The use of technology in a classroom where outside access is an issue could make instructing a class a little difficult. I would want to give every student an equal chance to do their assignments, but if those assignments require the use of technology that they can not access at home then some will be at a complete disadvantage or possibly won’t even be able to complete the assignment at all. While I think this is really unfair, I also think that’s how life is, unfair. Someone might not have the same easy accessibility as another, but there are usually many different methods and tactics to get a job done. Knowing and being able to get that task done in possibly an unconventional way in its own right is an excellent skill to possess.
I think avoiding the use of technology because all students won’t have the same kind of access is totally a disservice to the rest of a class. As the article had stated kids going to school now will most likely have jobs that will require the use of technology. If we as teachers omit technology from the classroom we will be leaving a large gap in their educations if the goal is to have our students become functional working adults. Without the knowledge and experience of using technology in the classroom we are only partially training and educating our students.
I think there are many ways in which we can increase the access of technology to students that may not have a ready availability to it. The simplest way I think is to give those students a guide or map of places near to them that can provide them with tools of technology. Libraries, community centers, college campuses, etc. could all provide free use of technology to some students that need those resources. Another method would be providing extra time to disadvantaged students during or after class to use the school’s technology. Although pretty generic I don’t think there is much I would ask of my students that these two solutions could not solve.
To think outside of the “box”, I might pursue some help from local businesses around the community. I know form experience that HP in Vancouver has been very gracious and has helped many schools by donating old computers and printers. I’m sure they could possibly be getting some tax breaks both I think in the end both parties end up winning. I’m not sure what kind of school policies or district policies you would have to go through but I’m sure many companies around our schools would be more then happy to provide the schools with technology or access to it.
Team Salty
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
The History of Legal Pad.....and PowerPoints
I thought all the presentations were really good. I think I enjoyed Marc’s the most, even though he probably went longer then he originally planed. I really enjoyed how was breaking down the swings and how and why spin was applied. Also I think I am now equipped with some more ammo to help me finally defeat my friend at tennis. Peter might actually have the upper hand in our next epic tennis match for the ages HAHAHAHHA!!!!!
Maybe I’m a freak, but when I am following a PowerPoint presentation I need some wordage on the slides so I can follow them. I think Maya and Justin’s presentations were both really awesome to watch, but I had a hard time staying with it because they were mostly all pictures and verbally talking about what the pictures where about. I loved the pictures and they were all awesome, but if I could had have one or two bullet points with each slide that would have rocked my socks off even harder.
I actually think my presentation rocked, so I wouldn’t change a single thing about it! But then again it totally needed some work, and I think after have the chance to see everyone else presentation I think I would add in some slides that are just pictures without much or any text. In my own presentation I think that might work perfectly in show some different types of stretches that I could actually teach to the class. And it could also be a pretty good opportunity to show how some of the differently rehab methods looked like and how they worked.
I really like the idea of using PowerPoint presentation in the classroom. Although it may be difficult to put it into a PE class I definitely would use it in a Health class. The pros of using PowerPoint are you can structure your lesson around it and that would help you stay in the flow of your lesson. It also helps students take notes on what you specifically want them to remember. All you have to do is bullet point the most important info and then they will know what they will need to know or be tested on. One con of using PowerPoint is as easily as it can help the flow of a lesson it can get off topic with a slide that provides no necessary info. You can have a great presentation until you get to a part where you have to much wording or something that doesn’t really belong and you whole presentation can get off track. I think its also important to balance a PowerPoint presentation with actual verbal or classroom discussion. If all you use is PowerPoint you will miss important discovery and understanding moments that are usually reserved in verbal discussion or something akin to that.
Maybe I’m a freak, but when I am following a PowerPoint presentation I need some wordage on the slides so I can follow them. I think Maya and Justin’s presentations were both really awesome to watch, but I had a hard time staying with it because they were mostly all pictures and verbally talking about what the pictures where about. I loved the pictures and they were all awesome, but if I could had have one or two bullet points with each slide that would have rocked my socks off even harder.
I actually think my presentation rocked, so I wouldn’t change a single thing about it! But then again it totally needed some work, and I think after have the chance to see everyone else presentation I think I would add in some slides that are just pictures without much or any text. In my own presentation I think that might work perfectly in show some different types of stretches that I could actually teach to the class. And it could also be a pretty good opportunity to show how some of the differently rehab methods looked like and how they worked.
I really like the idea of using PowerPoint presentation in the classroom. Although it may be difficult to put it into a PE class I definitely would use it in a Health class. The pros of using PowerPoint are you can structure your lesson around it and that would help you stay in the flow of your lesson. It also helps students take notes on what you specifically want them to remember. All you have to do is bullet point the most important info and then they will know what they will need to know or be tested on. One con of using PowerPoint is as easily as it can help the flow of a lesson it can get off topic with a slide that provides no necessary info. You can have a great presentation until you get to a part where you have to much wording or something that doesn’t really belong and you whole presentation can get off track. I think its also important to balance a PowerPoint presentation with actual verbal or classroom discussion. If all you use is PowerPoint you will miss important discovery and understanding moments that are usually reserved in verbal discussion or something akin to that.
Short attention span....What???
Is educational technology shortening our students’ attention spans? Yes.....
Wait…what? Was I asked a question? I wasn’t paying attention. I absolutely think that that the availability and the use of some of the educational technology are shortening the attention spans of students. Kids already have a thousand things going through their minds before you introduce them to technology, and in the end something has got to give. Unfortunately as teachers we might see this in a shortened attention span.
I agree with David Marcovitz, that while yes, technology might be shortening attention spans; it does deserve a place in out schools. Does it necessarily mean we should have classes to prepare our students to sit through three hours of lecture without disengaging from the lecture material at all? No, but I think it is important that students have the ability to have some sort of attention span. It will eventually come back to haunt them in the future, if they don’t have a way to stay engaged in one or two tasks. My initial concern is how our students will handle a job interview. If they have been in a classroom or environment where having no requirements for paying attention, how will they act when in they are in an office interviewing for a job?
It’s nice to teacher our students it’s alright to be engaged in several things at once. And it might be nice to have that in a classroom every once in a while, but to omit or leave out the pure necessity to have a focused and engaged attention on a few things at a time could eventually harm our kids chances to succeed in the future. As with almost everything we must find a balance, of yes do a hundred things at a time and be happy and successful at that, but when that time comes be prepared to focus in on a single objective or task at hand.
Wait…what? Was I asked a question? I wasn’t paying attention. I absolutely think that that the availability and the use of some of the educational technology are shortening the attention spans of students. Kids already have a thousand things going through their minds before you introduce them to technology, and in the end something has got to give. Unfortunately as teachers we might see this in a shortened attention span.
I agree with David Marcovitz, that while yes, technology might be shortening attention spans; it does deserve a place in out schools. Does it necessarily mean we should have classes to prepare our students to sit through three hours of lecture without disengaging from the lecture material at all? No, but I think it is important that students have the ability to have some sort of attention span. It will eventually come back to haunt them in the future, if they don’t have a way to stay engaged in one or two tasks. My initial concern is how our students will handle a job interview. If they have been in a classroom or environment where having no requirements for paying attention, how will they act when in they are in an office interviewing for a job?
It’s nice to teacher our students it’s alright to be engaged in several things at once. And it might be nice to have that in a classroom every once in a while, but to omit or leave out the pure necessity to have a focused and engaged attention on a few things at a time could eventually harm our kids chances to succeed in the future. As with almost everything we must find a balance, of yes do a hundred things at a time and be happy and successful at that, but when that time comes be prepared to focus in on a single objective or task at hand.
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