Reading response 1

1.) Tech Past:

Thinking back on my schooling from K-12, the first time we really used computers was in the 5th grade. We did use them for writing quick reports but mostly I remember playing "Oregon Trail". I didn't use computers in middle school at all. In fact, when I had to take a typing class in the 7th grade we used typewriters. In high school we used a computer very sparingly and only to write papers- never for research. I was 19 years old when I signed up for my first email address and I first began using the Internet.

2.) Tech Present:

I am very much hoping to have a SMART board in my 5th grade classroom. They are so much more versitile than a regular projector. I would use them for most lecture lessons as an interactive tool. With math lessons, a SMART board is very useful in showing the page from the book right on the board and not needing special transparency pages. It's also useful for demonstrating problems so that the whole class can see each step clearly. Having students be able to show a problem on the smart board might be less nerve wracking for some rather than having to stand up at the board in front of the whole class.
    I would also love to have a class set of quizzers. These are remote control looking things that are connected to a computer and a set of questions. The teacher puts a question on the board and the student chooses the correct answer on their clicker and the results show up on the SMART board. I believe this can be a very useful tool in test preparation, and gauging where the class understanding of a subject is. The answers can be completely anonymous or the teacher can record the answers and look back to see which student had which clicker to know where individual students are.
    Blogging is another technology I will utilize in the classroom. It is a fabulous way for students to share their writings and reports for just about any subject from social studies to science. It provides a medium for all the students and the teacher to collaborate, as well as give and receive feedback.

3.) Tech Future

   There are a couple of challenges I am anticipating in using technology in the classroom. The first being how fast technology changes and becomes obsolete. Trying to keep up with the latest and greatest seems like a task that might be pretty hard to keep right on top of.
    The second challenge is keeping up with the knowledge of the kids themselves. Toddlers can use a DVD player and know how to turn on a computer to click on their favorite games. My future students are growing up using technology that I am having to take classes to know how to use.Print Page in IE