Are there benefits to technology and education?

The article I read, Debate continues over benefits of technology-oriented education, presents an interesting take on education and evolving technology. This article begins with discussing how children are discouraged from watching too much television, yet they get a lot of "screen time" with new technologies. Professor Fox notes in the article that, "Technology has become an integral part of the current culture, and the question is no longer whether children should or should not be exposed to technology, but how technology can be used most effectively as an educational tool". I felt like this was a very valid point, because technology is extremely important in today's world and I agree that technology should be utilized as a classroom tool. She refers to the generation of children as the Web.20 generation, which webopedia defines as, "the term given to describe a second generation of the World Wide Web that is focused on the ability for people to collaborate and share information online". The article also notes that adults should be come technology oriented as well, and parents should stress social interaction.

Too much "screen time" can impact a child in a negative way and parents should supervise this time. Television is cited as the most influential in transferring knowledge and children are most easily drawn to it. A report in the article noted, "that 25 percent of children between the ages of zero and five use the Internet at least once a week". This is a startling number for children at such a young age and the article suggests technology should supplement learning, not replace it. It is also important for parents to read to their children because this is linked to increased literacy and contact.It is also shown that technology has impacted writing skills, as most technological software corrects mistakes for you (I also feel that this has impacted me as well, I constantly use spell check on word documents) and social media terms are carried into school work. ]

Despite these concerns, technology and educational applications can be very helpful for younger students. Using technology can help children become more engaged in their education, and it is a good way to archive previous work. When used properly, technology can benefit everyone in the classroom, including teachers.

The Digital Divide in the Classroom

            Today in READ 411, we discussed the “digital divide” in classrooms. According to dictionary.com, digital divide is defined as, “the socioeconomic and other disparities between those people who have opportunities and skills enabling them to benefit from digital resources, especially the Internet, and those who do not have these opportunities or skills: programs that help to bridge the digital divide between rich and poor countries.” The digital divide seems to be a barrier for student success, but it is not the student’s fault that this is occurring in schools.

            For this blog I found an article about bridging the digital divide in America's rural schools. The article starts of by introducing as Yoder, Colorado, a rural area where 25-30%  of a teacher’s students do not have Internet access at home. In the school the article mentions, “three-quarters of the 120 K-12 students are eligible for free or reduced-priced lunch”. The school tries to provide technology for the attending students and wants to  “infuse” technology in the curriculum as much as it can. The school is even requiring seniors in high school to take a mandatory computer-science class. They want to provide students with the technology schools they will use in college and in their everyday lives. According to the article, “when it comes to technology inside traditional classrooms, the small sizes — and budgets — of rural schools present unique hurdles.”

 However, schools across the country are trying to bridge this gap by developing statewide, and trying to secure funding for technologies. Many students across the country are unable to keep up with Internet usage, and the schools might be the only way these individuals can access technology. According to a 2010 study, “57 percent of rural households had broadband Internet access, compared to 72 percent in urban areas”. Teachers must be flexible with students, because not everyone has the same availability to technology. It is important to teach these students computer skills since they may encounter it in their future.  As teachers, we must be able to keep on top of technologies because it is constantly changing.

Reliable Sources on the Internet

How often have we heard a teacher or Professor say, "Wikipedia cannot be used as a source for any of your school work"? It's hard to keep count! 

The Internet has made it very easy for students to find information, and it can effortlessly replace searching the library for primary and secondary sources. How can a student know what a teacher considers reliable or untrustworthy? In CURR 314, we learn about the proper ways to assess students and how to clearly convey what the end product should be like. It is also important to provide directions explaining what is expected. In this context, I feel like a teacher should always clarify what kind of sources can be utilized in his or her classroom. Maybe, even providing a list of the types of sources they approve of.

I think a good website teachers, specifically Social Studies teachers, could recommend is JSTOR, which is an accredited source of journal articles. Often times, the school district libraries have memberships to online archives like this. (It is important to check out what is available to students in the school you might be working in.) The articles found on this website can be filtered to show scholarly reviewed articles, this is great for credibility. Not only should the teacher suggest sources, she should explain what is unacceptable and why. I think it is a good idea for teachers to model what they are looking for to the students. “Modeling”, which we have learned about in other CURR classes, is a great way to clarify assignments to students. Students should know what is ok and not okay with information the cite from online sources.

