When I first took this class, I was interested in knowing how exactly I could get my classroom more globally involved. I mean, I knew that I, myself, was very technologically capable and really good at picking up new technology quickly, but what can I do to (better yet, how can I) make my classroom more globally connected? That is why I really took this course. Well, that and the fact that it is required. But that is besides the point.
When we first started working in class, we began talking about technology and how it is used in today's classrooms across the world. Some use simple technologies to assist in lessons, others use technology to make connections between the classroom and the real world. I personally wanted to know how to take the lessons I already use to connect my class with that the rest of the world thinks about the topic. How could I take my middle of nowhere class in Hillsboro-Deering to start thinking about the implications of the marketing, business concepts, and business practices they use daily in my class and how it effects the rest of the globe. For instance, how does marketing differ in the United States and China when a company is trying to sell the same product. The two countries market two totally different ways and if I could show my students that, in the classroom, they can feel more globally connected.
Where would I start? Well, when I came into the class, I knew how to use all the basic computer systems, the soft and hardware that comes along with them, and how to access the Internet to find and utilize web 2.0 tools. This has become common knowledge due to the educational background that I had and would not be an issue in this class.
What I wanted to know is how I could connect all of this with a global agenda to better the curriculum that I already use.
What I learned? . . . ummmm . . . Learned? . . . hmmmm. . . yeah, about that. . . (TOTALLY KIDDING!) I learned a tremendous amount of things in this class. I would have to say that the most major thing that I learned is that there are standard other than those that we use through our curriculum that specifically relate to the use of technology in the classroom. The NET standards were something that I never had heard of before this classroom and gave me a way to assess how I was using technology in the classroom.
The second thing that I learned that will really help me this school year is how to better integrate the web 2.0 tools that I already use (and some that I just learned about) in my classroom to enhance the lesson that I am already doing. I am very fortunate to have some top of the line computers in my new classroom with access to the Internet for every student. This allows me to give my students access to these web 2.0 tools and to utilize them to enhance their lessons.
The third major thing that I learned is that our students do not understand their digital footprints. My students are always posting items to their facebook, tweeting on their twitter, uploading photos to one of their numerous online photo albums, and/or doing something on the Internet that will totally tarnish their reputation in the future. This is something that I will be working with my students all year to improve and ensure that they do not make mistakes today that will haunt them tomorrow.
With all these things in mind, I would say that I have a wonderful time this term learning about all of the opportunities to make the classroom a global atmosphere and bring my students in their little towns to the real globally connected world.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Pecha Kucha
I found this Pecha Kucha interesting because it not only is an amazing example, but it discusses the importance of collaboration.
I believe that we can use Pecha Kuchas in education. I can foresee using these to discuss topics in a chapter. For instance, each student gets a section in a chapter that they are to present (teach) to the class. At the end of the presentations, we would break the presenters up and have the students ask any answered questions to the presenters. I really like this idea!
New Media Literacies
My thoughts on "New Media Literacies" are that today's youth culture is one where they cannot remember a day where they have not had a computer or some sort of technology to access their information. They are capable of utilizing technology in ways that even we, the young adult generation, are not even aware of. I am now starting to feel like how my parents did when students show me their creative projects that they have done with their technology and I can't even think of where to start. It is baffling to me how quick students today are picking up and utilizing technology to enhance there education (whether they know it or not) and just run with their imagination.
To me, new media literacies most certainly pertain to my content area of business education. The students I teach need to be able to harness the technology and use it in order to be competitive in the real business world. Employers are looking to hire my students because they are the ones who are the most creative, innovative, inspiring, and knowledgeable when it comes to new medias.
I would say, generally, education needs to infuse more new medias into the overall education of today's youth. We need to break away from the traditional thought process of what education is and how it is "supposed" to be taught. We need to start thinking about how education can benefit our student's in the new technological age of business.
To me, new media literacies most certainly pertain to my content area of business education. The students I teach need to be able to harness the technology and use it in order to be competitive in the real business world. Employers are looking to hire my students because they are the ones who are the most creative, innovative, inspiring, and knowledgeable when it comes to new medias.
