SMART-8

Creating Content-Writing

A blog is a where someone can write and post a dated entry and then is is posted in order by date starting at the most recent and dating back to when the blog was started. Blogs have one writer or others who are added by the original owner and they are very personal. A wiki is one site that allows visitors to change content based on what they think is necessary. The information on wikis can be changed or edited by anyone. A web-based word processor is just like a normal word processor, but online you do not have to purchase the software necessary for offline word processors. This information can be published elsewhere if the writer thinks necessary.

Blogs can be used as a place for students to journal their personal thoughts or answers to questions, such as this blog, in a classroom. This can be used for book studies, sharing podcasts, or sharing presentations. Wikis can be used as jumping off points for research. It needs to be made known to students that these sites are not reliable sources because anyone can go in and add whatever information they want to them, but if a student needs direction then this is a great place to start. They can learn key words from already made wikis and use them to find if the information is actually true from better, more reliable sources. Classes can even make their own wiki and use it to share information that is useful for class projects. Web-based word processors can give many students an opportunity to collaborate on one project. Such as Google docs where many students can write in the same project at the same time and it appears on everyone's screens as they work. This would be great for something like round-robin writing, team writing, and peer editing.

The only experience I have with blogs and web-based word processors is the experience I have gained from this class. My blog for this class is a place for me to answer questions about reading that I have done throughout the weeks. We use web-based word processors for claiming websites or lessons that we are presenting in class so that my classmates know and there are not duplicates being presented. I have researched on some preexisting wikis, but like I said, I know the information is unreliable so I simply use them as a starting off point and then I look more in-depth into what I find there to make sure I am getting facts.

SMART-7

Gaming

I think that gaming can have a lot of educational value. I would say that the age group of teachers that I am a part of is a group that understands the value of gaming better than the generations before us. We are a group of students that grew up gaming more than past groups and we have seen the advancements made throughout our years in school. "The late 1980s and early 1990s saw the rise of commercially developed software games that were both entertaining and skills based" (p. 89). This is when I was growing up so I am more familiar with past generations of teachers who did not have the games in their classrooms as they were learning. These teachers before me might consider gaming solely for entertainment and not for skills and learning. Students give reasons for using games to help them learn in school like they can "be used to teach difficult concepts" and "they are engaging" (p. 89). Some students learn better by doing. Gaming can be used in correspondence to regular teaching for students who are slower learners or for students who learn better by doing. Gaming can be reinforcement to the concepts students already know and further their knowledge in ways that simple worksheets and paper may not be able to accomplish. Throughout the whole chapter on gaming it talks about how games can provide opportunity for students to learn problem solving and thinking skills that are not easily taught otherwise. After reading the common objectives to gaming in the chapter I think the only major concerns would be the hardware, amount of time to play, and finding time to play. I would say that it is the teacher's job to find games that are useful the the curriculum and that teach the children. Teachers cannot just say, "Go find a game and play it!" and expect children to find an educational game; they must first use the game themselves to make sure it is safe and that it will actually teach their students.

Having children develop their own minigames could have many benefits. They are using their computers to make a game for themselves or others to play. This means that they must know, or at least be reviewing the information as they are putting it into the computer to be used in the game. These games can then be used during that school year for other students and the student that made it can be proud of their work. If the game is really good then it could be used for years to come. I have always heard that repetition is the mother of memory, so at the very least through this assignment they are gaining repetition of the material being included in the game. Of course, I must mention the 21st century skills being applied in this assignment would be very beneficial and possibly even inspiring to future gamers and game makers.

SMART-6

Virtual Worlds

I have never visited an online virtual world. I have not visited online worlds before because I have never had time to just sit down and spend time in a virtual world. I spent my time socializing, hanging out with friends, reading, at church, playing volleyball, and scrapbooking rather than in a virtual world.

I think that if a virtual world was completely educational and had everything to do with a lesson then it could have a place in a classroom. I do not know if they have a place in the classroom based on the time commitment though. So many teachers already complain about not having enough time to get through their curriculum now. I cannot imagine trying to add a virtual world into the madness that supposedly already exists (I guess I'll find out soon)! I can see virtual worlds being a huge time commitment and not have enough educational worth to be played in a school setting. If a virtual world was completely safe it might be an additional resource that students could use at home in their spare time instead of spending class time on it. A teacher would have to check the virtual world completely before suggesting it to be used by their students to make sure that it is safe and appropriate.

