Megan Rerucha

Title: 5 Innovations From The Past Decade That Aim To Change The American Classroom

Website: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/05/07/technology-changes-classrooms_n_7190910.html

This article focuses on five technologies that have greatly impacted and changed the way that teachers teach and students learn.

1. New Types of Chalkboards:
Over 2 million classrooms (60% of classrooms in the US) have interactive whiteboards. There are various uses for this type of technology. but they all allow teachers to write on and save notes to send to students. It conveniently combines multiple technologies into one!

2. Remote Learning:
Students can view lessons online when they are not physically at school. On a snow day students don't appreciate this type of technological innovation, however, students that are homebound or in the hospital for longs periods of time certainly do! They can stay caught up in school and still interact with their peers.

3. e-Books:
These mobile online textbooks are cost effective and convenient to use. There are tools incorporated within e-Books that allow kids to highlight, take notes, and search for key terms with a search feature.

4. Computer-Based Testing:
This new trend is far from perfect, but it is the direction we are heading. Testing online gives students quick feedback on their progress, which they love. Once all the bugs worked out, this will become an even more widespread practice.

5. Educational Games
Teachers get kids engaged and excited about learning and can see where students might need some extra work.

Although there are many great things that have come from the use of technology in the classroom, there are also some drawbacks. One of the major concerns is cheating. The good news is that we have already started to create ways to monitor this (turnitin.com). Another problem with using technology is that kids are so easily distracted and keeping them focused on the task at hand can be a daunting one.

As you can see there are some concerns for using technology in the classroom, but at the end of the day it seems as though the pros far outweigh the cons. Over the last ten years technology has made learning personalized, immediate, and interactive. I wonder what the next ten years will have in store for education!

Ben Tompkins_Article Reflection

Title: "A Look at Recent Findings on Technology in the Classroom" by Drew Hendricks

Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/drew-hendricks/technology-education_b_2867458.html

Reflection:

The article A Look at Recent Findings on Technology in the Classroom by Drew Hendricks focuses on the one main reason we need to implement technology in the classroom. That reason? Simple: everyone is different. We say it all the time, but what are we doing to reinforce it? The article states that there are no "cookie cutter" lessons or a "one-size-fits-all" education that will work for every student. We constantly talk and preach about how to differentiate in the classroom. You want to know the easiest and most effective way to differentiate in the classroom? Begin implementing technology. The article goes on to state that technology allows us to cater to each student's individual needs. We're actually able to accommodate every student in a way that was never available to us before.

Sounds good, right? So, what's stopping us? Change brings the unknown, which brings resistance. We're currently facing a string of challenges with implementing technology in the classroom. First, not every school as quality technology, which ends up causing more of a burden on the classroom. Second, not every teacher or student understands how to use the technology in the most efficient way possible. This point is beginning to change. With awesome classes, such as those offered by Doane, being taught to soon-to-be teachers, we're preventing problems with technology down the road. Third, practice makes perfect, and some teachers just don't want to take the time to practice. I mean, why should they? They've taught for over 20 years, understand the lessons, and know exactly how to teach the content. I would presume it's difficult to teach teachers the efficiency of using technology when they have spent their entire life crafting their teaching methods to be as efficient as possible.

Overall, this article says what all teachers need to keep in mind: technology helps us differentiate. It's not going anywhere either. Technology is only going to become more and more intertwined in our lives, so we might as well sit back and plug in.

 

Title of Article: Reading the Web

Resource: The Reading Teacher

Volume 68

Published on behalf of International Reading Association.

           The article I read is about how a teacher, Ms. Peters, uses technology within her second grade guided reading group. She incorporates four strategies within the text that consists of predictions, clarifying, summarizing, and creating a question. As a group, they preview the guided reading level J text called Kangaroos. Students make predictions about what they will be learning about in the text. Then they engage in clarifying discussions with the teacher regarding pronunciation and meaning of a word. At the end, the group summarizes the book and a question about the content is created. The question they created is the following: What are the different kinds of kangaroos?

After a question is created as a group with the assistance of the teacher, they move on to the search engine KidRex. It has the following three elements: title, snippet, and URL. At this point, Ms. Peters models how to use the search engine to find information about the different types of kangaroos. Together they look at the search results title words are the same as the words in their question and if the words are bold, read the snippet, and look at the URL to decide which resource to use to answer their question.

