Reflection

This course has given me more confidence in using technology in my classroom. I am still hesitant in using a blog since I cannot monitor postings for inappropriate material. I am excited at the idea of using webcasts and have found several I would like to use this year, but I struggle with finding time to complete them with the ever growing subject demands. I am still growing towards being comfortable trusting my students' learning to more technology driven modes, but it is a process and I am making conscious efforts to reach this goal. I am excited to begin my next course so that I might learn more ways in which I can effectively teach my students through various technologies. One goal I set for myself when entering this course was to make a class website, which I have already begun (scmsearthscience.weebly.com). It is still a work in progress, but I am surprised at how easy it is to modify and the extent of applications I can use with it. Another goal of mine was to get at least one classroom computer so that I could send students to remediation or extension websites as necessary. Though this has not been accomplished yet, I have been promised a computer to be in my room in the coming week. My system is severely lacking in working technology and it is an almost miracle that I am getting this computer. I have been asking constantly for over a year and even offered to donate a system, but was told, "No." Before beginning my master's program, I had a private meeting with our superintendent, and I asked him how I would be able to use my degree to it's fullest if I do not have the equipment needed. Unfortunately, budget cuts have left updating technology as a last priority, and I will just have to be creative with what I have. Of course, I would love to have multiple classroom computers for my students, but I will use it as a station in a rotation for the time being until something becomes available.

Student profile on daily use of technology

Part one:
http://podcastmachine.com/podcasts/2410/episodes/10564/media_files/28395/download/13/file_320_240.wmv

Part two:
http://podcastmachine.com/podcasts/2410/episodes/10565/media_files/28399/download/3/file_128kb.mp3

Part three:
http://podcastmachine.com/podcasts/2410/episodes/10567/media_files/28401/download/13/file_320_240.wmv

Partnership for 21st Century Skills

http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/ This site has been listed on the American Association of School Librarians' top 25 educational websites list, and I can understand why. There are articles including implications and strategies for cross-curricula education including technology as well as links for state initiatives, events, resources and frameworks. I enjoyed visiting the links under "professional development affiliates" especially the blackboard.com site. I am planning on spending a couple of hours reading through the sites and writing the appropriate letters to request resources. I like the idea of including life and career skills into the framework and could not find anything that I disagreed with in the 21st century overview. My students will benefit from what this organization is doing through enhancing professional development opportunities and emphasizing technology in instruction as well as including the states in the program.

Blogs in the classroom

Honestly, I hesitate using blogs in the classroom. I teach sixth grade students and we have had issues in the past with students using inappropriate language and even threatening other people online. Is there a blog site that blocks certain words and/or phrases and will not allow them to be posted? I could of course make it so that I have to approve the blog before it is posted, but I am just looking for a short cut if it is out there.

Because I introduce groups of students to middle school, it is also my duty to teach them some increased personal responsibility. I think it would be ideal to have a class blog where students can ask each other for help on homework assignments- of course I will monitor and post as needed- because they need to learn how to ask others for help and a peer is much less scary than a teacher.

Another possible use for blogs includes project presentations. Students may research a topic and post their findings then leave questions for their peers who must then find the answers.

I have heard of some blog sites already set up for students across the world to chat about different content areas, but I am still unclear on who monitors those. How does it not become a purely social atmosphere?

Also, about 96% of my student population is considered economically disadvantaged. Very few have computers at home and even less have internet. The simple logistics of having time for my students to use the limited computers for our school just makes the whole idea a bit daunting. I am going to look into some grants for more computers for my school (my teacher computer is from the 80s and most in our computer labs don't work) but until that point I will come up with something. Perhaps tag-team with the other sixth grade science teacher and do a stations activity in which one station some kids are at the computers. We shall see. Any ideas? I have one class with 31 students and I would estimate that maybe 15 computers in our lab work. Partners could work, but I would prefer for it to be an ongoing thing. This is definitely something I'm going to have to think about.

I don't mean to sound like a Negative Nancy. I love my students, I love my demographics, I love my other teachers and I make the best of what is available. I am just being realistic. In an ideal setting I would create a class website, split my students into groups and create a link for each unit under which students must discuss certain prompts and respond to each other- very similar to our discussions in class.

First blog

I have never blogged before and I am quite nervous that I am doing something wrong. I am a bit ashamed of my ignorance in this area since I am only 23 and grew up in a family centered around technology. My father sheltered me from blog sites due to the potential of predators on the internet. I am old enough now to take the responsibility to learn how to professionally blog in order to further my own education. Any suggestions or comments are welcome.