- Final 306 Blog -

What have you learned this semester about technology and how it might be implemented in a classroom setting? What have you learned to do? What have you learned not to do? What technologies do you see yourself integrating into your classroom? What technologies do you see yourself not using and why? Have your thoughts about using technology in the classroom changed since the beginning of the semester and, if so, in what way? What advice do you have for yourself for future situations when technology is involved?

This semester, I've learned a lot about technology and how to use it in the classroom. I think Google Docs was the most useful I learned as a college student, while blogging and wikis will probably be a really useful tool in my future classroom. I've learned many ways to apply technology in the classroom and will definitely use these tools in the future. I've learned not to give my blog web address to my friends because they post it on their Facebooks as a way to make fun of me, therefore, I will always keep my blogs and wikis especially for my students and their parents. I can't really see myself using Twitter and Facebook as a way to communicate with students. I definitely prefer to communicate with my students via blogging or e-mail, or simply in person in class. Overall, my thoughts about using and incorporating technology into the classroom have changed. I was hesitant at first because I wasn't sure how I felt about technofying a classroom, I enjoy using books and white boards, etc. However, after learning more about these technologies, I realized that they really can have some benefits in the classroom. Advice for myself for future situations with technology is just to make things organized and secure for my students. I don't want them to feel like if they post something online it's for the world to see. I want to make sure they feel comfortable using tools on the internet.

Google Earth!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow, Google Earth is amazing! There are so many applications that can encourage students to explore the world without leaving their seat! My favorite application is the 3-D street view. That way, you're able to see actual buildings and what they look like in real life, not just pictures. In a history classroom, this application will be great to use. To show civil war battlefields, show pictures of what they looked like back then and then what it looks like now. Not only battlefields, but historical places in general. What a great tool!

Book Review Podcast

Kelsey/Molly

Picture

This is a picture of my sisters and I.

Twitter

I must admit, I am very skeptical about using Twitter in the classroom. These days, students are exposed to so much technology and I feel by using Twitter in the classroom, it's crossing the boundary. I think it serves best as a social site, not so much as a beneficial tool in the classroom environment. But who knows, perhaps I don't know enough about its uses in the classroom, and it could serve a much better purpose than I initially thought.

Google Docs

I love the idea of using Google Docs in the classroom. I recently used it for a project and with a group of four people, it was ideal. There was no attaching documents and wondering whether or not it will actually work, nor was there any trouble editing and saving again, etc. I think my favorite aspect of Google Docs is the fact that you never have to worry about saving your documents; it saves your documents automatically every couple minutes. Overall, Google Docs is a great tool to use in the classroom and I will be sure to utilize it in the classroom!