Facing the Future of Technology in Education

As I am taking a course in the "Gateway to Technology" course, I realize that today's teachers must embrace technology to teach our students. The old ways of teaching must adapt to the new change or better yet technology can enhance our old way of teaching.

Many of our students are already technological savy. They know how to engage the internet. Most students carry power full computers in their pocket which is their cell phones or smart phones. Other students already carry mp3, ipod, or itouch musical devices.

As teachers we could resist the technological future or embrace. I say we must embrace it. I learn that students would be more engage with the class subject by using the computer, smart phones or even an ipod or mp3 player. Use today's technology that is already available to help make the class learning more relevant to our students.

Teachers can utilize the cell phones to text homework or quiz. Students could then text back their answers. Ipods, itouch or mp3 players could be utilize for students to listen and learn certain subjects such as the famous "I have a Dream" Speech by Martin Luther King.

As for the internet, I am amazed to see so many websites applications at our disposal to be use as tools for teaching. Best part is that most of these applications are free. One website I think would be useful is edmodo website for secure social learning network for teachers and students. This website is useful for teachers and students to communicate to each other on educations issues.

To wrap up teachers need to embrace the future of technology not only to better engage with our students, but to prepare our students to face the new technology real world.

Contributed by William Sevillo

What about all the other necessities?

We live in a very modern world today. There are so many forms of technology out there designed to make everything happen at just a push of a button, sometimes even at a voice command. So when we talk about computers in the classroom, my question really is, "what about all the other necessities?".

I would not be surprised at all to find out I would be having computers in my classroom. This is only because I have been fortunate to have them in my classroom for the past two years. Although a lot of my students are accustomed to having personal computers at home, at a friends', at a relatives', or they use them at the mall, they are usually excited about being see them in class.

Some of the thoughts that would probably arise among my students include whether there would be internet provided, if they would be able to print, how often they would be able to use them, and maybe even how to use them, at least for some. Computers in the classroom would definitely spark up an interest in technology in almost all of them, but I think that is what is so ironic about having computers in the classroom.

For the past two years I have had computers in my classroom, and that is really all I've had. We would be able to use them to print -at least for awhile, use them to teach some basic skills such as text formatting, and that is basically it. Once the ink has run out, it will take a long while before the system will provide anymore. It could be costly to buy ink as well, since not just one student would be using the printer. In addition, there aren't many programs included in the personal computers provided. So we'll be stuck using them for short tutorials on how to use Microsoft Word or Power-point. Although these are great to learn and we should really all just be grateful, it is quite sad and ironic. It is sad that we have been provided with this technology but not all the other necessities to really use them to a great extent.

Now, when I mention the word necessities, I am referring to everything else necessary to have to really use personal computers. We should not just be provided with computers, we should have internet, ink, burners, projectors, and all the other "necessities" of technology in the classroom. Although it is quite obvious that the reason these are not provided are mainly financial, I think it will be difficult for students to really appreciate what technology can do for their lives if we just simply provide them with computers.

It may seem pretty far-fetched to think that we will be provided with all the "necessities" for technology in the classroom one day, but I guess having computers in the class is a great start. The Gateway to Technology class is also a great starting point. We all need to make sure our educators are up to par or even ahead of the new generation when it comes to technology in the classroom. We need to make sure it all does not stop here as well! We need to make sure we ask the question, "what about all the other necessities?".

High School English Ideas

There seems to be a never-ending list of creative resources for the elementary classroom (workbooks, posters, handouts, songs, rhymes, you name it). It's not so easy to find good stuff for the high school level. Here's a site called "Outta Ray's Head" http://home.cogeco.ca/~rayser3/. It has lessons, handouts and other ideas available for the high school English level for free! All the authors ask is that you send them a message to explain how you used their ideas in your classroom. And since we encourage our students not to plagiarize, it's a great way to lead by example and give credit where it's due. I'm a firm believer in NOT reinventing the wheel, so please post any other ideas or links for high school English.

GATEWAY TO TECHNOLOGY CLASS

The title says it all. This class helps teachers open their views and clears whatever fears they have of computer technology. It is a step by step instructional course that is open to all teachers interested in learning how to implement education through the usage of the world wide web. The class is only 3 hours long and takes only 5 days to complete. The lessons will start off with the basic TEXT PROCESSING which teaches all about how to use Microsoft Word. The second day will go on to teaching how to create a SPREADSHEET that would help collect, average, and organize any information you would like to share. The third day is focused on COMMUNICATIONS, where the class is right now, which is basically learning how to interact with other educational sharing sites. So if you are reading this right now, it shows that this class is successfully guiding its teachers to THE GATEWAY TO TECHNOLOGY. Wish us luck on tomorrow's DIGITAL PUBLISHING!!! It's sounding like its going to be a challenge.

Gateway Tech Classes...SKYPE 4 Middle School students, Oh Yeah!!!!

Gateway classes have inspired many teachers to spend hours in front of the computer. There is so much to learn, it's been FUN and exciting, especially getting back into blogging. I can spend hours, especially on Facebook, but don't really have the time. Yes, we can make the time....but it's addicting. Really enjoyed the classes thus far. I'll be using the Edmondo site as a resource and discovered two other teachers have been. Really liked the info. on sending a student to SKYPE with their parent in the corner of the room. That would really be great for middle school students...! Thank you all for sharing.

As for policies, the guiding policy for using computers in the Guam DOE schools for educational purposes only is the Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) that states and specifies the acceptable and unacceptable uses and consequences for violations of the policy. Especially because a lot of misuse, cyberbullying, plagiarism, etc. it's an important policy that all teachers become knowledgeable. REALLY ENJOYING THE CLASS!

I would be very excited to see how my students would react. They would most likely ask if they could use them. Also, I would be anxious for them to start using them. That would truly be a blessing if it ever happened.

Free Webinar on "Boosting Literacy" and Newsletter

Here is an ad for a free webinar on literacy and reading comprehension. It is scheduled for the 15th in the Mainland. Check out the link to see if you are interested.

Here is another newsletter for technology to help teachers read about new methods and issues dealing with the classroom. It is a free site.
http://www.smartbrief.com/edtech/index.jsp

Roberta

Outdated Policies on Technology

It would be good if the school and department policies would keep up with the new technologies. Telling us to demand the students not use the technologies, instead of teaching us how to utilize the technologies in our classrooms, is providing a disservice to all of us. We need to learn how to use the technology with the students, not how to monitor and ban the technology use.

Still Have a lot to Learn

Wow! Gateway to Technology is a great crash course for anyone who is not tech savvy. I can navigate through text processing and I enjoying creating spreadsheets. Today's lesson on Communication was interesting since it's out of my comfort zone. I was able to up an account on Edmodo and now I can Blog! I find these communication tools useful but I'm not sure how I'll incorporate it into an already full day in kindergarten.

My thoughts on technology

As I continue to take more classes at UOG, listen to teachers share, and watch more video clips of technology in the 21st century, I am learning to embrace technology as a way of life.

I used to think technology was and should be taught as a vocational skill, that it is isolated to a course students take at school. I am growing to see how technology is used everyday; to help organize, share, collaborate, relax, entertain, communicate, etc.

Teaching in today's world, we should use all the technology available to assist us in our delivery and expose our students to as much technology as well.