Technology Classes for Teachers

I start to reflect on the last 6 weeks as this course comes to an end. We have learned so much from Professor Darche, things that I will utilize for the rest of my career. Great advice and tactics. From learning how to tweet to learning what padlet, seesaw, and many other tools for the classroom can do for the benefits of the students. Google classroom and my google site are some of my favorite accomplishments of this course! Flipped learning concepts and most importantly the connection tips. Every class we started off with a "connection chat" three things that happened over the week leading up to our next time together. We shared intimate feelings and even a birthday! We also would discuss  at the end of every class what we "loved and learned" This was a great way to recap and get feedback from your students. Darche also advised us of future interviews and research papers. You really felt like she cared about your next move! This class was one of my favorite classes thus far. Who knew technology could be so fun and interesting!

Technology: How Social Media Impacts Us

This weeks assignment asked us to go about our weekend and naturally, while "scrolling" through social media see if something impacts your thought process and makes you think a little deeper. 
The post that caught my eye goes like this: 

                 Read more books than status updates. 
                 Look into more eyes than screens.
                 Hold more hands than devices.
                 Love more than you judge.

This is a simple message. But hits home for the fact that technology is such a huge impact on today's younger generations. Which is technically not a bad thing at all, but it does sometimes limit the people contact that we used to have growing up, when we were students and children. I was subbing at a high school last year and noticed how limited the student interaction was in the classroom. Every student was on their phones and listening to music. Limited discussions and interaction going on. I found it somewhat sad due to the fact that when I was in high school we only had each other, books, and notebooks/journals. We had to express ourselves in different ways, not just my posting on snapchat and announcing we are having a bad day with a dog filter on our face. We called each other on the phone at night and talked about our day and heard each other's voices. If a boy liked you he had to call the "house" phone and maybe your parents picked up and you were so embarrassed. But at least they knew who you were talking to and how innocent it was. I think with social media it can also create another bullying outlet that our older generation can't fulling understand. I can imagine the anxiety students must feel when a party is going on and you weren't invited, but everything is documented via Snapchat and Instagram stories. When someone makes fun of others via pictures on the internet Facebook etc. We as educators need to express the importance of technology but also the importance of true human connections and face to face conversations. Truly talking to each other to resolve issues and see how the other person is feeling by truly looking into their eyes and engaging. 

Technology and Learning

How I best learn is visually. I have always been able to remember and connect with things when I have seen an example instead of visualizing it on my own. I think that's why I excelled in math, due to it being such a visual subject. I've noticed that when given outlines or syllabi I encourage myself to "mark off" things I have accomplished or completed and I find myself eager to complete the next task. Visual learners make up more than 65% of learners (anonymous) hence why it is so important to not just lecture on and on. Last class we discussed "flipped learning" a newer concept that allows students to bring home the lesson discuss and learn with parents and then the next day go over it again with teachers and dive deeper, but the concept would be introduced at home. We discussed the pros and cons of this. We also said how similar it is to the college/university learning concept. I feel that the students who's parents work a lot or are not around to help young students grasp a theory or skills in the evening would then be setting up their child for failure. We as educators aren't solely responsible for everything a child learns, but we are given a set amount of time and usually that time is uninterrupted. At home there are many more distractions. I am a fan of a mixed approach where students can discuss theories with parents as well as classmates and their teacher to have a well rounded perspective. Including their culture and values/morals, as well as learning about others ideas and thoughts. I personally would like the idea of flipped learning incorporated for certain things. I was fortunate enough to have grandparents that helped me a lot with homework and were around a lot in the evening. Some students might not have that luxury. Hence why I think the traditional sense of teaching will forever be evolving via technology, but maybe not as much self taught for the younger students. The core curriculum in some aspect must stay the same. 

Technology in the Classroom Part Two

Discussing technology in the classroom has become more exciting and interesting for me since starting my technology class at Trinity Christian College. Now at my job as a paraprofessional, I notice the importance of technology in the classroom and appreciate it differently. For example, the reading specialist was absent the other day and I was pulled to substitute for her because I have my substitute license as well. During this time I met with different readers from 3rd grade, 4th grade and 5th grade. All different levels, all with their own reading struggles. Some of the assignments were for students to go on Hear Builder which is a website that helps with hearing to better understand what they are reading. Another site was Learning Ally, which helps with dyslexia and read alongs. With technology now being able to make this feel less like an issue for students and more of a game I feel adheres gently to their development and eases them into tasks that would normally not be as engaging or fun. There are many games that I have seen used in the classroom that I love. One of my favorites is Kahoot. An interactive question game with the class that helps during reviews. I have seen this game in action and it is amazing to see each student with there own Chromebook, playing along with the big screen streamed off the internet site. This next amazing generation has so many more learning possibilities to teach us and I am so excited to be apart of it and keep up my training! 

Technology in the Classroom