Mixed Emotions on Technology in the Classroom

Technology can be used for good and it can be used for bad. There are many ways that it does and will enhance the classroom. For example, drawing parents directly into the classroom through posting lessons and homework online is a great way for teachers to connect with the parents and the parents to stay informed with their child's schoolwork. There are also many other positive traits to technology such as the computer which is used for writing papers, researching, power point presentations and so much more.
I have mixed emotions about it because there are negative aspects to technology as well. Facebook and myspace can distract students from their work. In general, technology is a great tool and it is up to the students, teachers and parents to choose to use it for good.

Positive outlook on Technology

Before I reviewed the links for homework, I tried to make an assumption of what I would be seeing. I assumed that the links would explain the dangers of technology. I made this judgment based on previous speeches I have heard from teachers, parents and media on the subject of technology. These subjects include facebook, email, online pictures, music and much more and the message that I have always gotten is very negative. Even at the start of the first video clip, as I read the statistics, I thought that the video’s intention was to compare how much time we spend doing homework verse how much time we are relaxing while watching TV, viewing facebook and talking on the cell phone. I clearly thought it was a negative outlook on technology. At the very end, I realized that the point of the video was to explain how technology could “save us” in the future. Not only was this site in favor of technology, but the links afterwards were also making suggestions on how to incorporate technology in the classrooms.

I think that it is a great idea for teachers to incorporate the computer and other forms of technology in order to directly connect with their students. Times have changed, as technology has been developed, so the teaching styles must change in order to keep up. For example, as Mike Muir was describing, pen, paper and typewriters are the old fashion way of completing a paper. Teachers had to keep in mind that revision for a paper would take much longer than the average student today. With the computer, files are saved and only small corrections are made very easily. Thus, teachers had to quickly adjust homework assignments given this step forward in technology. My favorite video clip was the second video. I felt that it had a lot of hidden parallelism within it. I noticed that when the video stressed the benefits of the computer over the use of writing, the speed of the video sped up. Not only did the video show an image of typing text, but it also used the motion of the video to further make a point. In addition, I found it interesting that I teach the computer every time I tag and post a photo. I never thought of this process as beneficial to the machine. To me, this was both frightening and amazing.
Overall, it is very important for me to keep an open mind as I step into a world of teaching. The teaching that I have had in the past as well as the teaching I have now, will continue to change. As the third video stressed, it is important to “engage the students, not enrage them.” By taking away all forms of technology from the students and banning it from my classroom, in some ways, I will loose their interest and their focus. Therefore, I will not be beneficial to the students. I have to be ready to adapt new teaching styles in my future classroom.

My first day!

It's me, Jenna!

This is my very first day using this new blog which I created for practicum. I am so excited. I'm a little nervous as well. Not about this blog, but about practicum. Don't get me wrong, it sounds like everything I dreamed it would be, but I sometimes just wonder...wonder if I can do all that is expected, if I can be the teacher that I hope to be...

That's about it. I will definately be back.