Once a link is chosen, the students use their individual iPad’s to explore the selected webpage and find information regarding their question. During this time, students are able to make text to text connections. Also, based on the format of the website Ms. Peters divides the text between the children. Finally, they create a collaborative summary of their reading and students use the Popplet app to organize their information about the three different kinds of kangaroos.

            After reading this article, I am eager to try this strategy within my guided reading groups. I am curious to explore the search engine that this teacher used along with the app. This is an interesting and exciting way to use technology within the classroom to enhance students’ knowledge on the concept being learned in class.

Kara Marvin

Seven Brilliant Things Teachers do with

Technology http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/columnists/johnson/johnson033.shtml

1. Empower kids with technology

• they use technology as a propellant for kids to go beyond what they can already do. 

2. Creatively find and use resources 

• find ways to get technology into their classroom without spending personal or district money

3. Make conferencing real time 

• effective parent communication all year long through emails and online posts 

4. Put kids in touch with the world

• show kids the possibilities of the world and give them experiences for empathizing with it

5. Accept the role of co-learner

• letting the students show them things about technology that they didn't previously know

6. Use the kids' own devices to teach them 

• have ways that students can use their technology in class for powerpoints, polls, or quizzes 

7. Delight in the discovery, the newness, and the fun technology holds 

• they use the engagement power of technology, not just the entertainment part

Grace Baker
Tweeting In The Classroom by Wayne Journell, Cheryl A. Ayers and Melissa walker Beeson

This article speaks of the advantages to using Twitter as an instructional tool connecting students to real time events with people both immediately connected to them and others outside of their classroom. The example discussed was the immediate reaction, interaction and feedback of Social Studies students watching presidential debates for the national election.  I agree that this can be an invaluable tool to help connect students to the real world, however the practice is not without risks as the article points out.  There must be rules for student use because there, most definitely, can be inappropriate and difficult topics and comments that can be tweeted.  I too feel that sometimes it can become a war with words -- so like any other tool, it must be embraced with care!

Source citation:
Journell, W., Ayers, C. A., & Walker Beeson, M. (2014). Tweeting in the classroom. Phi Delta Kappan, 95(5), 63.

Source link: Nebraska Access Database

http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,cookie,cpid&custid=nebstlib&db=f6h&AN=95098704&site=ehost-live

Technology as a Tool to Support Instruction by Lynne Schrum

         This article discussed the idea that many believe technology will make our students smarter.  However, it needs to be used appropriately as a tool in order to truly make positive influences in our classroom.  It starts by encouraging teachers to understand and believe that technology is incorporated in the classroom to help achieve academic goals and that’s why they should be integrated into curriculum, NOT because they were expensive and therefore important. 

Technology fosters exploration, and therefore, could be used to engage in project-based learning.  Mention of “technology-rich” classroom environments stated that the students should be active explorers by searching for and finding information, along with analyzing and recording their findings.  This takes work and guided practice to ensure success.  The students need guidelines on what it looks like to be engaged in their work so they are not running around, doing whatever they please and having no direction as to where they are going.  Technology is not to be learned by the students, but rather a tool for endless opportunities in authentic learning.

In order for teachers to effectively incorporate technology lessons in the classroom, it is crucial that the teachers are active and cooperative with other teachers to develop and share ideas that would work.  It cannot be done by a single teacher.  It also needs to be recognized that learning in a technology-rich classroom looks different than a traditional classroom setting.  Students are working on different things, at different steps of their projects, and there might be a lot of different things going on at once. 

http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech/tech004.shtml

A Teen's take on Tech Ed

As teachers, we throw a lot of different technology at students depending on which content area you teach. Have we ever taken the time to ask our students what their opinion is on all these web applications? This article is a teens point of view on various technology such as: tablets, teacher websites, google drive, khan academy, twitter, Evernote, and interactive whiteboards.

After reading this students critique, teachers really need to have a good understanding and purpose for using the technology in their classrooms. Technology can be overwhelming so we need to take the time to teach our students how to get the most out of each resource. Surprisingly, I agreed with most of this student's input on the various technology, but there are some that eye opening. This article leads to the idea that maybe we should get our own students to give input on what they think about the technology we use in our classrooms.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/youth-radio-youth-media-international/a-teen-take-on-edtech_b_7336854.html

Incorporating Technology into Education-- Nolan Samuelson

Thinking back to when I was in 8th grade almost 10 years ago, it was crazy to think that a majority of our 'technology' was the use of an overhead in math and rolling in a large TV cart to watch a dvd of a historical movie or informal video of an event.

