Google Apps for Education
I
had never really explored any of the applications in Google before, so
it was pretty neat to see all of the ideas and services it can provide
for all sorts of purposes. Obviously right now we are looking at the
applications to be used for education, and I did find some that I liked.
Some were more for personal use, like the calendar, which would be
great for organizing and planning lessons/units/projects/etc.
One
of my favorite parts of Google Apps is Google Docs/Drive. I really like
this application because there are so many possibilities for uses of
this particular app. I can not only create a document such as the one I
am creating right now, but I can create presentations for the classroom
or for meetings, spreadsheets for grading/organization, drawings (this
could be useful in plans like seating arrangements, etc.), and my
favorite, forms. I like forms because you can use them as pre-tests,
quizzes, ways to get to know your students, surveys, and much more. The
other thing I like about Google Docs is that you can have a shared
folder for the classroom, so that you can edit/view all the students’
work.
My
other favorite Google App is Google Sites/Blogger. Being a huge
Pinterest fan, I have already seen so many great ideas and inspirational
posts for the uses of websites and blogs for the classroom. In a blog,
one can share a little bit about themselves to the students and their
families, post assignments/schedules, share what they are doing within
the classroom, and many more things. The possibilities and ideas are
really endless.
Overall
I really enjoyed exploring Google Apps and all it has to offer. I will
definitely be utilizing quite a few of them, most definitely the apps I
mentioned previously. It is so nice to find something that really
promotes organization and fun new ways to educate students.
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Friday, September 28, 2012
Reflection 2: Part 2
4 Year Olds With iPhones
I enjoyed reading this article by Marc Prensky mostly because when I saw the title I thought I was going to absolutely hate it. I ended up being pleasantly surprised, but I do hold a few reservations. First of all, there were indeed many positives to a child with an iPhone. It is great that you are able to turn off the phone function. That would be my first worry in giving a child a phone. That could open the door to expensive charges as well as dangers. I also enjoyed the different apps that make learning (whether it be ‘school’ skills or other basic skills without their knowledge of actually being educated) fun. I love the voice recorder idea, and I think these types of technologies still allow the child to be creative. Then again, when children are constantly presented with ready made apps with things already created for them so that they don’t have to do anything but draw, strategize, etc. They don’t really get to come up with anything on their own, or some up with a different use for it. Also, I just can’t get into the idea of children sitting in front of screens all day. It really gives me a Wall-E type of vibe where everyone is sitting around, morbidly obese, with screens dangling above their heads because technology has allowed them to do everything without actually DOING anything. If I did have the money to buy an iPhone, I don’t think I would buy one for my own child. At the same time, I might buy things or find fun little activities for them to do on our actual computer. I just don’t want something portable that they can beg to sit with no matter where we are. For students, I also don’t know that we should be spending our money on providing these for the students, but maybe there will be some sort of compromise.
I enjoyed reading this article by Marc Prensky mostly because when I saw the title I thought I was going to absolutely hate it. I ended up being pleasantly surprised, but I do hold a few reservations. First of all, there were indeed many positives to a child with an iPhone. It is great that you are able to turn off the phone function. That would be my first worry in giving a child a phone. That could open the door to expensive charges as well as dangers. I also enjoyed the different apps that make learning (whether it be ‘school’ skills or other basic skills without their knowledge of actually being educated) fun. I love the voice recorder idea, and I think these types of technologies still allow the child to be creative. Then again, when children are constantly presented with ready made apps with things already created for them so that they don’t have to do anything but draw, strategize, etc. They don’t really get to come up with anything on their own, or some up with a different use for it. Also, I just can’t get into the idea of children sitting in front of screens all day. It really gives me a Wall-E type of vibe where everyone is sitting around, morbidly obese, with screens dangling above their heads because technology has allowed them to do everything without actually DOING anything. If I did have the money to buy an iPhone, I don’t think I would buy one for my own child. At the same time, I might buy things or find fun little activities for them to do on our actual computer. I just don’t want something portable that they can beg to sit with no matter where we are. For students, I also don’t know that we should be spending our money on providing these for the students, but maybe there will be some sort of compromise.
Reflection 2: Part 1
Khan Academy
In Marc Prensky’s article for Educational Technology titled “Khan Academy”, he talks about the site created by Salman Khan that provides videos of explanations of lessons (originally starting with math) and has now branched into a variety of subjects. I liked how he praised Khan for not selling out to companies who would want to charge for his services, and instead wants to reach students to help them better understand. I actually do agree that Khan Academy can be seen more as “a beginning” rather than a final solution. I do think that what Khan has done is so helpful for many students (I have looked into it and have gotten great ideas for TA’ing, and my younger brother swears by it). I understood what he meant about this resource being an example of “teaching old things in new ways”, and that we should be striving to find NEW ways to teach material. At the same time, I have found this website to be very helpful and very easy to understand. Then again, I know these methods would not apply to every student, especially when their case is not that they didn’t pay attention but that they simply aren’t interested in the material (especially in the lecture/blackboard format). Overall I agreed with Prensky’s article, and I understand what he says about moving forward, but in general (even without NEW methods of instruction) Khan Academy is an excellent resource for students and teachers.
