Problem-Based Learning

While watching the Edutopia video I couldn't help but thinking "I would want my kids to go to Auburn." The students and teachers were so engaged during the school day. You could feel the energy of the staff and the students just by watching the video. I feel that the students were so engaged because the teachers made the learning meaningful for them. The fact that everything they learned was based off of the children's inquiries gave them a sense of meaning while learning. The teachers did a great job of meeting curriculum needs through the children's questions.
I also felt that there was a great level of socialization among the students and liked the fact that socializing and communicating were goals of the classroom. I often find that as educators we are so focused on curriculum that we forget about these needs. However, students cannot be as successful if they do no have these skills.
Although the process was a bit different, I found the instruction at Auburn to be effective. For example, the teachers allowed the students to write without worrying about spelling. They were then able to determine what the students needed to work on rather than teaching them the concepts and then allowing them to write. The one technological aspect that stuck out was the use of the smart board to instruct the students on the difference between 'b's' and 'd's.' This is such a common mistake for students. It was awesome that the student was able to drag the 'd' over the 'b' to see that they were different letters.
Auburn definitely seems like a school that views life-long learning as a priority. I love how they teach the students how to use resources rather than to just ask adults about things. This helps the students to become problem-solvers and more independent.

Well- done Auburn!!!!

Chapter 5 and 6

I was suprised to learn that I was fimiliar with a lot of the technology options discussed in chapters 5 and 6. Although my school does not have many of the labs and interacive options mentioned (calculator-based labs, microcomputer-based labs etc.) I feel we have made the best of the technology we have available. Students have access to all of their textbooks online and have the ability to check all grades online. Also, teachers use their blogs to communicate assignments and classroom happenings. This is also a tool that teachers use to have students watch videos and find external links relating to the curriculum.
Out textbooks also offer options to create assessment materials online or through disc packages contained with the series. These tools offer options for differentiated instruction and assessment. They allow you to modify materials to meet your classroom needs at that specific time.
Teachers use simple technology like VHS and DVD players, but it is the students who have taken the lead. Students often turn in video projects that blow us away. They are so excited to teach everyone about their newest editing software and features. I love to see the way that the students present their assignments when using these media. The students play around learning new things while completing their classroom assignments!
Although my school may not be the head of the pack when it comes to technology, I feel we are meeting the needs of this generation through the use of what we do have as well and the students utilizing resources at home to complete school work.

Technology Integration

The first time I encountered that 'digital divide' was last year when I assigned the students a video project for Social Studies. After explaining the project I told the students that they could turn their video in on a DVD or VHS, and they asked "how do you put it on a VHS?" Meanwhile, I was thinking 'how do you put it on a DVD?' At any rate, I have found these projects to be the most enjoyable to my students. They seek out information and seem to internalize it more effectively through this medium than the others presented to them. The students have so much fun with the video projects and learn more than when we use just our book or typical paper and pencil methods.

I had mixed emotions watching the 'Sam' video. Sam seemed like a very intelligent student who had a natural interest in technology. She was able to use this technology to enhance her education. However, I found some of the comments of the parents and teachers a bit disturbing. Sam talked about how kids her age only text and never call each other. Her father reflected that Sam's use of technology was teaching her social and work skills. Although I do think that the ability to use technology is crucial for her generations success in the work world, I disagree that the use of technology is improving social skills. I have noticed a decline in peoples (including my own) social skills since the advent of texting and e-mailing. Often times we use these mediums as a cop-out and to avoid confrontation. Haven't we all been the victim of a nasty e-mail? Have you ever heard someone say "She was yelling at me! She used all CAPS?" I think we do not see as much consequence when firing off such e-mails/texts, when oftentimes we wouldn't actually say these things to someones face.

I can see her mother's point about technology building team work skills and problem solving skills. I just feel that we should not be so reliant on technology to teach such important life skills. Nothing can take the place of human interaction.

I also had mixed feelings about the 'Schools using Gaming for Learning and Assessment' video. Again, I could see valid points about how students are more engaged and will take a more active role in learning. I'm just not sure that if we become so technology dependent we will be able to hold students to some type of uniform standard. I feel there needs to be a healthy mix between technology and classroom (human) instruction. Also, it is unrealistic to think that most schools would be able to support such a program financially. I do feel that students are able to relate to the technology based learning and it is a great way to allow them to apply concepts. I just feel it is important that we don't forget to teach those concepts to begin with.

Technology integration can be a useful tool in differentiated instruction. Because technology often times allows students to work independently, it is easier for students to work at their own pace and for teachers to have the opportunity to work with students one on one.

Overall, I think that technology integration has many of the benefits mentioned above. Students are able to work at their own pace and are typically more engaged than in a traditional classroom. Students learn valuable work skills and tend to use higher order thinking skills when working with new technology. Students apply skills rather than memorizing facts.

On the other hand, the pitfalls I see are largely social. Young students are often living in a 'digital' world and their social skills tend to suffer. I find that students are so desensitized to human interaction the deeper we have delved into technology. I feel that technology is a double-edged sword and it's integration needs to be handled delicately. Some of the downfalls sited in the book include; plagiarism, online predators and the amount of information available that is not necessarily relevant.

I feel that it is important for teachers to integrate technology in our classrooms to the extent that is available to us. However, I feel that we need to tread lightly and always consider what is the trade-off of the technology we are using. Are we deprived students of the human interaction and social skills that they need to learn in school. Obviously, there are many issues that arise with the inequality in schools, especially when it comes to technology. I think our job as an educator is to the the technology available to it's maximum potential to expose kids to as much as we possibly can. I is undeniable that this generation's careers are dependent on it!