Technology in the Classroom

"The Pros and Cons of Technology in the Classroom"

http://www.edudemic.com/education-technology-pros-cons/

"Student learning with laptops: Measuring the effectiveness of laptops in American classrooms"

http://journalistsresource.org/studies/society/education/student-learning-laptops-measuring-effectiveness-laptops-american-classrooms 

My take away from both of these articles is that successful implementation of technology in the classroom is contingent on the level of support teachers have in implementation. “Student Learning with Laptops” cites the example of Birmingham, Alabama, where one-to-on laptops were implemented and then abandoned within three years. The reason for this was the fact that there was no support for implementing the devices in the classroom and no tech support so that the devices themselves became unstable over time. 

While some emphasis is placed on the willingness of teachers to learn and apply the technology, to me this is a function of the environment in which the teacher works. Most teachers I have interacted with are willing to at least consider new technology if it allows them to teach more efficiently and more effectively reach their students. Granted—I didn’t say all. However, if there is an environment which supports the professional development necessary to successfully implement a tool, it tends to get used. The exception to this case is when the teachers perceive the change to be a case of change for change’s sake. But again, this is a failure of the administration to communicate the true value of the change.

“Pros and Cons” lists the expected benefits—timely data, access to targeted and relevant information tailored to the student’s needs and interests, aids to differentiated learning, adaptive to multiple learning styles and adaptive assistance for special needs students. These benefits underscore what I have said about most teachers willing to consider new technology—it helps them reach their students. 

Of the cons listed, Privacy, distractions, and plagiarism all have technology workarounds. The concern about teachers being made redundant by technology seems a little extreme since so much about successful education is based on the relationships teachers develop with their students. I don’t totally dismiss the concern, and neither does the article. However, if replacing teachers with technology were to happen, there would have to first be fundamental shifts in how our society values education. Again, not implausible, but such shifts would have to be accompanied by much more disturbing changes in our society.

The fifth con, the technological divide, is much more troubling. I have seen this first hand. In the classrooms that I observe where there are one-to-one notebooks, the students who don’t have access to the internet at home don’t use their Chromebooks. They are technologically adept as seen by how often we have to chase them off their smartphones, and by the work they accomplish when directed to use their Chromebooks in class.  As pointed out in “Pros and Cons”, the use of libraries/media centers are not a complete solution. Yes, access is limited, but more important, with the proliferation of Saturday School and referrals to Academic Resource Centers to do mandatory homework, staying after school to do homework is perceived as punishment by the students. The use of media centers is also perceived as stigmatizing for students who don’t have, or can’t afford home internet. Having to stay after school in the media center subtly reminds the students of their poverty.

By high school, the students who are doing well in school have begrudgingly bought in to the concept of homework. They may not enjoy it, but they understand that it is usually for a purpose. (And in the cases where it is assigned for the sake of assigning homework, the students understand that the issue is with the teacher, and not the concept of homework itself.) However, if the student is going to do homework, they want to do it in a comfortable place, with their music playing, and their feet on the furniture. Media Centers just don’t provide the unstructured environment the students feel at home in. And again, the issue goes back to the support that administration and policy makers give to making technology a success in the classroom. 

Reducing Overload in Students with Learning and Behavioral Disorders: The Role of Assistive Technology

I chose an article based on students verified with Emotional Disturbance (ED), called Emotional and Behvioral Disorders in the article, and assistive technology (AT). I am getting my certification in special education and have an interest in working with students whose main concerns are behaviors. This article matched the criteria for the assignment and my interest.

The article gives four tips when choosing to use AT.
Tip 1: Take into consideration what precipatates the behavior. For example, a student who hates to write could become agitated and escalate when told to write a paragraph. This student may use AT such as DragonSpeak to dictate his or her paragraph instead of physically writing it. The article goes into detail with other anticedents and possible AT that could prevent behavior or escalation in a student.
Tip 2: Data tracking is extremely important when working with students who are verified ED. When dealing with outbursts from students tracking what happened before, during, and after an episode is imperative to help identify triggers and what could help de-escalate the student. The article talks about AT that could help with tracking data. Stop watches, counters, and computer applications are discussed. These devices can help a student have a visual, help with activities, and graphing performance. I feel there are many AT devices and applications that could be used that were not discussed in the article.
Tip 3: AT can be used to allow the student to self monitor. There are three categories that devices can be divided into when used for self monitoring: visual/ auditory prompting, visual/ auditory cueing, and self- graphing. Examples of this type of technology include: visual timers, timers with verbal cues, and graphing behavior and performance data for the student.
Tip 4: Teaching students social skills. Social stories to help teach appropriate skills and behavior for certain situations can be found online and created through certain applications and websites. The article also discusses Power Cards. Power Cards are visual aides that can help explain a social situation. These cards are created using a special interest of the student and are the size of business cards or playing cards. They show a social situation and how it is solved/navigated by the hero.

