they see technology as something fun to use. Technology allows for research and access to unlimited information because internet is available to use on almost every technological device. I, also , agree with what Mr. Wold mentioned that technology helps students to collaborate and communicate with other students and teachers. Student not only learn from teachers, but, also, their peers, and technology makes communicate with other peers and teachers more readily available. Instead of hindering the usage of technology in classroom, we need to accep that technology is not going anywhere, and it should be embraced and seen as an influential tool.
As our world continues to advance through technology, it is an essential tool for the classrooms. It is important for schools to keep the learning curriculums up to date with societal influences, and one of the best ways to do this is to introduce and allow usage of technology in classrooms. The role of schools is to educate students along with preparing them for their future, and technology will always remain in our society only getting better and newer for the future. Technology in classrooms will be beneficial for students and teachers and enhance the learning and teaching experience. It is agreeable as Mr. wolf points out that technology is a valuable tool for students to collaborate and research, which makes the students part of the learning process. https://mrstephenwolfe.wordpress.com/2010/08/02/why-use-technology-in-the-classroom-a-paper/ Technology makes learning fun and keeps the student engaged in learning. In today's society, most children have been exposed to technological devices such as tablets, cell phones, computers as a source of entertainment, and this should be taken as a rationale that technology in classrooms can make students more interested in school and learning since they see technology as something fun to use. Technology allows for research and access to unlimited information because internet is available to use on almost every technological device. I, also , agree with what Mr. Wold mentioned that technology helps students to collaborate and communicate with other students and teachers. Student not only learn from teachers, but, also, their peers, and technology makes communicate with other peers and teachers more readily available. Instead of hindering the usage of technology in classroom, we need to accep that technology is not going anywhere, and it should be embraced and seen as an influential tool.
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