Learner 2.0 Myspace Generation

In my Computer Applications Class, we listened to a Webinar by Chris O' Neal called Learner 2.0 Myspace Generation, hosted by ISTE. In the webinar, he emphasized how great social networking is for students and their educational futures. When students engage in social networking, they are also engaging in 21st century skills such as, "writing, creating, producing, collaborating, communication, reading, decision making, and socializing".

The Learner 2.0 Myspace Generation will have huge implications on what I teach and the way. As educators, we need to find ways to incorporate new technology into the classroom to help students develop their 21st century skills. We need to find ways to keep up with technology and our students. Technology is not something that can be incorporated if there is time, it has to be incorporated. Lessons will be taught and completed by students in ways that we haven't even dreamed of yet. It means that I need to stay current on technological and educational advances. I will need to think of ways to incorporate them into my classroom.

Having students use googledocs or wikis to complete a group project is one way to incorporate the use of technology in the classroom. Students will still accomplish the same tasks, but be able to do it an a technological environment. Students will have a chance to observe the writing process from a different point a view. It would also be beneficial to have students post their writings on-line and make corrections based on comments they receive. How exciting would it be for students to get comments on their papers from other students in another country?

Another way to incorporate the Myspace Generation skills into education is to have students complete assignments that are entirely technology based. Students would only use pencil and paper in the beginning process, if at all. Students could create podcasts or videos for final assignments. These works could then be shared on-line with other students or their friends. Do you think students would put more effort into a project if they knew it would be posted on-line for the world to see?

Me + Blogging

My experience with blogging is quite limited. I originally created a blog for a class and never deleted it. After a month, I checked it again for another class and I was amazed to see people viewed my blog and even left me a message.

Blogging is something I could see myself doing more of the the future. I don't know how much I would use it for personal use, but I think it would be something great to use in the classroom. I need to think of interesting ways to incorporate blogging into a fourth or fifth grade classroom. Any ideas?

One Laptop per Child

It is amazing what a hundred dollars can buy! One Laptop per Child organization has created a $100 laptop that is geared to be used by students in developing countries. These countries lag behind in education, and with the use of these computers can hopefully make up some ground. These computers can help get students excited about learning. More importantly, the computers can help parents help their students with their work. For example, if a student's parents cannot read, they may struggle in helping their child. However, the teacher could record the instructions to the computer and then the parent could listen to the assignment.

Some countries that participate in One Laptop per Child include Peru, Rwanda, Uruguay, and Libya.

Hopefully, people in the United States will see the importance of every child having a computer and makes changes to make it happen here. Education would change so much if each student had their own computer.

More information can be found at:

http://www.laptop.org/
http://www.olpc.com/

Assistive Technology

Assistive Technology levels the playing field for disabled students. With the advancements of technology, so too has technology advanced for helping students learn. Teachers and parents need to keep up to date with the technology so their student or child has access to the best assistive technology available. A computer specially designed for someone disability can help someone overcome barriers to learning. For example, voice recognition technology can help students write papers. A special keyboard can help students take tests or use the internet. It is best that students are exposed to assistive technology early in school, so by the time they are ready for college, they feel comfortable using technology to learn.

The following link includes information and a video about using assistive technology in the classroom.

http://www.edutopia.org/assistivetechnology

-Screen capture image from http://www.edutopia.org/assistivetechnology-

Podcasting in the classroom

I came across a great website about podcasting: http://www.det.wa.edu.au/education/cmis/eval/curriculum/ict/podcasts/

This site includes links to podcasting basics, how to podcast, and three main steps to creating a podcast.

The website also includes links to popular podcasts, including NASA podcasts. NASA has podcasts available that include news on the latest missions. Using the NASA podcasts in the classroom would help students experience space shuttle missions in a different way than a text book. Students can experience science as it is happening and see how relevant it is to their lives.

The link also offers examples of how teachers are using podcasts in the classroom. This is just a start to the ways podcasts can be used in the classroom.

I hope to learn more about podcasting and make my own in the future!!