This article was written in 2007. While the article is only 9 years old, it is considered fairly old in the technology since. While the technology discussed may be behind the times, the four tips are still very relevant and can be useful in considering AT that could benefit the student and the teacher.

Article website: http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ967467.pdf

Teachers Using Technology to Open up the World to Special Education Students

Teachers Using Technology to Open up the World to Special Education Students

https://thejournal.com/Articles/2016/05/11/5-Ways-Teachers-Are-Opening-Up-the-World-to-Special-Education-Through-Technology.aspx?Page=1

This article discussed an online global collaboration between students with special needs from all over the world called the SMARTee Project.  The students use SMART Amp technology to collaborate online and teach each other about their local cultural traditions and events.  Six special education teachers first met at SMART Technologies' Exemplary Educators conference last summer. They discovered that they had more in common with each other than with the general education teachers who were at the conference.  Brianna Owens, a special education teacher from New Mexico, said, "'...Special ed really does look very similar on the global scale, be it South Africa or Germany or Finland, and so we talked about how we could meet some of the challenges by having our kids work together.'"  She states that the goal of the SMARTee project is to help students understand their differences, but also that their similarities make them more alike than different.

Other teachers from around the world are also using global collaboration projects.  Kids with a variety of disabilities are using technology to connect with kids from all over the world and feel more engaged in learning as a result of this inclusive environment.  Below is a description of one of the projects that teachers and kids have created.

Michael Soskil, a science teacher in Newfoundland, PA, had an inclusive class with both special and general education students that were a part of a musical exchange project with a group of children in the Kibera slum of Nairobi, Kenya.  There, about 250,000 people live in extreme poverty in about 1.5 square miles.  The students in Mr. Soskil's class started a video exchange project in which the Kenyan students recorded videos to teach the American students some Swahili, while the American students made videos to teach the Kenyan students some math concepts.  Soskil's lower-level math ability students taught simpler math concepts to the younger Kenyan students.  Soskil says, "'We know that when kids teach they retain 90 percent of what they learned, rather than when they consume, they only retain 20 percent.'"Soskil states that for these students to create a video in which they teach was "'pretty powerful'".

Soskils' students were concerned about the living conditions of their friends in Kenya.  They heard about the water crisis that all of Kenya was enduring, and they created a campaign with students in Kansas and Greece to help get clean drinking water for the Kenyan students.  Soskil states that in order for students to transfer material from short term to long term memory, they have to have an emotional connection with the information they are learning.  This is especially true for students with different learning disabilities.  Soskil states "'And what global collaboration does, especially when it's on a meaningful topic, where kids are doing good in the world, is it really creates those emotional connections that allows kids to hold onto information.'"

There are several benefits of such global collaboration for special education students.  The article highlights that they teach about their own culture and learn about other cultures, work together across cultures, learn by helping others, develop leadership skills and a sense of responsibility, and for nonverbal students, there is the reduction of communication barriers. Students with disabilities are gaining confidence and a desire to learn, The discovery that they can help others and work together to have a positive impact on the world is huge for them. It seems to me that such gains open up possibilities for them in the future as these students see that they can do more things that perhaps before they assumed they couldn't.  The article talks about the barriers and difficulties some students with disabilities face as they collaborate with the student sitting next to them and how it is easier for them to work collaboratively with a student from another country.  I hope that as the students with disabilities continue to gain confidence and skills as they participate in global collaboration projects, such confidence will help them in their interactions with students in their own classroom as well.

Does Technology Belong in Classroom Instruction?

http://www.wsj.com/articles/does-technology-belong-in-classroom-instruction-1431100454


The article I chose to read was a great one! This article pits two people, Ms. Nielsen and Dr. Bowen, with different views on technology in the educational system against one another. Each of them presents their case on why we do or do not need technology in our classrooms. Ms. Nielsen makes the case that we do need technology in our education because that is the way of the world. In today's society, the access to information is instantaneous. She does go on to discuss that the use of technology doesn't replace good teachers though. Teachers should be role models with technology and teach students how to find credible sources that can be used to help us better our learning. Her views on technology open up the possibilities for students to share what they have learned. Students will not simply submit a paper to a teacher on hard copy to an audience of one. They can now share their writings with the world in some degree by posting or sharing it out on the internet. Ms. Nielsen makes the case that in our ever changing world, our students need to be around technology, but teachers need to be also teaching students how to use it safely, and effectively.