In Marc Prensky’s article for Educational Technology titled “Khan Academy”, he talks about the site created by Salman Khan that provides videos of explanations of lessons (originally starting with math) and has now branched into a variety of subjects. I liked how he praised Khan for not selling out to companies who would want to charge for his services, and instead wants to reach students to help them better understand. I actually do agree that Khan Academy can be seen more as “a beginning” rather than a final solution. I do think that what Khan has done is so helpful for many students (I have looked into it and have gotten great ideas for TA’ing, and my younger brother swears by it). I understood what he meant about this resource being an example of “teaching old things in new ways”, and that we should be striving to find NEW ways to teach material. At the same time, I have found this website to be very helpful and very easy to understand. Then again, I know these methods would not apply to every student, especially when their case is not that they didn’t pay attention but that they simply aren’t interested in the material (especially in the lecture/blackboard format). Overall I agreed with Prensky’s article, and I understand what he says about moving forward, but in general (even without NEW methods of instruction) Khan Academy is an excellent resource for students and teachers.
Reflection 1
Technology Bill of Rights and Brad Flickinger.
I had mixed feelings about this blog. On one hand, Brad Flickinger seems like a very intelligent and thought-provoking person who has made great strides in the use of new technology in a classroom setting. His goals are understandable and I am in agreement with many of his points. I do think that as educators we need to be up to speed with the newest technology and to be aware of the types of resources available to students. His “Educational Technology Bill of Rights for Students” was very interesting to read and gave some great tips for teachers in the classroom regarding technology and trying to veer away from traditional ideologies. That being said, I also believe that there is a line that can be drawn when it comes to technology in the classroom and its effectiveness. I consider myself to be a pretty open-minded person, so I am hoping through this class and through the perspectives of many others I will gain further insight about the positives of using many types of technology in the classroom (even the dreaded cell phone).
Specifically looking at his Student Bill of Rights, I very much enjoyed what was said about being taught by instructors who know how to manage the technology in their classrooms. It’s not fair for students to be forced back to the Stone Age just because their teacher does not want to learn how to use any new forms of technology. The tools and resources we have nowadays are so amazing and helpful, why would we want to keep that from students. I do not think that we should make technology as taboo as it has been in some of my previous classroom experiences. While I surely had teachers who embraced all technological advances, there were always a few teachers that refused to use any new products in their classroom, even if the school was supplying them. To be honest, I was mostly in agreement with all of Brad’s posts and ideas.
I feel that this photo shows technology in the classroom in a very positive light. Teachers should be up to speed on the new technology that kids can use. Makes the class much more interesting for the students!
This is what I think about when I imagine cell phone use in the classroom. This comes from experience being around peers who did this constantly (and doing so myself). Guess what I wasn’t doing when I was using mine? Answer: Paying attention.
Educational Technology Bill of Rights (Plus Additions)
I had mixed feelings about this blog. On one hand, Brad Flickinger seems like a very intelligent and thought-provoking person who has made great strides in the use of new technology in a classroom setting. His goals are understandable and I am in agreement with many of his points. I do think that as educators we need to be up to speed with the newest technology and to be aware of the types of resources available to students. His “Educational Technology Bill of Rights for Students” was very interesting to read and gave some great tips for teachers in the classroom regarding technology and trying to veer away from traditional ideologies. That being said, I also believe that there is a line that can be drawn when it comes to technology in the classroom and its effectiveness. I consider myself to be a pretty open-minded person, so I am hoping through this class and through the perspectives of many others I will gain further insight about the positives of using many types of technology in the classroom (even the dreaded cell phone).
Specifically looking at his Student Bill of Rights, I very much enjoyed what was said about being taught by instructors who know how to manage the technology in their classrooms. It’s not fair for students to be forced back to the Stone Age just because their teacher does not want to learn how to use any new forms of technology. The tools and resources we have nowadays are so amazing and helpful, why would we want to keep that from students. I do not think that we should make technology as taboo as it has been in some of my previous classroom experiences. While I surely had teachers who embraced all technological advances, there were always a few teachers that refused to use any new products in their classroom, even if the school was supplying them. To be honest, I was mostly in agreement with all of Brad’s posts and ideas.
I feel that this photo shows technology in the classroom in a very positive light. Teachers should be up to speed on the new technology that kids can use. Makes the class much more interesting for the students!
There
were some things mentioned that I still feel might not be effective.
Yes, I may sound old fashioned, but I have been in the cell
phone/Facebook world long enough to know that many of my peers were
severely distracted during class. I do not want students focusing more
on who said what about whom when I am trying to teach them new skills. I
am all for embracing technology and teaching my students how to be
marketable, but there is a difference in using technology time
positively in the classroom, than using it to be distracted from
learning. I know that this class and future readings will probably show
me the light when it comes to these issues and how to correctly handle
them, but for now I am still a little bit skeptical about social
networking. I understand that we communicate in this way now, and that I
can use it as an educational tool, but is it realistic to think that
they still will not serve as hindrances in many ways for many students?
Overall a very insightful blog, but I still have many questions.
This is what I think about when I imagine cell phone use in the classroom. This comes from experience being around peers who did this constantly (and doing so myself). Guess what I wasn’t doing when I was using mine? Answer: Paying attention.
Educational Technology Bill of Rights (Plus Additions)
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