Interactivity #5: NETS/ISTE Interview

Revised spreadsheet with NETS standards

For this activity I interviewed an 11^th grade Social Studies teacher, named “Mrs. A”, within the Paramus school district. Paramus can be considered an affluent area, with many families living in the middle/upper-middle class. The district is also well known for public education, a few being National Blue Ribbon schools. The Social Studies program, in the school of the teacher I interviewed, there is an emphasis on technology in the classroom. 

Before our interview, I asked her what she knew about NETS and their implementation in the Paramus School district. In addition to core curricular standards, these standards are referred to as National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) and International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). After telling her about our assignment I asked her about integrating technology and the standards. She told me she has heard of them, but did not have much experience with them. I provided her with the standards and asked her about the feelings she had about them. I printed out NETS/ISTE for Students 2007 and showed her the Appendix in Domine's book, which provides some standards and a good way to reference them during the interview. 

The teacher, Mrs. A, was not familiar with the exact standards listed in the NETS documents I provided her with. She did not know about NETS being applied for students in her district, and was not sure if her colleagues have been implementing them in their lessons. Mrs. A stated, “In our district there is a push for integrating technology into the curriculum, but it is not a requirement”. She also went on to note how there is an emphasis on the continuous evolvement of technology and education in modern times. To her understanding, Mrs. A feels NETS is being adopted in her school district, indirectly, because to her knowledge she is not sure which of her coworkers are aware of them. She thinks it is a good idea to have professional development so more teachers can be aware of these standards, and learn how to implement them correctly. However, she does not feel that funding for technology in the district is objectionable; there are already high-tech computer labs, some Smart Boards, and other technological devices. Mrs. A says that these standards could be applied easily.

When looking at the NETS and ISTE, I asked her how she felt about them being adopted in her district. She told me she thought they were great and she would reference them in the future. I was not surprised about her experience with NETS or the fact that she believed they were being implied indirectly. A lot of the NETS/ISTE standards seem like they could be “common sense” in a modern day classroom. As a future teacher, I think I will keep these documents to cite as a teacher, I might share them with my coworkers as something we can work on implementing together. I feel like these standards are a good idea and that teachers should always stay ahead with the current advancement of technology.

Geocaching

In Social Studies classrooms, there is some focus on using coordinates and understanding maps. I have recently learned about an online activity called geocaching, which focuses on locating objects using Global Positioning Systems. Using a starting location, you can find hidden containers in your area and you will have to use coordinates to locate these objects. This activity could be a good thing to recommend to students, but the teacher has to keep in mind that their students may not have to means to go out and locate these things. However, it can be a good way for a student to practice their skills and have fun. This video is quite short and explains the activity clearly.

 

 

The website Geocaching.com provides information on how to participate and provides a guide. If you use this particular website you have to be a member, but there are free websites you can use as well. An example of a rule is that if you take the Geocache item you must replace it with something of equal or greater value. You must leave the Geocache where you found it for other people participating.  Also, you can sign a log book at the site and you can log your experience on the online website. The Geocache can be located anywhere in the world, and even underwater! It's like a modern day treasure hunt, I would love to try it one day and I'm sure students could enjoy this activity too. 

PowerPoints and Lecturing

"Picture a half-full classroom with nearly-comatose students descending into the slow death that takes place while listening to a lecture that is as interesting as the buzzing of a mosquito that one cannot find in order to squash"

I think we have all had that one teacher where you can barely make it through class without falling asleep or watching the clock, felling like it will never end.


When in college, I have gotten used to using PowerPoint for assignments that I need to present to a class. I often worry how these presentations go. I ask myself, "Is anyone going to pay attention to my project/lesson?"  TechLearning has been a very useful resource to help me come up with ideas and learn things about using technology in the classroom. The article I am focusing on in this blog is 10 Do's and Don'ts to using PowerPoints to deliver lectures that don't suck.The article suggests ways to make a lesson using PowerPoint more engaging for the students. Some of the ideas include using a powerful image, "that evoke an emotional response". Another is to carefully remember the audience, this can be done though engaging the audience in conversation and making eye contact. Ask questions that provoke thinking, like we are learning in CURR 314, to create questions that require critical thinking. Being prepared is also a good idea, it easy for an audience to notice how well you have practiced or ready to pass on information. The article suggests videoing yourself to see how you have done and what you need to work on. Do your presentation as if you were telling a story; this makes the lesson flow.
          

