How do public policies impact the use of technology?
In the district I work for, our policies are very specific in regards to technology. There are specific guidelines for acceptable uses of all technology during school time and on district-owned devices. There are policies regarding gaming, email, social networking, chatting, account creation, etc.
How are these policies impacting students and teachers?
These policies make it very difficult for me as a teacher. I often hear of a new website or technology that I would like to use in my class, but I am unable to use it because it is blocked by the district. We can petition for the district to change the accessibility of the website/technology, but the wait period can be several months. It is also hard for teachers to know which sites are accessible to students because our policies are different from those of our students. We may be able to access the site without a problem, but our students may be blocked from the same site. My district goes so far as to block sites such as Weebly (unless you use the paid version).
I have run into other problems with district policy interfering with state curriculum. There is a class that I would love to teach which is all about social networking, pod casting, etc. However, the sites needed to effectively teach this curriculum are nearly all blocked by the district. We are only allowed to demonstrate the use of the sites at school. We cannot require our students to practice using them. I feel that this takes away the fun of the class; therefore, I have decided to keep this course out of our course catalog.
Yes, I do believe some policies are necessary. But are they really effective? How many students bring their own smart phones and access any sites they want while on school property? Do we really have the ability to control the content our students are viewing? At what point do we leave that to their own discretion?
Monday, July 28, 2014
July 15
What technologies might we use to enhance cognition?
Of course the answer would be technologies that promote HOTS, 21st Century Skills, etc. I really enjoyed the presentations that were made in class. I started compiling a list of technologies that are amazing and would be great to use in a classroom:
Of course the answer would be technologies that promote HOTS, 21st Century Skills, etc. I really enjoyed the presentations that were made in class. I started compiling a list of technologies that are amazing and would be great to use in a classroom:
- Remind.com
- Codecademy
- Nearpod
- Prezi
- Kid Blog
- App Maker
- App Inventor
- GoAnimate
- PowToon
- Brain Pop
July 10
What types of skills and thought processes are considered higher-order?
I really think a graphic is a great way to represent this question.
I have put a lot of thought into a new system for measuring student achievement in my class. I want this to work seamlessly with HOTS. I really like the idea of using badges. I saw badges in action when I took my son to the Country Music Hall of Fame. They had an interactive room where you earn badges as you learn about the music industry. The new ACM Gallery and the Dinah and Fred Gretsch Family Gallery offer visitors a hands-on immersion into today’s country music with artifacts from today’s country stars and a series of technology-enhanced activities that will allow guests to become “Certified Country.”
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How does/might technology hinder and/or enhance cognition?
In "Now You See It" many references are made to the fact that technology is not distracting and not bad, we are just not used to the form of attention that is required by it. "we concentrate in a different way when we are making the connections, when we are clinking and browsing, than when we are watching or listening or even reading a book."
I really think a graphic is a great way to represent this question.
I have put a lot of thought into a new system for measuring student achievement in my class. I want this to work seamlessly with HOTS. I really like the idea of using badges. I saw badges in action when I took my son to the Country Music Hall of Fame. They had an interactive room where you earn badges as you learn about the music industry. The new ACM Gallery and the Dinah and Fred Gretsch Family Gallery offer visitors a hands-on immersion into today’s country music with artifacts from today’s country stars and a series of technology-enhanced activities that will allow guests to become “Certified Country.”
How does/might technology hinder and/or enhance cognition?
In "Now You See It" many references are made to the fact that technology is not distracting and not bad, we are just not used to the form of attention that is required by it. "we concentrate in a different way when we are making the connections, when we are clinking and browsing, than when we are watching or listening or even reading a book."
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
July 8
What types of skills and thought processes are considered higher-order?
Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) include activities that require critical thinking, problem solving, creating, analyzing, evaluating, inferring, extrapolating, deducing, applying, and perspective taking. In these types of activities we really want kids to be applying their skills in different settings, in real-life situations, thinking outside the box, etc.
How does/might technology hinder and/or enhance cognition?
The concept that excites me the most is the idea of using technology to make learning fun. I am so inspired by the idea of turning my classroom into a game environment. If my students are having fun, they are going to learn better. I want to implement some sort of badge system as a form of reward and assessment. I think I can find a way to tie the badges into the different standards and objectives in my class. Technology is what our students know and love more than anything. If I can use what they know to teach them new things, they will feel a lot more confident in themselves. I am so excited to try something along these lines...
Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) include activities that require critical thinking, problem solving, creating, analyzing, evaluating, inferring, extrapolating, deducing, applying, and perspective taking. In these types of activities we really want kids to be applying their skills in different settings, in real-life situations, thinking outside the box, etc.
How does/might technology hinder and/or enhance cognition?
The concept that excites me the most is the idea of using technology to make learning fun. I am so inspired by the idea of turning my classroom into a game environment. If my students are having fun, they are going to learn better. I want to implement some sort of badge system as a form of reward and assessment. I think I can find a way to tie the badges into the different standards and objectives in my class. Technology is what our students know and love more than anything. If I can use what they know to teach them new things, they will feel a lot more confident in themselves. I am so excited to try something along these lines...
July 1-3
How might technology be used to encourage students of all ages to explore identity?
In my classes, I think it would be great to try a few different options. I teach a Business Webpage Design class. In this class it would be fun to teach them html code while building a site all about them. The different tabs on their site can represent different pieces of themselves and their identity. In Computer Technology, I thought it would be fun to let my students explore their identity while as a final project in presentations. They would be able to use the presentation software of their choice (PowerPoint, Presentations, Prezi, etc.). In Computer Technology 2, I could take the project a little further by having them create a more interactive presentation complete with hyperlinks, animations, and sound.
