Reflection of 6710

This class has really helped me become more comfortable with using different technology. I would have never thought in a million years I would know how to create a podcast or a blog. I think that as I continue to play around and learn more about technology the more I will introduce it to my class. I beleive that as a professional teacher this class has taught me a lot about how to approach using these tools within my classroom. I always thought that as an educator my classroom needed to be teacher centered. I have a hard time letting the students go on their own. This class has helped me to let go a little and let my classroom be more student centered or learner centered. I think that students learn from experience so letting them do things on their own helps them to learn it.

I will continue to expand my knowledge of learning by keeping up with the newest technology and trends so that my students get the experience and knowledge that they deserve. Technology changes daily, so staying up to date and familiar with the newest ideas is going to be tuff, but I am going to do my best. Not only do students like technology as in computers, video games and interactive games, but incorporating those things into their education will promote positive learning and get the students excited to learn.

One of my long term goals is to have a classroom blog and make it interactive where the students can go on it and do different educational games and participate in class discussions and comment on other students posts. In order for this to happen I will need to talk to our tech person at our school and see if we can have blog sites unblocked. I am going to have to present my case and explain what I am going to use it for. Another long term goal I have is to have a classroom website for the parents. It will be updated weekly to what the students are learning, it will also have links to different educational websites as well as a book list for the parents to read with their children at home. I want to be able to post upcoming events that our school is having and be able to do birthday things for the kids on the website. I am going to need to learn how to create a website in order for this to happen, so it will definately be in the future.

I have really enjoyed this class and learning how to become a digital native vs. a digital immigrant.

Technology Podcast

I have created a podcast to record a few of my students discussing with me the different technology they use in their everyday lives. Either at school or at home and how often they use these technologically advanced tools. Let me know what you think !:)

http://katiev14.podbean.com

21st Century Skills

The Partnership for 21st Century Skills had a lot of great information that was new and old to me. A lot of which was posted on the website is information that as an educator we have been taught in professional development and in different staff training seminars. It is very important to continue teaching the core curriculum and basics of education, but in order to keep the students engaged and interested new ideas and technology need to be incorporated into the classroom. As a lower elementary school teacher, my students come in with a great knowledge of how to use computers and technology. Many of them know more about it than I do. I think that if the 21st century is going to surpass the knowledge of the teachers, then the school systems should give teachers the opportunity to get familiar with technology.

http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/

Using a Blog in my Classroom

I think that a classroom blog would be beneficial not only for my students, but for the parents of my students as well. I would keep it updated with the information of the week and what the students will be learning. I teach 2nd grade, so when using a blog with younger students I think that it would be used more as a tool for the parents. I would have the weekly spelling words and the topics of each subject that the students will be learning. I will also update it with helpful links to math and language arts sites that will help the students get a better understanding of that subject/topic.

I would like to try and incorporate shared thinking through the classroom blog. Posting questions that are related to the weekly assignments and having the students share their responses on the blog. The only concern I have with using a blog as a classroom tool, is that not all my students have computers or the internet at home.

As a teacher using the students responses on the blog could help me gain a better understanding of the students train of thought which could give me insight on areas of strengths and weaknesses.

Sept.13th

Welcome to my first blog. My name is Katie Vogelei and I am a 2nd grade teacher in GA. I am creating this blog for my Masters class EDUC 6710.