SMART-5

Social Networks

I began social networking a long time ago. When I was in middle school I got a Myspace account and used that to keep in touch with my friends from school outside of school and in touch with my relatives that live in Indiana and Nevada. I also used email to keep in touch with a few of my Aunts from out of state. I loved Myspace; it gave me a way to talk to people without tying up the home phone line (I did't get a cell phone until I could drive), or costing tons of money! Then when I was a freshman in high school I began using Facebook. At first I thought Facebook was difficult to navigate, but as the days went on I learned to love it even more than Myspace. Eventually Twitter was introduced into the picture and I tried that out a little bit. I never really liked Twitter though. Eventually I deleted my Myspace, then deleted my Twitter for a time. I discovered Tumblr then and I used Tumblr, which is a kind of picture/video/audio/etc. blogging site where you can reblog what others put up or add your own posts. Then I went back to Twitter thinking I might like it better, but I had no luck and I still have it, and don't use it. I used Facebook to stay in touch with my youth group and keep base with them on things we were doing throughout the months because I have interned for the past four summers. Facebook is the best social network that I have come in contact with, and I have kept it for the longest period of time outside of email. I have had one of my email addresses since middle school and I still use it today.

When envisioning the role of social networking in 21st century learning environments I can see using a safe social networking site to have each of my students put themselves in the role of a historical figure. I see myself acting the role of Christopher Columbus and giving each of my students a role on my ship. Then my students will form a profile putting themselves in the shoes of the role I have given them. We will then interact with one another as if we are actually on the journey to discovery. I think that putting each student in the role of someone else on the crew and ship that a lesson like this will really stick out in each of their minds as they go through school. I want them to be able to remember lessons for the rest of their lives and be able to say, "I love this subject because of this awesome lesson I did one year!" This type of an endeavor would have to last for a pretty lengthy so that there would be ample interaction to cover the different encounters from the trip. Something like this would also take a lot of research and preparation on behalf of the teacher, so it would be a big commitment. I think if a teacher were willing this could be a great way to incorporate 21st century skills through social networking in the classroom.

SMART-4

Netbooks

I would say that I am a proponent of one-to-one computing in classrooms. I know that it could potentially be a huge distraction, but I believe that it will help students be more prepared for their futures. I do not think it is appropriate for teachers to discourage any kind of technology use in the classroom if the students can learn from it. In the first chapter we read about how most students these days are not being properly prepared to use technology in their future workplaces. As teachers, it is our job to make a change here and promote the use of technology so that our students are learning what is necessary.

Students are much more excited about learning when they are not required to do the old, boring, plain worksheets from the past. The article by Linda Borg says, ""When teachers say, ‘Get out your worksheet,’ I’m like, ‘OK,’" says 12-year-old Teri Thompson. “When they say, ‘Get out your iPad,’ I’m like, ‘Yes! The iPad!’”" So I believe that learning with one-to-one computing will add excitement and interest to my students' attitudes.

Also, one-to-one computing would allow for students to have their textbooks electronically rather than hard copies. The article called "iPad May Replace Textbooks in the Classroom" that tells how expensive it is to buy textbooks and the cost is greatly reduced by using electronic versions of the same books.

The article called "Schools See Rising Scores with iPads" is a short study with few students, but it seems to have good results. Of course, the study should be carried out further because there are many factors to be considered, but the idea that this kind of technology can raise scores is incredible.

On page 42 in Teaching with Tools Kids Really Use there is a list that gives reasons why the use of one-to-one computing is beneficial. A brief outline of this list is files can be shared, discussed, edited, etc. right on the computer and at the same time, students can post in wikis, videoconferencing and interviewing, and they promote solving real world problems.

Pros of Netbooks vs. Tablets:

Netbooks don't have as much room for gaming so they would be less of a distraction.

Netbooks have an actual keyboard which gives students an opportunity to learn to type correctly easier because they can feel the buttons. 

Netbooks are generally cheaper than tablets.

Cons of Netbooks vs. Tablets:

Tablets have more apps that could be used educationally. They can even be focused specifically on subject areas.

Tablets are simply a screen which allows for more versatility.

Tablets are simpler to trouble-shoot on.

I have never heard of tablets getting viruses (but they may and I just don't know).

In the chapter there was a lot written about how operating systems on the Netbooks can often be sluggish.

Tablets have the iBook or eBook apps.

