Pay Attention Video

After watching this clip from You Tube, I learned that I really need to get serious about technology. As I mentioned in my first blog, I am not very good with technology. Because of this, I said that I would like to have some specialist come in to teach our class how to work with technology, because I always just want to avoid having to learn about it. After watching this clip, that has changed dramatically. I will learn and discover everything about technology because perhaps my handicap in that area is because we never were able to use technology in the classroom during my education.
I will be able to reach my students in a variety of ways as I use technology in the classroom. At the beginning of the film it listed the various different types of learner which included things like kinesthetic, natural, mathematical/spatial, musical, and etc. Then it listed a digital learner in red text. There is an example right there of communicating importance through the change of the color of text. It seems that people often times think that you can't learn as much through communication via technological means because you can't read body cues, or body language, but you can by knowing HOW to use the right tools. For example, the other day I sent a text message to my husband. All it said was "What are you doing right now?" But it looked more like this "WHAT ARE YOU DOING RIGHT NOW?". I didn't know how to turn off my caps lock, and because of this my husband called me right away. When I didn't answer he called and texted numerous times to get a reply. He was worried, and thought that I needed his help right away. Communication is very effective and effiecient via technology through text messages, e-mail, and Instant messaging. There also may be a student who doesn't feel as comfortable asking for help in front of the class, or in person. They could Instant message the teacher for an immediate response.
Communication with parents is also very useful via e-mail. If one of your student's has shown significant improvement in an area that may have been difficult for them before, you could shoot their parents an e-mail letting them know about the great progress the child has made. You could also inform them of other personal items, or problems the student may be having. You could also request help. This could all be done while your students are checking out one of the great technology tools you have provided for them. You wouldn't have to go to the office to make a phone call, and leave your students behind.
You could communicate with your colleagues by Instant Messaging, or e-mail. If you are working with other classes in an area or subject, you could communicate with your teacher via IM rather than going to their class and leaving your class behind. If your class is not quite done with their work and you need a few more minutes before you meet with other classes, you could shoot the teacher an IM telling them you need a few more minutes. There are so many ways that technology can be useful for communication.
There are many classroom objectives that teachers have for their classroom. One huge objective I have is that we build a strong sense of classroom community with our classroom. Is there a better way than having your studnents chat with someone new on IM each week to tell them about their weekend, or ask for help on homework. A student could have an IM partner that they ask questions to before they ask the teacher. This is just one of many classroom objectives. I also have a strong desire to help my students not be afraid of Math. There are so many tools on the internet to help students engange, interact, and create. This will help them feel more comfortable and confidant in subjects that may seem difficult.
The Pro's and Con's of using technology in the classroom are difficult to weigh, but when you see the advantages of technology it is not so difficult. In one of our classes recently, somebody raised their hand and said something like this to the professor, "If students seem to love texting so much, why don't we use that as a means to help students learn." I was reminded of this as I watched the movie. The teacher very quickly rejected this student's comment because she thought cell phones were a nuisance to the class. I thought the student had quite an insight at this comment. This is an example of how cell phones can both be a pro and a con. The pro is that they get to use a means that they are excited about to learn, but the con is that sometimes students can get carried away, and get distracted. Although technology is useful and effective for a students learning, it seems that you can get "distracted" or "immersed" in what your doing, which isn't all that bad unless it is excessive. Another con is that technology is quite expensive for the classroom. Schools just don't have the means to purchase ipod's and podcasts for the classroom. There would need to be an increase in budget to utilize technology to it's fullest potential.
Although it seems easier for me to list more cons than pros for using technology in the classroom, I still feel that the few pros way outweigh the cons, in which case I will do all I can to use technology as an educator.