Dr. Bowen has very different views on technology in education. He makes his case by stating that technology has not made us any smarter. From his writing I'm able to assume that he actually feels that because of the ease of access to information, with minimal credibility, we've actually spent a bunch of time "learning" information that isn't actually proven or factual. I really liked the comparison he made. "more TV channels haven't made us better informed and more exercise equipment hasn’t made us fitter." Technology alone won't make us smarter, but learning how to use that technology in meaningful ways can help us start to make new connections that can lead to new learnings.

Haltian’s Snowfox Offers Screenless GPS Child Safety ‘Phone’

This article was about a new tracker phone for young children. Rather than handing out a smartphone to their 7-year-old, parents can now purchase a sleek and simple Snowfox. Snowfox was developed by Finland-based company Haltian; the company's main focus is to offer a simple communication device and also allow parents to track their children's movements through an app on their phone. (In fact, up to five family members can be approved to be able to track the student's movements.) It also sends automatic geofenced notifications when the child enters or exits their school, or when the child is entering an area that they aren't supposed to be in. There are no screens to break on the Snowfox, and a single charge can last up to a week before running out of battery.
While the innovation and safety features of the Snowfox are commendable, the most important thing to me about this new device is the simple fact that it's an alternative to a smart phone. One really good quote stuck with me from the article, "“I see way too many young kids with smartphones these days. Simply looking around, you can see kids playing with their devices and not doing stuff kids should be doing, like playing with friends outside, being in social situations and also interacting with the world around you...There have been multiple articles on kids suffering from delayed speech development, neck pains and posture development, which have been related to excessive smartphone usage at a very young age.” I think that the Snowfox will be an excellent alternative to smart phones, and that kids will get to still be kids without having a handheld device chuck-full of apps for them to play. 
This is a device that when I have children some day, I would highly consider purchasing this Snowfox phone for my kids. Right now the Snowfox costs roughly $160 with a monthly connectivity subscription of about $11. It's only available in Finland right now, but Haltian hopes to expand to the States in the near future.

http://www.educationnews.org/technology/haltians-snowfox-offers-screenless-gps-child-safety-phone/

What is the Perfect Balance of Technology in the Art Room? by Tracy Hare, The Art of Education

What is the Perfect Balance of Technology in the Art Room?

By Tracy Hare, The Art of Education

https://www.theartofed.com/2015/03/13/what-is-the-perfect-balance-of-technology-in-the-art-room/

This article is all about how to find a sweet spot of technology to hands-on, physical materials within the art classroom. The following are some of Tracy's suggestions:

• Make use of the pre-installed software with many capabilities instead of over-downloading very specific apps that won't be used that often. 
• "Challenge yourself to think of technology not as an art-making medium but as a tool to deepen and expand some other, typically-forgotten aspects of art education."
• Keep available technology in mind as you read the standards.
• Use technology as organization and communication tools, but not as a substitute for face-to-face communication.

I feel very fortunate to have found this article because I've been fairly nervous about incorporating technology in my future art classroom. I have found Tracy's ideas to be encouraging and will keep them in mind as I take on classroom technology. I absolutely plan on using technology as an organizational tool and I appreciate her tip on using the pre-installed software. It's really easy to get swept up in the newest app and forget about the very useful, moldable, non-specific parts of technology. I do few less apprehensive about classroom technology after reading this article. 

How Technology is Moving Arts Education Beyond the Classroom

This article interested me as I am pursuing a degree in art education. With the modern use of technology, digital art is much more prevalent, but yet art education seems to disintegrate. "Students are using film to engage critical thinking and explore a more tangible form of science and art," according to Marie Mashyna. The students are using a number of different digital tools emphasizing the relationship between technology and art. Currently, many schools are experiencing financial issues that often lead to cutting out the arts education, but with the use of arts and technology, more and more educators are seeing the importance of the combination. We live in a time where creativity and innovation are two of the most important components of future workers, but yet arts education is the first area cut. With the use of technology, as educators, we can demonstrate the importance of arts in education.

http://remakelearning.org/blog/2013/08/21/how-technology-is-moving-arts-education-beyond-the-classroom/

For Some Schools, Learning Doesn't Stop On Snow Days

http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2016/01/26/464298874/for-some-schools-learning-doesnt-stop-on-snow-days


This article parallels very well with what I have been learning as a a future educator. The idea that technology helps kids learn and absorb information more efficiently holds true with this article from NPR.org. Most kids are connecting with friends from all over via internet and different technology apps; so, our teaching should reflect that. I admire that the teacher in this school takes advantage of snow days to keep kids engaged even if it is for a short amount of time. When I was in school technology was frowned upon or at the very least it was used as a treat for us students. Every day we are presented with new strategies to teach through technology and it is clearly receptive for students. It is important to take advantage of these technology teaching tools because our world becomes more technologically advanced everyday and so should our students. Obviously, not every subject will work as well as Mr. Tonsoni's economics did. But, I do believe it is a process of trial and error. As post college students we see that learning never ends and what a better way to teach that than through a snow day. The simple online engagement will keep students actively thinking and better prepared for when they return to class the following day.