We as teachers now have the power to continually provide students with resources, examples, artifacts, etc through the use of technology in school and outside of school.

https://teaching.berkeley.edu/incorporating-technology-your-teaching

This article from the University of California details how students can be immersed in information and videos with the proper use from teachers.  Finding Youtube videos, short audio bits, a collage of pictures can all be great benefits for students because we now have the generation of no paper pencil, but all electronics.  The biggest thing the article touches on is getting all ages engaged with the lesson of each class.  These engagement activities can be done easily with technology and students will be more likely to watch and observe a video rather than a 10 minute lecture on yesterday's lesson.

Assignment 7 Amy Schneider

The article I chose has to do with utilizing more technology in a marching band setting.  This is a link to the article by Matt McFarland talking about Ohio State's Marching Band and how they use technology to serve their purpose.  

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/innovations/wp/2013/11/05/ohio-states-marching-band-revolutionized-halftime-shows-heres-how/

Ohio State utilizes an app for iPads called "Drillbook Next" and it not only saves them $24,000 in printing costs, but it serves them in a more applicable way of learning drill.  As a band teacher who prints several sheets of drill every week for every student in band, I can say that it is a hard concept for my new students to grasp at first.  What Drillbook Next does is put everything into motion and allows the student focus on their spot individually as well as the big picture or entire ensemble.  

The article states “Before this year we wouldn’t have been able to learn that much music and that much drill in that short of time. The iPad has really helped that,” said Waters, who views the changes as a revolution in how students learn and his instructors teach."  

I like the idea of using this app for marching band.  The article states that marching bands have always been a low tech class, but this app opens a lot of doors.  I look forward to experimenting with this app in my classroom to see how it enhances my students' progress.

Assignment 7 for Joe Fitzpatrick

Education has always aspired to keep up with advances in science and technology.  Nora Sabelli's "Complexity, Technology, Science and Education" (2006, Journal of the Learning Sciences, 15(1), p. 5-9) identifies modeling as the third leg of a stool upon which a student's learning is perched.  In order to be fully understood, a phenomenon must be not only physically observed and explained, but also modeled.  Modeling allows students to have virtual 'hands-on' experience in their education, to get a more visceral feel of up-to-date science and technology.

In this class, we learn about what information technology is available for us to make lesson plans and conduct the everyday business of a classroom.  Sabelli notes that science teachers can take a long-term view of science and advances within it.  These change slowly enough so that science doesn't suffer the "accountability pressures" (p. 6) of other disciplines - we can write F=ma yesterday, today, and forever.  The science of information technology, however, is much more fluid; new apps arise almost daily, and it is up to teachers to use apps to create the magic of learning.  The apps we use today might not be the apps we use tomorrow, though, and even the science classroom evolves over time.  We do, however, teach science that evolves more slowly.

Sabelli notes there are two organizing principles for science education - one is how well a phenomenon is modeled and used in experiments, the other is how complex an overarching system may be.  Students use science every day to aid in decision making - Sabelli gives two examples: global climate change and whether to eat genetically modified foodstuffs. While these organizing principles may appear very different, they are intertwined - something can be modeled as itself alone or as part of a much more complex system.  She asks education researchers to focus their attention on both these principles, to help students make decisions with better scientific understanding.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bill-goodwyn/technology-in-the-classroom_b_1857369.html

The article that I am reviewing is called "Technology Doesn't Teach, Teachers Teach" from the Huffington Post on September 6th, 2012.  The article discusses the importance of teachers being trained on technological advancements in the classroom before they attempt to use it as a teaching tool.  The article also discusses the unique relationship between a student and a teacher, and how technology should not replace that relationship, but rather enhance it.

A section of the article discussed a school in Miami that adopted new technology resources.  The result of using these resources resulted in a 7% increase in test scores.  A direct quote from the article states the following:
"These dramatic improvements would have been compromised if the teachers themselves had not been brought into the process responsibly. That is why our investment in upgrading classrooms needs to focus equally on making sure teachers know how to use digital tools effectively."
The article goes on to state: 
"Along with digital content, the district provided teachers with ongoing professional development designed to show them how to build engaging lessons, enhance their current curriculum and inspire students by integrating digital media, hardware and software."

