EDLD+5364+Teaching+with+Technology

Week 1 Hello! I am a 5th year teacher in San Antonio. I teach fourth grade. This is my third class also. I can't wait to form a group so if you are interested in joining my group. please email me. mrgarrett1@my.lamar.edu

My favorite quote comes from: Web 2.0 new tools, new schools by Gwen Solomon and Lynne Schrum, " Further, it reports, "Today's education system faces irrelevance unless we bridge the gap between how students must live and how they learn" (p.5) . They live with Web @.0 tools, but schools must help them use the tools to acquire new skills, not just play with them. Even more, today's education system faces irrelevance unless we bridge the gap between how well American students achieve and how well students in the rest of the world are doing.

 I like that this quote because it still has hope that we can fix the situation. It acknowledges the skills the students have already, and the teachers roll as a coach to guide them in using them for more than just play.

Week 2  The quote that spoke to me was from Reading 2 Technology-Enriched Classrooms. It says at the end “It is also true, however, that, although classroom technology (and its effects) may not be the cure-all for many educational ills, it does appear to contribute significantly to the academic achievement and self-esteem of elementary students of low socioeconomic status.” The reason I like this quote is because as teachers we know that if the students don’t have self confidence then they will not be able to exceed. We have all had a child stop and claim I can’t do this. Any increase in self-esteem to our students of low socioeconomic status will pay off in gains in the classroom.

[|__Technology-Enriched Classrooms: Effects on Students of Low Socioeconomic Status, pp. 389-409__]  Page, M. S. (2002). Technology-enriched classrooms: Effects on students of low socioeconomic status. //Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 34// (4), 389–409. Retrieved October 5, 2009 from the International Society of Education at http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Number_4_Summer_20021&Template=/MembersOnly.cfm&ContentFileID=830

Week 3 I enjoyed the quote from Web 2.0 New Tools, NewSchools, "How better to experience an event than by listening to the narratives of those who lived through it, especially the voices of children." It reminded me of the video about Cameron we watched this week on edutopia.org. If that student lived through a disaster such as tornadoes, earthquake, or severe winter storm you know he would document it. It would add so much for our students here in Texaswho might never experience that event. This week would be a prime example people were worried about snow. In Westfield, Indiana(just outside of Indianapolisif you were curious) they get close to a foot of snow a year (I lived in that town from 1985-1988). If he had video footage of there snow and how it affects them. Then the teacher could extend it talk about fronts, moisture, and cloud types. It would be a great way to turn their curiosity into a learning experience. **Web 2.0: New Tools, New Schools, pp. 77-98**  Solomon, G., & Schrum, L. (2007). // Web 2.0: New tools, New schools. // Eugene, OR: International Society for Technology in Education, 77-98. __Digital Youth Portrait - Cameron__  Edutopia.org (nd). // Digital Youth Portrait -- Cameron //. Retrieved on Oct. 5, 2009from http://www.edutopia.org/digital-generation-profile-cameron-video

<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">Week 4 <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">A quote I found very powerful this was, "Once the goal of enhancing teaching and learning through technology is agreed upon, there are many ways to accomplish it. One of the most successful is to use the technology to learn how to use technology, or as some might say, not just talk the talk, but truly walk the walk." (pg.111) from Web 2.0 New Tools, New Schools. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"> The reason I like this quote so much is I can see how true it is. I have been to many district training on technology where they teach you the program and at the end ask you to brainstrom 5 ways you might use it in the class. After taking just these few courses from Lamar. I am already trying out different project and Web 2.0 tools. Another teacher and I got together to do the Monster Project (Students draw a monster in paint then describe it it in word and eamil it to a partner in the other class who has to draw it without seeing the orginal monster. Then they get together and compare). Being taught by technology makes it much easier to see how to use technology to teach my students.

<span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">Week 5 <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">The quote I selected was, "And using Web 2.0 tools the educators might also devise an interesting, authentic, and appropriate summative evaluation for the unit." (pg.170). I like this quote because it makes sure the unit is being assessed in a way in which it was learned. One of my big grips with curriculum is that the assessments don't always assess the material in the way they told you to teach it. I believe this unfair to the students and often results in the test not reflecting the student’s true knowledge or requires the teacher to modify extensively. <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;">**Web 2.0: New Tools, New Schools, pp. 168-176** <span style="font-family: Times New Roman,serif;"> Solomon, G., & Schrum, L. (2007). // Web 2.0: New tools, new schools. // Eugene, OR: International Society for Technology in Education, 168-176.

I used the books from this class in almost every other class.