In my classes, I think it would be great to try a few different options. I teach a Business Webpage Design class. In this class it would be fun to teach them html code while building a site all about them. The different tabs on their site can represent different pieces of themselves and their identity. In Computer Technology, I thought it would be fun to let my students explore their identity while as a final project in presentations. They would be able to use the presentation software of their choice (PowerPoint, Presentations, Prezi, etc.). In Computer Technology 2, I could take the project a little further by having them create a more interactive presentation complete with hyperlinks, animations, and sound.
June 24
How Does Identity Develop Over the Lifespan?
Identity starts as a baby with exploration much in the same way that cognition develops. As a toddler, we are influenced by those who model behavior for us. As a child, we start to make some of our own judgments and decisions. As a teenager, we really start to define who we are and make decisions based on our needs and wants. Hopefully by the time we are an adult we have a good idea of who we are. Those of us who don't are probably the ones who are lacking in satisfaction and feel a little lost.
Identity starts as a baby with exploration much in the same way that cognition develops. As a toddler, we are influenced by those who model behavior for us. As a child, we start to make some of our own judgments and decisions. As a teenager, we really start to define who we are and make decisions based on our needs and wants. Hopefully by the time we are an adult we have a good idea of who we are. Those of us who don't are probably the ones who are lacking in satisfaction and feel a little lost.
June 26
How Does Technology Impact Social Skills?
I see a definite change in social skills due to technology. Kids do not have as many face-to-face/voice-to-voice conversations. I think this can be harmful because it is very important to develop good interpersonal skills. I see definite problems in communication. I also see that it can cause real issues with listening skills. My students think they are great multitaskers, but they actually just end up missing all of my instructions when they are using technology rather than listening to me.
How Does Technology Impact the Development of Identity?
If technology affects social skills, doesn't it also affect the development of identity? Doesn't the development of social skills impact the development of identity? I definitely think the two go together. Our friends, family, and other social factors play a big roll in our identity development. Maybe we love technology. Our likes and dislikes are a part of our identity. Maybe we "value" technology. Our values are definitely a part of our identity.
How Does Technology Impact the Development of Societies and Cultures and the Ways in Which Children are Socialized?
I think when we watch the news and have a chance to view other countries and the changes that exist because of technology or the lack of technology, we can see the definite impact. There are so many countries that function without the use of technology. These countries are the most poor countries. Our more affluent countries have a great deal of technology available to their members. Technology may also help with the blending of cultures. What I mean by blending is that cultures can be influenced more by other cultures because the "walls" can come down through the use of technology.
How Does Technology Impact How We Respond to Social Issues?
Social Media!!! Need I say more? Information spreads like wildfire thanks to social media. This is not always good information. Rumors fly freely without control. Bullying is an ever increasing issue that our youth have to deal with thanks to social media. People use email and text messaging to ask people out and to break up with them. It is so much easier for us to pass judgement and express our opinions when we don't know the people we are communicating with. It seems like we expect anonymity when we are using technology...isn't it the exact opposite? Aren't we having our identities stolen due to technology? Funny how there seems to be a double standard of opinion there.
How Do Modern Children and Adolescents Differ from Their Predecessors?
Some of the changes I have noticed in today's adolescents include the following: a general lack of respect for others, everything is a right to them rather than a privilege, they all need their own cell phone so that they can talk to their friends, they would rather text than make a phone call (me too), they are extremely talented at computer games and the general use of technology, they have a desire for instant results or instant erasure, they are losing critical thinking skills due to impatience, and they are super smart and talented (when they want to apply themselves).
I see a definite change in social skills due to technology. Kids do not have as many face-to-face/voice-to-voice conversations. I think this can be harmful because it is very important to develop good interpersonal skills. I see definite problems in communication. I also see that it can cause real issues with listening skills. My students think they are great multitaskers, but they actually just end up missing all of my instructions when they are using technology rather than listening to me.
How Does Technology Impact the Development of Identity?
If technology affects social skills, doesn't it also affect the development of identity? Doesn't the development of social skills impact the development of identity? I definitely think the two go together. Our friends, family, and other social factors play a big roll in our identity development. Maybe we love technology. Our likes and dislikes are a part of our identity. Maybe we "value" technology. Our values are definitely a part of our identity.
How Does Technology Impact the Development of Societies and Cultures and the Ways in Which Children are Socialized?
I think when we watch the news and have a chance to view other countries and the changes that exist because of technology or the lack of technology, we can see the definite impact. There are so many countries that function without the use of technology. These countries are the most poor countries. Our more affluent countries have a great deal of technology available to their members. Technology may also help with the blending of cultures. What I mean by blending is that cultures can be influenced more by other cultures because the "walls" can come down through the use of technology.
How Does Technology Impact How We Respond to Social Issues?
Social Media!!! Need I say more? Information spreads like wildfire thanks to social media. This is not always good information. Rumors fly freely without control. Bullying is an ever increasing issue that our youth have to deal with thanks to social media. People use email and text messaging to ask people out and to break up with them. It is so much easier for us to pass judgement and express our opinions when we don't know the people we are communicating with. It seems like we expect anonymity when we are using technology...isn't it the exact opposite? Aren't we having our identities stolen due to technology? Funny how there seems to be a double standard of opinion there.
How Do Modern Children and Adolescents Differ from Their Predecessors?
Some of the changes I have noticed in today's adolescents include the following: a general lack of respect for others, everything is a right to them rather than a privilege, they all need their own cell phone so that they can talk to their friends, they would rather text than make a phone call (me too), they are extremely talented at computer games and the general use of technology, they have a desire for instant results or instant erasure, they are losing critical thinking skills due to impatience, and they are super smart and talented (when they want to apply themselves).
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