These schools that have taken professional development time to educate teachers on these technology tools have benefited greatly.  What I took from the article is that the special bond between a teacher and a student can never be replaced.  While technology enhances the learning process, it cannot replace the teacher teaching the student.  I believe too often we use technology in classrooms simply because it is the newest and hottest thing on the market.  The question we should ask ourselves is, "Are we using this tool to enhance or replace teaching?"  I am a strong advocate for technology in classrooms, however, we should use technology to make the learning process more efficient, rewarding, and ultimately beneficial for the student.

Pros and Cons of Technology in the Classroom

As a school that is going to get one-to-one technology for our kids soon, this article was an interesting one for me, as I know the influx of even more technology will definitely bring its share of challenges.  Given the fact that cell phones are a pretty big problem at our school already for many teachers given the fact that most students have them and many of them choose to abuse the texting/social media piece (not to mention all of the incredible apps that allow kids to cheat), I was not only looking for a little positivity out of the article, but possibly a little validation as to potential pitfalls we can look forward to experiencing. 

In the article, they list two obvious pros: instant answers and wider access to information (video, music, articles, pictures).  The other two they mention are somewhat interesting to me, though: Peace of mind for parents knowing where there students are and having them accessible at any time, and social learning (social media).  These last two are interesting to me because they are basically the reason kids struggle to have their cellphones: They are heavily emotionally invested in social media, which means one tweet or relationship status update can set them off.  Also, mom/dad/guardian is constantly texting them throughout the day, distracting them from their studies (I can't tell you how many times I tell a kid to put his/her phone away and their response is "but it's my mom!").  However, being a new parent myself, I can see how knowing where my kid was at all times and knowing I could get hold of him if I needed would be a good thing, and that the social media aspect may help bring some of the quieter, more introverted kids out of their shells and allow them to begin expressing themselves in person as well as online, although I still think it's a rather slippery slope.

The cons section had a few obvious ones, such as inappropriate materials, cyberbullying, and the disconnect of "face-to-face" interaction, but also mentioned something I hadn't really considered: Some people think too much time in front of a video screen or monitor can have harmful effects on a person's health.  However, as we move more and more closer into the digital age that these kids are living in, I think it's important that we understand the cons and try to find ways to limit or avoid them completely, somehow.  I think most schools either have or will have strict filters to prevent the inappropriate materials (although it's difficult; even google image gets inappropriate pretty quickly, even with the strictest of safe searches), and cyberbullying is definitely a problem that isn't going anywhere any time soon, which I know from experience is the main reason kids get into physical alteractions.  However, just like with everything else in our world, no matter what we do in our classrooms, even if we simply had pencil, paper and chalkboards, there will always be some sort of problem.  I think that, as long we we continue to evolve with the times and come up with new and creative ways to manage the technology that is coming (whether people are ready or not), then it will prove to be a very useful tool in education.  Not only that, but it's not like we can avoid it, so we might as well try to be as proactive as possible now so we can be prepared when it all hits the fan in a few years!

Here is the link to the article

Why One-To-One?

I read two articles. The first article I read was about why we have to move past one-to-one.  As a teacher at a one-to-one school there were some valid points. Sometimes one-to-one is implemented as a way to show off the things we have and the program lacks vision. The focus is on the device itself. They used the term spray and pray in the article. Spray or spread the technology to everyone and pray that you see a learning increase. There are still teachers in my building who do not use the technology they have been given.  The short time we are given at an inservice to work with technology just isn't enough. Teachers are bombarded with tools but aren't given time to practice using them. The other article I read was how to make a one-to-one classroom effective. Here are the ten tips. Let teacher play with their technology give them time to create. Create a physical space in your classroom that allows for different type of work, individual, group, and partner. Create a class website. Have blogging rules. Be a facilitator rather than the bearer or knowledge. Plan for how student s will interact with the materials given to them. Let them create! Differentiate. Don't force students to organize things in your own way. If they want to use stickies or a calendar let them. Manage content, and try flipping your lessons. I think both of these article focus on one thing. There has to be clear communication and vision for the program teachers, parents, and students.

http://www.weareteachers.com/blogs/post/2015/04/03/10-rules-for-a-successful-one-to-one-classroom

http://novemberlearning.com/educational-resources-for-educators/teaching-and-learning-articles/why-schools-must-move-beyond-one-to-one-computing/

How Can Technology Be Beneficial in a Kindergarten Class?

