Week Five

I chose gameclassroom.com as one of my Web 2.0 activities because it is an excellent tool to find games that can help students to better understand assignments or concepts. This site has lots of different interactive activities that could be used in the classroom. I also chose planbook.edu because it is a great site to create and share lesson plans. This allows you to reach your files from anywhere and convert them to Word or Excel.

Week Four

Powerpoint presentations are one form of multimedia that can be used to impact student achievement. I personally love using PowerPoints in class to interest students with visual and audio aids. I might ask students to create powerpoints to show to the class. Kids love to create presentations. FinalCut pro is another tool that students can use to create videos in class. Our school recently created a video project for the Kennedy Center of Visual Arts. This project allowed the students to be creative and learn at the same time.

Week Three

I’m a huge fan of technology in the classroom. The students are using this technology with or without use teachers. Our main problem with students is usually lack of motivation; if we can use things that they are interested in, we can reach more students and make more of an impact. There are several different examples of software out there right now that could positively impact student motivation and achievement. For example, Kids’ College is an internet program that allows kids to work on drill and practice skills specific areas. Funbrain.com is another site that offers instructional games, simulation, and problem solving practice for students. BrainPop.com offers tutorials for students to gain basic knowledge about specific subjects.

Week Two

Issue one- Standards Issue- States are moving towards standard based high stake testing. Technology can aid students in better understanding these standards. In this way technology may break through the barrier in education and become more prevalent. Most teachers use some form of technology right now; however, standardized testing might make more hold outs consider using more technology in their classrooms.

Issue two- Digital Divide- Some students from households with lower SES do not have access to the internet or to other digital media. This makes it hard for teachers to make internet research or other computer/internet work mandatory.  Some institutions are also making more online classes available. The only problem with that is that the lack of face to face interaction causes more students to drop out.

Issue three- Inquiry based education vs teacher based- Some argue that instruction should be focused more on the teacher and some think it should be on the student asking questions. The only problem with inquiry based instruction is that it is hard to address state standards.

We all agree that using technology in the classroom can be very effective, but technology has its drawbacks as well. Technology is expensive, it changes very often, and teacher personality and efficacy are just a few of the things we have learned from the past that is affecting the future of technology.

Introduction

My name is Steven Harbison, and I teach 8th grade language arts at Cedar Ridge Middle School in Decatur, Alabama. I am getting my degree because I want to do everything I can to improve myself as a teacher and as an individual (the pay increase doesn't hurt either). Another reason I want this is because I would be the first person in my family to gain a graduate degree. I'm looking forward to learning all that I can.