reflection Ch. 1 and 2 in Rethinking Education

Chapter 1 is about How education is changing. It talks about how students are starting to evolve. They are no longer satisfied with work sheets and lectures. They now need to be more stimulated. This chapter also talks about how we are now in a knowledge revolution. A revolution of technology that can provide us with any knowledge at any time.

Chapter 2 begins the debate between the enthusiasts and the skeptics by talking about the enthusiasts side. The enthusiasts have two arguments for technology in education. One is that the world is changing and education needs to prepare the students for the changing world. The other argument is that technology gives us enhanced capabilities for education, and as educators we need to embrace the capabilities. I agree with the enthusiasts. We need to use technology to our advantage to help keep students engaged and prepare them for the future.

Reflection on website credibility

Save the Pacific Northwest Tree Ocopus
     It is very professional looking and well put together.
     Has good humor
     Not very reliable because it's fictional, but a good read.
Martin Luther King Jr.- A True Historical Examination
     Not very reliable because it is very opinionated/bias. It is also inappropriate.
All About Explorers
      The website seems very reliable. It shows its references which are all unbias and reliable, or atleast try to make sure they are.
Dihydrogen Monoxide Research Division
      The website looks fairly reliable. However, I am personally skeptical about the website because I have never heard of Dihydrogen Monoxide, but its just another name for H2O which is water. Who knew water was so dangerous.
 

Reflection ch. 10 and epilogue Blogs, Wikis, and podcasts

Chapter 10 is more of a conclusion chapter that discusses the importance of technology and how it has impacted learning. It also explains that it is important to teach the students for the future. The epilogue was really neat to see how much a teacher can use technology in an everyday classroom. It gives many ideas on what to do as a future teacher. It also gives you some ideas to get the faculty connected through technology, not just the students. I think that would be a really good idea for future reference.

Refection: Digital Nation Movie

Technology's role on future learners can be beneficial when it is used appropriately. We want the students to be using the right kind of content on the computer in the right dosages. We do not want them to get addicted to the computer and cause bad effects on the child's learning and growing. After watching this video, I want to incorporate technology, like computers, to improve my students learning about the content when appropriate. I will not use the computers if they do not pertain to the material and I will not use it for long periods of time.

Reflection Ch 7 & 9 Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts

Chapter 7 talks about using Flickr and Chapter 9 talks about using social networking within a classroom. These two chapters really took my blinds off because we are constantly told to watch what you put on the internet, there are so many things that can go wrong if you put too much information where it is easily accessible. However, chapter 7 shows that putting pictures and videos on Flickr can be really beneficial to the students and their parents as well. It is easy for students and parents to access what they have done and learned that year. This also makes it easier for them to reflect on their year of learning. I would never have thought that facebook could be a way to engage your students deeper into discussion. By having a private group, the students can post a response to a discussion topic and even add pictures or videos (as long as they are appropriate) to support their responses.

As a future teacher, I will definitely think about creating a flickr account for my students and their parents/guardians to keep up to date on what is going on throughout the year. I will also use facebook, or other social networking sites (if appropriate) to enhance discussion topics.