 The article also conveys interesting tips to watch out for when making a PowerPoint for class. It is important to make sure your slides are not too wordy. The article notes that if you make this mistake, “this is boring and causes listeners to tune out”. Another tip is to avoid speaking in a monotone voice or only deliver facts, this can also lead to disinterest in the lesson. Do not read directly off the slide. The article also states, “Your job is not just to impart information, but to directly inspire”. Most importantly, know your material!

Assistive Technology

 A few people in my group have been posting about assistive technology for students with special needs. I am thinking about going back to school to become certified for Special Education, so I thought this would be a good topic to research. Using a website that Domine provides in her book, I found an article on this subject. The article I found is Assistive Technology 2.0: Special Tech . which documents a conversation by professionals on the subject.  The article defines assistive technology, "includes assistive, adaptive, and rehabilitation devices for people with disabilities". 

These gadgets can help increase student learning and communication for everyone in the classroom, not just for students who have a disability. Another benefit to assistive technology is that it can also help increase independence for special needs children. With time, the use of assistive technology has been increasing. There are some drawbacks for the use of this technology, like being costly (not all districts can afford these gadgets). However, there are less expensive options like using GoogleDocs or a less expensive tablet. According to Special Education professional, “It is important that those students who will benefit from the technology have it available to them and those students who will be distracted are taught using more traditional means”. Assistive technology may not be ideal for all students with a disability. However, it can help some students with not only educational goals, but life skills as well.
 

Increasing Student Involvement Through Technology

Today in READ 411 we had our group presentation. Looking back on it now, maybe we could have changed a few things but overall we had an interactive activity to conclude the presentation. Our lesson goal was to teach our classmates the first three articles of the Constitution (which is the three branches of government).To begin, we created a PowerPoint to present our information. Although we were very thorough with breaking down the descriptions for each branch, maybe we could have made the presentation increase participation. I believe that PowerPoint can be helpful with teaching a particular topic, however a main theme from this semester has taught me that technology must SUPPORT the lesson plan and not replace it. Students could also utilize PowerPoint as a way to communicate information or create graphic organizers. For our group presentation we received a few recommendations from our fellow classmates  that can help us do better in the future.

At the end of the PowerPoint we had a game of jeopardy, asking questions we had brought up in our presentation. We used an Internet website to create the jeopardy table; you could find almost anything online! We used Jeopardylabs to create our presentation template. However, I am sure there are other types of activities that promote interaction on the Internet. This activity completely changed the atmosphere of our lesson, as people were actively participating. This was a great way to utilize technology in order to foster student involvement. On our survey, numerous students cited how much fun they had during the activity. I will definitely use this website, or any other, to create fun ways to teach my students.

Kessler and Technology

            Sarah Kessler’s article, 8 Ways Technology is Improving Education, was very insightful. According to Kessler, “technology is helping teachers to expand beyond linear, text-based learning and to engage students who learn best in other ways”. Technology has become extremely important in the classroom. I feel like some of the most important technologies found in the article I felt were: global learning, storytelling and multimedia, and E-books. These technologies have revolutionized education and learning, especially in a Social Studies classroom.

            I felt like global learning can be an interesting way for students to be exposed to different cultures and increase social interaction, as the article has concluded. Also, this technology is reasonable because in most cases it is free or affordable. Skype, not only in the classroom, is an amazing way for people to communicate across long distances and continents. Storytelling and multimedia is also fascinating,  it seems like a fun way to utilize technologies for learning and expression. I think this type of technology can also be helpful for READ 411-Language and Literacy, because it helps students with the comprehension of concepts. Finally, I believe E-books are a groundbreaking technology. According to Kessler, “E-books hold an unimaginable potential for innovating education”. There are many advantages for utilizing them, such as being easily transportable. The interesting thing about technology is that it is always evolving. Teachers can find new ways to implement technologies to support the learning experience.

