Reflection

When I started this class, I had no idea there were so many ways to incorporate technology into my lesson plans. I really enjoyed our class project; working with teammates in other states and countries was wonderful. I felt the experience is something that will help me when I put my class into groups. I am also a kinetic learner so the hands on projects and assignments were very helpful. I was very nervous before I finished a project and by the time I finished I really felt my technological skills were expanding.
I think the best way for me to continue to expand my knowledge of technology integration with the aim of increasing student achievement, is to keep up with my personal blog and continue to keep up with all the sites and blogs I bookmarked like http://www.21stcenturyskills.org, . If I want to be relevant, I need to stay on top off teaching trends. Partnership for 21st Century Skills emphasis the essential 4c’s (critical thinking and problem solving, communication, collaboration and creativity and innovation) and I hope to highlight these in my lesson plans daily.
I think two goals I can accomplish in my classroom that will integrate technology are using more blogs daily with my students and having them do more group projects were I am more of a guide than an instructor. Dr. David Thornburg (2008) said, teachers now change facilitator of learning rather than to direct it. I think the best way for me to stick with these goals will be to experiment with all the new things I have learned, blogging, and wiki’s. podcasts, etc. Because I have taken this course and was provided so many useful sites, blogs, and sources for new information on our changing classrooms, it will be easier. I have also talked with my principal about starting a technology group that will meet and discuss new trends that can be implementing in the classroom. I have also have many peers at my school that are very interested in integrating technology into their classrooms and are now asking for my help. That means I need to stay informed to help them as well. This class has been great and very useful in the real world classroom setting, were many education courses are not.

Laureate, Education, Inc. (Producer). (2008). The changing role of the classroom teacher: Part 1: Understanding the impact of technology on education, work, and society [DVD]. Baltimore, MD: Author.
Partnership for 21st Century Skills. (n.d.). A report and mile guide for 21st century skills. Washington DC: Author. Retrieved from http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/

I surveyed my 11th grade intensive Reading Class about their use of technology and computers. I have 12 students in this class and was really surprised by the results. I thought they all would be using computers for homework daily. They also said they had computers at home, however a few did not have the Internet, they had to go to a relatives house or the library. They all felt that technology would be used in their future careers and that high school was preparing them for that aspect. Please click on link.
Thanks, Mary

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Survey-
How much many hours a day do you watch t.v?____5____
How many minutes are you talking on the phone?____60____
How many text do you receive or write per day?____600 total____
How much time each day do spend on the computer at home? __7 hours____
At school? thirty minutes to an hour
Do you belong to a social network like Facebook? Yes
If yes, How much time do spend on it per day?___4 hours____
How much time on average do you spend on video games?___0___
Do you Skype? YES!
Do you write or view blogs? no
If yes, can you name one__________________________
How often do you use a computer to complete homework?____almost every time________
How often do you surf the Web?_______ALOT_____________
How often does homework require you to use the computer?_____almost every assignment___________
Do you think that computer skills will be required of you after high school? Yes
Do you feel that your high school is preparing you for that future? Yes
I THINK I know more about computers than my parents and teachers.

The Partnership for 21st Century Skills

http://www.21stcenturyskills.
The Partnership for 21st Century Skills is a very cool site. I think it would be awesome if my state was doing more to allow all children access to technology. The site gave advice on how to write an email. I feel like I've wasted my students time doing 5 paragraph essays. This site really changed my views on a few things. I our country needs to do more as well as our states. The only way my county or state would do more was if there was money involved.

How my students could benefit from blogging

My high school students read below grade level and have not passed the state test required for graduation. We use a computer reading program called "Jamestown" in my reading classes. I believe blogging would benefit my students and help them express themselves. One thing I find that most of these students have in common is that they do not take their time. They rush through their reading and writing assignments. I believe that if they knew that other students would be reading their responses they would put more effort in to their writing and this would improve their reading comprehension and other skills necessary to graduate. I think a great way to use blogs in reading would be to have my reading students post reading comprehension responses to a blog and their classmates would have to read, check and respond. I would also have the students work in groups and answer questions, then they would have to check other groups work. All together the questions and answers could be a study guide for a test. I think this would be great for many reading and writing skills.
As computers are used more, all students would benefit from blogging and the reality that what you put on the web is viewed by everyone.

New Blogger

I am very excited to learn all this new technology. I think that the first rule of blogging is that you must believe that what you are writing is worth reading, I hope you all think so.

Thanks, Mary