The title of
chapter 2 is not Transforming ‘Teaching’ with Unique, Powerful
Technology but Transforming
‘Learning’ with Unique, Powerful Technology. I
think this title shows the importance of the learner’s activity than the teacher’s in
education, but it does not mean that the teacher’s role is not counted. Student-centered approaches are more
desirable in a classroom that has incorporated technology.
According to chapter
2, using technologies can offer various learning opportunities: Visual Learning,
Accessing and Assessing Information, Active Engagement and Collaboration,
Feedback and Expressing Creativity. Even though most of them have impressed me,
visual learning is more meaningful to me. The students I taught in my country
sometimes had trouble understanding 3D models, such as geographical features or
the rotation of the earth. However, nowadays we can use popular internet programs
like Google earth. It allows us to find maps, panoramas, photos, video clips,
data and actually see through virtual reality. From my teaching experience, one
topic from a lesson focused on glacial terrains, which does not exist in Korea
1. What do you think is the most important thing in learning opportunities using technology mentioned in our textbook? Can you inform me a good example?
2. What do you
think about the learning opportunities using technologies other than the ones
suggested in our textbook?
According to the textbook, technology allows teachers to adapt to all students, such as the general education, IEPs and ELLs within the classroom. As you mentioned in your blog, technology provides various learning opportunities for all different learners. I am a visual learner myself, so I love how the SmartBoard can show images. Some students may also feel uncomfortable expressing their feelings or ideas in an English class. Technology enables students to express themselves, such as in a blog or an online class newspaper. I think technology broadens the spectrum of learning.
ReplyDeleteI also think creativity is important in today's society. Students have many learning opportunities with technology by just typing into Google and observing how technology is effecting their everyday world. I am fairly new to utilizing technology, so I am learning new ways to incorporate it into my classroom. "Skype" is a good way for students to interact, learn different languages and cultures from students around the world. Introducing different cultures into the mainstream classrooms creates a positive learning environment for ELLs. ELLs can overcome a fear of participating in class.
To address your first question, Jean, I find that using technology for active engagement and feedback is extremely helpful in my classroom. As one person with twenty students, it's hard for me to monitor engagement and provide corrective feedback to all students when they are working independently. Here is how I use technology use for engagement and feedback weekly in my kindergarten class:
ReplyDeleteFour days a week we have "literacy stations" where students rotate through a series of literacy based activities. There are two teacher-led activities (one by me and one by our teaching assistant) and two independent activities. One of these independent activities utilizes laptops where students play literacy games via the internet or software CDs. Having a multitude of games available in these two formats allows me to differentiate for all my students and pop on a game thats just right for them. The games offer immediate, corrective feedback and don't allow students to move on to the next level unless they clear the first. Many also offer "reports" at the end where I can see how many tasks they completed correctly during their allotted time. In this way, the technology provides enrichment and additional practice at a student's needed level as well as holds them accountable for their work. The students don't fool around because they want to make the next level AND because they know I can see what they did! Since I know the students working at laptops are on-task and being provided the feedback they need, I can focus my attention on the small group of students I am working with!