Incorporating technology into your classroom is almost essential if you want a successful classroom where your students can get the most out of their education. After reading chapter six, I would have a few types of technologies on hand to make sure that my classroom offered the most to my students. First I would be sure to have a webcam available, that way if a student is not present for class or does not fully understand a lesson after the class they can watch or re-watch that days lesson. This would help keep all students up to date on my lesson plan and being able to re-watch what had been taught would help students with homework and the learning process. Secondly I would want to have headphones and notebook computers readily available for my students. This really came to mind after last weeks discussions on students being able to listen to textbooks read aloud, which I firmly agree with. The notebooks would also allow me to incorporate different visual aids, for example youtube videos or other online resources, into the classroom and further my students comprehension of materials. I would also use digital cameras in the classroom, which would allow me to take better pictures of different visuals than what my webcam would allow. These pictures can be used for powerpoint presentations as well as different classroom experiments and lessons. Lastly I would want a smartboard for my classroom. This final tool would allow me to just really enhance the visual aspect of my students learning experience, as well as make it easier for me to save lessons and post things online, possibly on a blog such as this, for my students to access later on. Also the smartboards would allow my students to get hands on learning, and if they are not understanding a lesson we can work through things together, which benefits not only the student going through the problem but also other classmates who may be struggling but too afraid to speak up.
To use too many digital technologies in my classroom I feel would just distract the students. While the possibilities for enhancement are almost limitless, you have to keep in mind the grade level and attention span of your students. You also have to be careful that you are not making your classroom into something where there is more 'oohs and aahs' than actual learning taking place.
I never thought about using a webcam to record lessons being taught. I think that is a great way to handle absent students because they would be able to watch you on video and that leaves you free to move onto other lessons. Without a webcam you would have to find time to reteach what you already taught because of someone being absent. GREAT IDEA!!!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your post, I agree that you have to be careful with using digital technology and not having so much distractions that it actually takes away from the overall learning process. All the technologies that you would include in your classroom where a great choice in furthering development and increasing learning. People should realize that students use technology almost everyday of their life and it is used outside of the school, your use of digital technology would be beneficial to keep learning going outside of the home as well, allowing the students to gain knowledge and skills and increase their understanding of the lessons and activities that where proivided to them. Very nice posting!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you Jessica about the cons on too much technology in a classroom. You do have another point that the potential of tech in a class room enhances learning possibilities but you are right the class room needs to be where the student learns not a place where oohs and ahs happen. (except for learning a lesson.)
ReplyDeleteI thought the beginning sentence of your post said it all. I completely agree with that sentiment. I believe the more you introduce to the class, the more it benefits them. I would guess the oohs and aahs would wear off quickly once the actual learning process began. I also believe the oohs and aahs would not be too overwhelming, similar to when we were introduced to new technology.
ReplyDelete