I would say, generally, education needs to infuse more new medias into the overall education of today's youth. We need to break away from the traditional thought process of what education is and how it is "supposed" to be taught. We need to start thinking about how education can benefit our student's in the new technological age of business.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Article Reflection - Global Perspectives on Educational Technology: Trends and Issues
The theories about education vary worldwide. There are few countries around the world that have similar ideologies about how the education of their students is best practiced in order to give their students an edge over the others from around the globe. Students from different countries all believe they are receiving the best education their is but are they? Are their county's really doing what is best for them? Are they current with technology? Are they adaptive to global change? Do they have a plan for the future of their students? These are the questions that must get answered before a country can say that they are of the best in the world.
The article I choose to review is one from 2003 where two professors looked at the issues of technology in education globally. Professor Sudha Swaminathan is from the Department of Education and is an Associate Professor at Eastern Connecticut State University and Professor Nicola Yelland is from the Department of Early Childhood, RMT, in Victoria Australia. Together they we guest editors on the article that review trends and issues with the global perspective on educational technology.
This paper will review a few key points about the article: Global Perspectives on Educational Technology: Trends and Issues, explain how the article relates to the course objectives, how it impacts my teaching with technology, and reflect on what I learned from reading this article.
Review
The article Global Perspectives on Educational Technology: Trends and Issues discusses the many trends and issues involved with the educational technology. The key areas mentioned in the article are government mandates, national curricular standards, teacher education, curricular integration (add-on or catalyst), selection and use of IT tools, equity and accessibility, the home environment, assessment of outcomes, and the rethinking of traditional pedagogy.
Of the issues listed above, some of these issues weigh more than others. After reading the article, you will notice that it is often the government mandates and national curricular standards that cause the first speed bump in the road towards a global education. Many governments are looking to bolster their country's education system by integrating new technologies to keep up with the fast paced world.
This would be great if it came with proper teacher education. The article states that "teacher training has not accompanied the rapid immersion of technology into classrooms." Because of this, there needs to be a great focus on teacher training as well as work with those who are stuck teaching in the "traditional" not technology ways. "What is needed is a reconceptualization of both content and pedagogy" states Yelland.
The article also talks about proper selection and us of IT tools in the classroom. They discuss that often times, technology is brought into classrooms for the sake of "having technology" and the thought never occurred to the district about HOW they will use the technology. This makes no sense but yet, it is happening in school district across the country. District are spending money on "technology" that they THINK will help the students but in all actuality, they are wasting money on technology that cannot be used for the purposes intended.
Relate to Course Objectives
As current and future teachers, we need to figure out a way that allows us integrate technology into our classroom without it becoming the focus. The education of tomorrow is one that is global in nature and must be provided to our students. Below, I have attached two videos that discuss why educational technology must be used in today's classrooms as well as ways that can be integrated.
Going Global 2011 - Harvesting Technology to Address the Global Educational Challenges
Technology (ICTs) in Education
Though today's student may not look much different than those of years past (clothing and artistic expression noted), they are a new breed of students. Students still go to their local schools to learn but what they are learning is far beyond that of yesteryears students. Students now get their information online rather than books, they all have access to the internet via IPods, IPads, Smart Phones, Laptops, Tablets, etc., and they all are highly technologically advanced.
Getting these students the technology as well as the proper integration of curriculum and technology has become the job of today's teacher. We have to push for our students to become global in their thoughts. We must see if they're are able to see the "Big Picture" and utilize the skills they have with the technology available. This is the challenge of today's students and teachers.
How Does This Impact My Teaching?
My teaching isn't impacted as much as those who's pedagogy is one of the "Traditional Educator" who utilizes text books, libraries, card catalogs, etc. These teachers are the one's who are effected the greatest, IF the school is open to the use of these technologies. The biggest impact for me would be if I were to begin teaching in a school/district that is closed to the idea of global education/technology. I did not come from a traditional educational background. I have always had technology at my fingertips and have always included it into my lessons.
Teaching is an art of combining many different tools to provide student's with the best potential education. If the national curricular standards were to change, or the district were to not allow for me to utilize the many global technologies that I currently plan to use, than there may be a greater impact than what is already known by thousands of educators.