How Can Technology Be Beneficial in a Kindergarten Class?
By: Karen LoBella, Demand Media

http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/can-technology-beneficial-kindergarten-class-6647.html

This article discusses how technology is a big part of the school day and Kindergarten is no exception.  Although, students still have the opportunity for developmental play and hands on learning, technology has its own benefits as well.  The article mentioned how technology increases motivation, reinforces skills, differentiates instruction, provides electronic portfolios, and encourages collaboration.  I believe that this is all true, as I witness this everyday in my classroom.  I think that students can use technology and learn just as much as they would with paper and pencil.  I find that using the iPads in my reading and math rotations, the students are reinforcing the skills that we have previously learned at their own level.  The students are also having fun and enjoying their learning time.  

Five Ways Teachers Can Use Technology To Help Students

In today's world, by the time my grandchildren go to school, they won't be carrying textbooks with them. All the information they will need will be on their tablets and the learning they will be doing at school will most likely come from technology in their classroom.

This article had several focuses: Teachers can really accomplish more in less time by using technology to create lesson plan, grade papers, and being able to communicate with their students via the social media networks that continue to thrive. Students are used to being on the internet so why not make this accessible as much as possible in the classroom.
Another focus is the open-source technology. Teachers need to trust that these are safe, secure and compatible. Many districts have wonderful IT support and they are there to help make everything run and transition smoothly.
The last part I took away with me was the portfolio based programs. Not only can teachers use these to create information about themselves and their classrooms, but students can also use them to demonstrate growth in particular areas that may be otherwise difficult to assess other ways.
All in all you are creating wonderful teaching moments!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/darrell-west/five-ways-teachers-can-us_b_3228851.html

Technology and Music

Article: Technology and Music

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-m-machine/technology-and-music_b_2769411.html

This article talks about the technology advancement in music and how it has affected some types, specifically dance music.  The article sheds some light on how complicated making music with technology can be.  Although I don’t think making music with technology will ever become the only way of making music, in the article, you can see some of the benefits of making music with technology.  Making music with technology is very mathematical.  This article  shows that there are a lot of steps to putting together a song.  In each step and each individual track there are many adjustments that you can make.  Making a song with technology can take just as much time as practicing a song to perform it.
This would be a good article to go into a GarageBand unit, a unit exploring other music making programs, or a unit exploring different genres and ways that music is made.

http://www.edutopia.org/discussion/taking-plunge-social-media-classroom

To Tweet or not to Tweet, That is the Question

          This article talks about whether teachers should utilize social media in the classroom, more specifically; Facebook and Twitter.  It covers the reasons why teachers and administrators are so hesitant to utilize these forms of technology in the classroom.  It states that there have been many "unsavoury" circumstances that have led us to be weary of using them in our classrooms, and some helpful hints to guide us if we do dare to employ this type of technology in our classrooms.  The tips are as follows:

1.  Be a good digital citizen, but even more so, be a good citizen.
Be nice. Don’t tease or bully people. If someone does this to you, block them. Don’t give out personal information. This is the number one rule for you to teach your students about online behaviour.
2.  Don’t engage with trolls.
There are some people on the internet who only seek to make others feel bad. Don’t try to reason with them. Block them and move on. Teach your students to do this.
3.  Use hashtags and mentions.
It’s important for other people to be able to find you - and reply to you. So use hashtags and mentions to speak to people.
4.  Follow the teacher.
Get your students to follow you - and then follow them back. This means that you can see what they are doing - and you can model good behaviour.
5.  Keep public and private separate.
I would agree that extreme caution should be used when utilizing this type of technology in the classroom and that Rule #5 is crucial!!!  I loved the great example of the #DoNow Project that was covered and talked about how students talked about real world events in their community and could respond to one another.  

JRobbins Why Integrate Teachnology into the Curriculum?: The Reasons Are Many

http://www.edutopia.org/technology-integration-introduction

Why Integrate Technology into the Curriculum?: The Reasons Are Many

There's a place for tech in every classroom.

