A school as big as your hand.

A school all in the palm of your hand? Sounds crazy right? Today in my technology class we heard about the new type of schooling called the ischool. I personally like the idea of the ischool, I think there are many advantages to this system. The school would save money on not having to buy so many printers, computers, fax machines, etc. The students would save money on not having to buy so many textbooks, pencils, paper, etc. When the school is able to save money they won’t have to cut as many teachers, classes, and extracurricular activities. I wish the ischool would have been around when I was a student, but now I may have the opportunity to teach in an ischool community. I think that as a teacher it would be very efficient; especially when it comes to homework, grading and quizzes. As there are many advantages with the ischool there are also disadvantages. When working with any type of technology, you always have to have a plan B.  There are times that technology doesn’t always work and if you’re whole school system is based on this, you’ll have to find a way to overcome this problem. So overall I really like the idea of an ischool, I’m excited to see what the future brings. 

Tips To Keep In Mind

I have always been fascinated in learning about new types of technology. Although I’m not very good at using most types of electronic equipment, I am amazed in how it works. My favorite piece of equipment is the video camera. My family somehow always makes fun of me when we watch home videos; I don’t know why or how, but even if the video wasn’t about me, I would find a way to pop my head in just so I could be seen.

This week in class we had a great technology presentation. It was a demonstration about our video presentations we will have to prepare in order to become a teacher. This presentation was very beneficial to me.  I never really thought about all the little details that come in to play when you’re recording yourself. Mark Henry gave us an easy way to remember all the steps necessary when it comes to videotaping. By becoming familiar with the parts of the word SCAR I will be able to develop a great video presentation.

Things Change

Technology is always changing in the world today. For this blog post my class had to read an article about technology. A quote that really stood out to me was that, “Technology is opening new doors for students and teachers alike and transforming the world outside the school, but classrooms today are still teacher-centered, low level fact information-based, and low tech delivered to students who respond to assignments with equally low tech tools.” As a result, schools are failing to change with the times. In order for students to be engaged in the classroom, the technology should be up to date. Technology is being incorporated in a child’s life at a younger age now than ever before. It’s been proven that the more activity you involve in your teaching the more your students will retain. So loose the overheads and move in the smart boards. If as a teacher you are going to expect your students to be up to date with the latest technology, you yourself must be as well. The times have changed and students don’t learn as they did many years ago. Technology is present everywhere in our daily lives and is shaping the way we live our lives. 

Classroom Technologies

Google Earth, Google Earth Lit Trips, and Prezi are just a few of the different technologies out there that many people don’t know very much about. This week in my technology class we were given the opportunity to explore some of the different types of technologies/lessons that we might incorporate in our future classrooms. For this assignment I focused on the third grade level. I wanted to find a good way to teach my students about phonemic awareness/letter recognition. I found that the smart board would be one of my best options for this type of lesson. I would use the smart board to write out many of my lessons/activities. The smart board is a good way to get the whole class involved in a fun way. By using the smart board I am able to write/draw alphabet tables and sound boxes. I can also use “clickers” along with the smart board. The clickers will allow me to see who understands and who needs a little more explanation. The smart board also has a new feature out, allowing two students to be able to use the smart board at once. This will open many new activity opportunities for the students. Being able to have two students up at once will allow me to have “alphabet races.” The class will be divided up into two groups and will have a race to see who can complete the alphabet first. These are just a couple of the ideas I have for my future third grade class. When I presented this idea to my class, I received positive feedback. I will need to set aside some time to make sure the students have proper knowledge about how to work the smart board. But other than that I can't wait to use these methods in my future classroom.

Surprise!!

Hello! My name is Miss Ashlee Wilson. I was born in Marysville, Ohio. I graduated from Cedarville University and also played on the women’s soccer team. This is my second year here at Ellie Elementary school. I am happy to be back and I’m ready to have another great year! This year I have a new form of technology that I will be using in the classroom that I am very excited about! When I was getting the new “surprise” installed in the room I couldn’t believe how much technology had changed over the years. When I first started going to school, the “best” technology of that time was the chalkboard. As a little kid I thought the chalkboard was the great. But at that age I’m pretty sure I thought everything was awesome. So a couple grades passed and the whiteboard came into the classrooms. Technology was slowing improving. When I was in high school my teachers started to use the television to teach us! I was amazed; I didn’t know what to expect next, I mean you’re already using the television to teach us in class! Senior year came and I was introduced to my favorite piece of technology. I was fascinated with the smart board. It’s a very complex piece of technology and a good way to involve the whole classroom. Throughout my years of schooling I was introduced to many different types of technology. Technology is always changing; people are always looking for ways to make it more efficient. Technology is being used in the world at a younger age. I know I personally love incorporating technology in my teaching. Technology is a part of education. When a new form of technology, meant for educational purposes, comes out it can change the way education is taught. As technology changes so does education. So I’m sure you’re just dying to know what the "surprise" technology is!! This year in the classroom, we have a smart board!!! I've been so excited all summer to finally use this! Can’t wait to see everyone! See you all in a couple days!!