Plagiarism and Technology

The accessibility of information on the Internet has changed the way that students collect data and information. It is very easy to just copy something off a website and post it as your own statements. According to Professor Domine in her textbook, “accessing information, has generated a wake-up call for educators in the area of student cheating and plagiarism” (Domine, 58). Teachers must be vigilant in looking out for plagiarism from their students. Not only can students copy and paste information, they can also find essays on the Internet about any given topic. However, some students who may seem like they are plagiarizing may have just made a mistake. They might just mistake of unawareness.

            What can teachers do? I think that defining plagiarism with the students is a good way to start. Teachers can teach their students how to properly cite a source. Teachers can suggest websites such as KnightCite to help their students learn how to cite with different types of styles. Another thing teachers can do is having the students email copies of their work instead of asking for a hardcopy. The Internet provides websites that can check what the student wrote against information on the Internet. An example of a website is Plagiarism Checking Website, but there are many sites like this on the Internet. There are also sites that suggest ways to help end plagiarism in the classroom. A helpful website I found is Discourage Plagiarism , it suggests techniques such as letting “students know that YOU are aware of online plagiarism sites and that you actively use anti-plagiarism software”. I believe students should be aware that there should be a zero percent tolerance for using someone else’s words as your own.

Fair Use: Copyright in the Classroom

While reading Professor Domine's textbook, I found that the Fair Use laws play an

 interesting role in the classroom. For those that are unfamiliar with this law, Domine defines it as, "part of the U.S. copyright law that allows limited use of copyrighted material without obtaining written permission, purchasing the work, or paying the author a royalty” (Domine, 75). Through my public school experience, I remember teachers would show images and do things like display videos in order to, as Domine puts it, “enliven the lesson”. I never thought that doing so could be a legal issue. There are also strange restrictions and guidelines teachers must follow in order to avoid infringing Fair Use Guide lines. An example provided, teachers can “utilize copyright-protected image in a PowerPoint presentation to instruct her class, BUT cannot upload that presentation to the World Wide Web without permission” (Domine, 75). I thought this was kind of weird, all because you change how the image is presented should not determine the legality issues Teachers are also not allowed to compile different videos on one DVD or VHS.

There are also websites teachers can use to check the guidelines of different types of media like print, photographs, and video. The website Domine provides is TechLearning, to understand copyright laws and education (The website also provides other resources for educators).I feel like intellectual property laws are a thought-provoking subject. Resources from different types of technologies and resources can help support lessons in the classroom. I do not think there should be strict copyright laws because I believe intellectual property should be considered public-domain. There should be no limit to what teachers can do in their classroom, in order to support the education of the students. However, Domine suggests teachers should lead by example so that students abide and understand copyright laws. I do not see the harm in utilizing information, especially with the accessibility of knowledge through the Internet.

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Portable Devices and Education: IPad

                                                                                        

In Domine’s chapter “Pedagogical Stages” she introduces the use of portable devices as a classroom tool. This technology is presented in her first stage of pedagogy under content management. However this technology can be applied to other stages as well. Portable devices, according to Domine are known for their, "mobility and portability of information" (Domine, 73). "Documents and information can be easily transmitted through the Internet and found on portable devices. According to Domine, with any type of portable device, “students can easily access, download, and transport primary source documents, photographs, film records, newspaper archives, and even advice from experts” (Domine,61). Through my experience with schooling I have always felt going to the more “traditional” way with a notebook, textbook, pen and paper. However, I see more people using portable devices in the classroom than ever before. Interestingly, Domine writes, “student exposure to and interaction with the new mobile technologies can increase students’ information management skills” (Domine, 61). One of the most recent things I have seen students in my classes doing is using an IPad. 

When IPads first came out I thought to myself, “Why is this necessary? I already have a laptop!” Now that I see students using them I have a different oppinion. I think one of the great things the IPad can do is accessing internet documents, like PDFs, for class. It is no longer necessary to print over thirty pages for one class, when it can be easily accessed on a portable device. Unlike laptops, the IPad is a lot lighter and easier to transport. They can access internet in an instant, and can be utilized in a number of ways. There are also many educational applications offered on the IPad. The IPad can also serve as an organizer as it offers applications like Calendar. IPads can also be less money than a laptop, but they do have their limitations. Many people see IPads for entertainment, but can be a strong educational tool when utilized inside and outside of the classroom. I think I would like to see students utilize them more and I am not sure how much it would cost if a school was to provide them. I guess one thing to worry about would be the technology being replaced by something better, like a new IPad or other portable device.