JRobbins Short Reflection:

 

Now a days, our kids are more technological then we are as adults. The question is what are they doing with all this technology? If properly used, technology will help students acquire the skills they need to survive in a complex, highly technological knowledge-based economy.

Integrating technology into classroom instruction means more than teaching basic computer skills and software programs in a separate computer class. Effective tech integration must happen across the curriculum in ways that research shows deepen and enhance the learning process. It must support four key components of learning: active engagement, participation in groups, frequent interaction and feedback, and connection to real-world experts.

Learning through projects while equipped with technology tools allows students to be intellectually challenged while providing them with a realistic snapshot of what the modern office looks like.

New tech tools for visualizing and modeling, especially in the sciences, offer students ways to experiment and observe phenomenon and to view results in graphic ways that aid in understanding. And, as an added benefit, with technology tools and a project-learning approach, students are more likely to stay engaged and on task, reducing behavioral problems in the classroom

Technology also changes the way teachers teach, offering educators effective ways to reach different types of learners and assess student understanding through multiple means. It also enhances the relationship between teacher and student. When technology is effectively integrated into subject areas, teachers grow into roles of adviser, content expert, and coach. Technology helps make teaching and learning more meaningful and fun.

Technology Article-Elle Engebretson

Set Students Free With Technology in Schools

By: Robert Schwartz

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-schwartz/technology-schools-students-_b_2102010.html

While this article was published in 2012, it makes valid points as how important technology is in the classroom. Huge strides have been made in schools throughout the country to implement more technology in the classroom. However, with technology comes concerns and fears from educators as to how to monitor students when using technology. When monitoring students using technology in the classroom, teachers and administrators are almost limiting the potential of what students can do with the technology. The article, Set Students Free With Technology in Schools, discusses this topic of regulating students, and how instead of putting strong limits on how and when students use technology, let them explore and teach the teachers about the technology they know.

Students today are tech-savvy and technology is part of their daily lives. Students are constantly on the web whether they are exploring sites, YouTube videos or on social media. Today, students know more about technology than some teachers. The article suggests giving students more responsibility when using technology in the classroom. Instead of teachers using technology as a way to give tests or create simple PowerPoints, allow students to help be the guide with new technology. Schwarts gives three suggestions on how to improve how technology is used the classroom. First, give students specific tasks and teach them about new technology. Allow them to explore a new site or gadget that will benefit them outside of education and in the real world. Second, create a safe and open environment where students understand that exploring on their own is crucial and where peers help one another. Lastly, teachers must explicitly teach values and the importance of how to properly use technology in the classroom, and how the technology correlates with the school's curriculum.

After reading the article, I agree that students do need to be able to explore more with technology in the classroom. I know that in the past, students have taught me a great deal about technology that they are currently using that I had no idea even existed. While yes, students need to have rules and regulations on how to use technology, they should be able to explore on their own and help teach one another. One point that the article made that I think is very important is that authentic tasks and technology need to be taught in the classroom. There is an abundant of technology resources teachers can use now in the classroom that were unavailable before. This generation of kids are so technology driven that using these resources in the classroom will be beneficial and truly impact learning. 

Jen Wilson-- Technology in the Classroom

How Technology is Helping Special-Needs Students Excel:
 http://www.edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2013/03/how-technology-helping-special-needs-students-excel

Technology has made it easier for special education students to participate in the general education classrooms. Today's devices make it possible to download several available types of  assistive technologies:  text-to-speech, sound amplifiers, braille displays, e-books, etc.  Theses technologies allow students to understand concepts which in turn helps them keep up with their peers.  One school in the article uses interactive whiteboards for the deaf and hard of hearing to help solidify vocabulary and language. Students are able to touch the screen and move words around to make sentences.  The teacher also encourages students to explain their thinking which also helps them gain a deeper understanding and allows her to estimate the students' level of understanding. The whiteboards along with software called Microsoft Lync can also be effective tools for the visually impaired. For example, if used during math, the teacher can watch the student complete math problems and if any errors occur can show the student what to do differently and why.
Special education students who use assistive technologies:

• are able to work more independently
• are more confident
• are more able and willing to work collaboratively
• advocate for themselves
• challenge themselves
• seek new opportunities

Technology in the Classroom: Helpful or Harmful?

http://www.education.com/magazine/article/effective-technology-teaching-child/

Using technology in the classroom can be a dilemma for teachers. If it is new technology, the teacher must first learn how to use it correctly and effectively. Questions the teacher should ask:

• Does the technology support class instruction and objectives? 
• What is the privacy policy for students who use the program? 
• Will it be helpful to student learning?