Reflection
I found this article to be a very interesting one. The fact that this article is 8 years old and yet, many of the problems stated within it are still problems today is a tad discouraging. I know that I personally learn better with the use of technology and that I feel that I can provide my students with a better, more authentic education, if the current system were to change and provide more open access to technology as well as more funding so that more students can gain access. These two issues are what I feel are most important in terms of getting my students a better global education with the proper technology.
The article I choose to review is one from 2003 where two professors looked at the issues of technology in education globally. Professor Sudha Swaminathan is from the Department of Education and is an Associate Professor at Eastern Connecticut State University and Professor Nicola Yelland is from the Department of Early Childhood, RMT, in Victoria Australia. Together they we guest editors on the article that review trends and issues with the global perspective on educational technology.
This paper will review a few key points about the article: Global Perspectives on Educational Technology: Trends and Issues, explain how the article relates to the course objectives, how it impacts my teaching with technology, and reflect on what I learned from reading this article.
Review
The article Global Perspectives on Educational Technology: Trends and Issues discusses the many trends and issues involved with the educational technology. The key areas mentioned in the article are government mandates, national curricular standards, teacher education, curricular integration (add-on or catalyst), selection and use of IT tools, equity and accessibility, the home environment, assessment of outcomes, and the rethinking of traditional pedagogy.
Of the issues listed above, some of these issues weigh more than others. After reading the article, you will notice that it is often the government mandates and national curricular standards that cause the first speed bump in the road towards a global education. Many governments are looking to bolster their country's education system by integrating new technologies to keep up with the fast paced world.
This would be great if it came with proper teacher education. The article states that "teacher training has not accompanied the rapid immersion of technology into classrooms." Because of this, there needs to be a great focus on teacher training as well as work with those who are stuck teaching in the "traditional" not technology ways. "What is needed is a reconceptualization of both content and pedagogy" states Yelland.
The article also talks about proper selection and us of IT tools in the classroom. They discuss that often times, technology is brought into classrooms for the sake of "having technology" and the thought never occurred to the district about HOW they will use the technology. This makes no sense but yet, it is happening in school district across the country. District are spending money on "technology" that they THINK will help the students but in all actuality, they are wasting money on technology that cannot be used for the purposes intended.
Relate to Course Objectives
As current and future teachers, we need to figure out a way that allows us integrate technology into our classroom without it becoming the focus. The education of tomorrow is one that is global in nature and must be provided to our students. Below, I have attached two videos that discuss why educational technology must be used in today's classrooms as well as ways that can be integrated.
Going Global 2011 - Harvesting Technology to Address the Global Educational Challenges
Technology (ICTs) in Education
Though today's student may not look much different than those of years past (clothing and artistic expression noted), they are a new breed of students. Students still go to their local schools to learn but what they are learning is far beyond that of yesteryears students. Students now get their information online rather than books, they all have access to the internet via IPods, IPads, Smart Phones, Laptops, Tablets, etc., and they all are highly technologically advanced.
Getting these students the technology as well as the proper integration of curriculum and technology has become the job of today's teacher. We have to push for our students to become global in their thoughts. We must see if they're are able to see the "Big Picture" and utilize the skills they have with the technology available. This is the challenge of today's students and teachers.
How Does This Impact My Teaching?
My teaching isn't impacted as much as those who's pedagogy is one of the "Traditional Educator" who utilizes text books, libraries, card catalogs, etc. These teachers are the one's who are effected the greatest, IF the school is open to the use of these technologies. The biggest impact for me would be if I were to begin teaching in a school/district that is closed to the idea of global education/technology. I did not come from a traditional educational background. I have always had technology at my fingertips and have always included it into my lessons.
Teaching is an art of combining many different tools to provide student's with the best potential education. If the national curricular standards were to change, or the district were to not allow for me to utilize the many global technologies that I currently plan to use, than there may be a greater impact than what is already known by thousands of educators.
Reflection
I found this article to be a very interesting one. The fact that this article is 8 years old and yet, many of the problems stated within it are still problems today is a tad discouraging. I know that I personally learn better with the use of technology and that I feel that I can provide my students with a better, more authentic education, if the current system were to change and provide more open access to technology as well as more funding so that more students can gain access. These two issues are what I feel are most important in terms of getting my students a better global education with the proper technology.
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