SMART-3

MP3 Players

Pros

Creating, listening, promote critical thinking/problem solving/workplace skills, help ELL students improve skills, help foreign language studiers, teacher reviews can be posted for extra help, testing past rote memorization

Cons

Distracting, battery life (if not charged), cheating (audio recordings of study notes), illegal uploading and downloading

What stands out to me most about these links is that many are just like blogs, only you can hear and read what the writer has to say. Sometimes it is very hard to understand what a writer is saying because inflection cannot be detected in words on a page, but when you actually hear what the writer thinks you get a better idea of how they actually feel. This could be used in a classroom to better give emotion behind what student writers are typing in blogs. They can type their blog and also add their voice in to give emphasis where they need, outline what is most important, and show inflection.

I think that many of the suggestions for making podcasts could be useful to me in the future. As it says in the book, “successful podcasts must be engaging and contain reliable information, requiring research, script writing and revision, rehearsal, legible recording, and editing before the podcast can be published.” This simple sentence is proof that using podcasts in the classroom and publishing our own podcasts in the classroom is a valuable way for students to learn.

SMART-2

Cell Phones

Some Surprising Stats:

Approximately 79% of all teens have a cell phone; the surprising stat: this is an increase of 36% since 2005.

46% of children ages 9-11 have cell phones.

20% of children ages 6-8 have cell phones.

Pros and cons for cell phone use in the classroom:

Pros

Calculators, useful for research, educational gaming, calendars (events, due dates, appointments, etc.), teaching digital etiquette, cameras (to promote concepts), tactful podcasts, polls/quizzes through text or Internet,

Cons

Cheating, harassment, rumors, disruptive, distraction, cyber-bullying, cameras (posting or sharing mean or ill pictures), rude podcasts

Best idea for cell phone use:

I would say the podcast idea was my favorite. I had never thought about using a cell phone, or landline phone, to make podcasts for the teachers to listen to answers to questions, new ideas or thoughts, memorable items (like on a field trip), or interviews. Also, I had not considered making a podcast of class or school news. These are all great ideas for using cell phones or landlines to make podcasts or voice recordings in the classroom! I also really like the idea of texting in answers to surveys or quiz questions and that sort of thing, but we have discussed that previously in classes that I have taken so it was not such a new idea.

SMART-1

21st Century Skills

This chapter contains information that I consider extremely relevant and useful for today's teachers. We must realize that there is a generation gap in technology and consider how much more advanced children today are in the same technology we came to know at later ages. I think it is easy to forget that times are different and to think that children will not have some skills when, actually, they do. I really loved the quote from Thomas Friedman about that simple phrase that has gone from "finish your dinner-people in India and China are starving" to "finish your homework-people in India and China are starving for your jobs." That is such an example of how much the world has changed from the generation of our parents to our generation. And then, how much the world is going to change from our generation to the generations of children that we are going to have in our classroom. 

The definition of 21st Century Skills as given in the book is "the content knowledge and applied skills that today's students need to master to thrive in a continually evolving workplace and society." We read how there is a debate about whether to simply teach 21st century skills, simply teach content, or a combination of the two. There are three documents listed that discuss 21st century skills. These three documents contain a few common themes. "It's important to remember that they [21st century skills] do not replace content area standards: they support them by emphasizing the importance of using modern tools and strategies to achieve academic goals."

Then on top of that you have to remember as a teacher that technology is constantly changing, so current technology that you can teach students in elementary grades is no longer current technology once they get into the work force. Teachers must learn to teach their students for change. They need to equip students with all of the necessary skills to work with current technology and equip them with minds to be willing to accept and learn future technology. Students need to understand that technology will constantly be changing and they will constantly have to be adapting. Also, teachers need to understand those two very important facts.

In this chapter there were sections on common objections and also changing viewpoints, and these were very important to read so that we will know differing points of view.

I think it is important for teachers to understand that it is not enough to simply type a previously hand written document into word and call that incorporation of technology. Students need to have the opportunity to explore what is available to them in new and exciting ways. They cannot learn about technology if they are not given the opportunity to be able to dive right in. They can take advantage of technology as they are given chances to explore what they have at their fingertips. Of course, as a teacher, you still have to monitor what the students are using. Also, there is not always time to give to play around and explore. There are standards for technology that are very helpful in guiding teachers in ways to use current technology. Help students apply technology to real world situations and incorporate critical thinking skills. You do not have to rewrite your entire curriculum, just evaluate it and see where there can be slight changes made to make your classroom technologically rich.

*My favorite quote from the chapter: "Perhaps one of the most important findings was that secondary education should help all students flourish, whether they were college bound or not." I think this quote can be applied to more than just secondary education, and that it is just as important in elementary.