Think about how to integrate the technology with curriculum rather than a stand alone tool. Use reliable resources to critique the application. For math, many students would rather play a flashcard game on-line than practice with paper flashcards. Many sites provide feedback about the students level of progress and allows the teacher to track progress. O

Technology can enhance learning, but it cannot replace the role of teachers and parents.

~Jessie Meinke

Technology Tools in the Classroom - Online Article

Article Title: The Most Powerful Tool in the Classroom

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sarah-wike-loyola/the-most-powerful-tool-in_b_6012136.html

It is clear that technology is becoming a more prevalent tool in the classroom. I know the district that I teach in is a 1-to-1 District where students grades 7-12 receive a laptop, and students 3-6 receive their own IPad. This push towards technology is something that will continue to become more popular as teachers find more ways to incorporate technology in their classrooms. The article that I read mentioned how in the past, teachers have always been the most powerful figures in the room and how students looked to them for answers to their every question. This is a trend that has definitely changed due to the infusion of technology. Students now have the ability to use their laptops to "Google" everything and find the answer to a question in seconds. The fact that we have so much information at our fingertips is truly amazing and allows all of us to be lifelong learners. 

I agree that our classrooms are changing before our eyes. In this day and age, students do not want to be lectured and take notes day-after-day. In my opinion, rote memorization does not lead to meaningful learning. The article mentions how the role of educators is evolving, we are now seen as coaches and facilitators, there to assist our students when they need help. However, no piece of technology will ever completely replace the importance of a teacher. As an educator it is my responsibility to keep my students on task, guide them to the intended end-result, and provide information/advice that they may not be able to find online. Teachers are the instrument to student success. 

Technology Article- Stacy Vancura

The article I read was called " Why Integrate Technology into the Classroom." Found here: http://www.edutopia.org/technology-integration-introduction

As I read the article, which is published in 2008, I was thinking about how common it is to find technology in classrooms now. At my current school, I am lucky enough to be part of a technology pilot. I think technology has greatly increased students learning experiences, just like stated in the article. I am a kindergarten teacher, and having access to six iPads at all times, six laptops and apple tv, the possibilities have truly been endless in the direction I can take my lessons. Even for the younger students, technology helps students get excited about their learning, as well as helps them gain confidence in their skills all while thinking they are simply playing a "game".
      The article also mentions briefly how technology allows students to differentiate student learning. I find this to be true, as I am allowed to assign certain skills to our reading curriculum website, where I feel students need the most improvement. I really enjoy using technology in my classroom, and I know the older grades are loving it to, especially since they all have their own device to work with.

Technology in the Classroom

This article that I read speaks about having more technology in the classroom. I am thankful to read this article as a teacher, as in college I was used to reading them and reflecting as a future teacher. Our school has a one to one environment but the 7th and 8th graders computers aren't in the best shape(and of course thats what I teach). I have found that using the technology can really help the students, but if the technology isn't working well it takes a lot away from class time. I like what this article has to say about "BOYD" or Bring your own Device. The article pointed out a few downfalls of this system; cheating or being off task, which I agree with. I have allowed students to use their own device to help them, but I haven't required it because not 100% of students will have their own device to bring. The article also comments on using Interactive Whiteboards such as smartboards. I have a smartboard in my room and I do not use it as much as I should :(. When I do use it I have noticed increased motivation and participation. The article states that the use of whiteboards like these should only be used if the teacher has full confidence in using the whiteboard and its features. In my class we have started to use more personal whiteboards to allow students to show their active participation to the teacher. This article states an interesting point under the section about laptops and ipads by saying that technology in the students hands allow the students to be exploring as they are learning. This puts teachers in more of a position to guide the students through the context rather than deliver it to the students in a traditional manner. In summary the article states that the instruction of the material should be matched by enough technology to enhance the learning of the students. I agree with the article because I think all students learn in different ways, and if students learn best using a technology resource, then they should be able to use that as much as needed.
 Technology in the Classroom