LinkedIn Offers New Options for Students

http://www.usnews.com/education/best-colleges/articles/2011/07/28/linkedin-offers-new-options-for-students

I read an article about the upgrades of LinkedIn that are directed towards college students.  I was very interested in this article because I introduce the idea of LinkedIn to my juniors that are preparing for college.  I let them know that a new version of a resume is a LinkedIn profile.   This article brings up a lot of good points in the idea that it matters how you put your information on your profile.  Employers don't want your information thrown up on the page, they want to see it divided into sections so it looks more professional.  I also found it interesting that prospective employees are now seeing the effects of "participation awards"  this is watering down the effect of receiving an award.  It is having a huge effect on students, they are feeling defeated after not receiving a job because they are used to always getting some type of reward .

Does Technology Belong in the Classroom? Finding a Balance

Technology itself creates learning.  Students are constantly learning how to use new and different apps, websites, and tools.  In this article, two different people present their opinions as to whether technology should be used in the classroom or not.
Lisa Nelson argues for the use to technology.  She points out the wide number of resources available to make learning more exciting, and no longer boring.  Any subject can be tied to something online, and resources can be utilized that would otherwise not be. She points out that teachers can monitor students' use of technology, just as they monitor student behavior.  Proper training is necessary to do this though.
Jose Antonio Bowen argues against the use of technology.  He says that the face-to-face interaction between student and teacher is the most important.  The teacher needs to teach the students to integrate information they know and find, usually online.  They teach critical thinking skills and how to apply the facts they see. He argues that students need to be able to learn the "mental stillness" that we can't find with technology, which constantly and quickly answers questions.  Taking time to think and process helps the human mind grow.   He isn't calling for "a complete ban on all technology", but writes that it takes humans to teach others how to be human.
Personally, I feel that there needs to be a balance of technology.  Students need to know how to think without out it, and how to communicate face-to-face.  I see the benefits of technology, and I also see how students are quickly loosing the ability to think independently and problem solve, as well as communicate clearly without a screen in front of them.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/does-technology-belong-in-classroom-instruction-1431100454

Technology and Classroom Instruction

Bill Gates and Classroom Technology

In an article by Amy X. Wang on Quartz's website, Bill Gates gave his views on technology and its function in the classroom. Gates stated that technology should be used to keep our students engaged and involved in the lesson, and I understand the point he is making. But it's hard. There are only so many sites that a teacher can find and when she does find these awesome, amazing websites she needs to find time in her lesson plans to use them. Which is all fine and dandy, until she realizes it's already March and she has four more chapters to get through. I would love to use technology more in my classroom, but my problem is I run out of time for everything I'm expected to get through.

Gates also mentions in this article that the kids who love technology have easy access to it and use this technology to their advantage. But it's the kids that need technology that have no access to it. I would love to put lessons online that my students can re-watch at home or give my students lots of sites to help them study for that big test. And most of my students will use those sites. It's Bill who needs the extra practice, but his family doesn't have internet so I can't reach him. 

The article with Gates also mentions that technology hasn't proven itself enough yet. Teachers don't have enough information to show that using technology in their classroom boosts what the student learns. And, if there isn't enough research to back up the benefits of using this technology every day, am I really going to break my back trying to implement it into my lessons every day?? Especially when my school is not one-to-one with gadgets. 

http://qz.com/634289/bill-gates-explains-why-classroom-technology-is-failing-students-and-teachers/

WATCH THE FIRST-EVER DRONE DELIVERY FROM SHIP TO LAND

http://www.popsci.com/first-drone-delivery-from-ship-to-shore-in-us

This site drew my attention because I am currently working on getting some type of drone or robot for my students to work with. I think it will keep them interested in coding if what they are about to code can fly across the sky or maneuver across the room. 

There are so many ways drone are changing our lives. We started out with them flying around and taking pictures that we could not take from the ground and now they are working on delivering items. If someone was working in an area that they needed to give a village a vaccination, they could fly the vaccine in with a drone and not expose those people to new diseases.  

Robot "runs" away...again

http://www.foxnews.com/tech/2016/06/24/artificially-intelligent-russian-robot-makes-run-for-it-again.html

I was intrigued by the title of this article, and after reading it I still find it humorous. The robot was designed so that it can recognize where objects are and move around them, and it apparently did this when a gate was left open and the robot moved out onto the street. The robot is being designed for potential use as a tour guide or concierge with a screen that can display text and the ability to recognize spoken words. Some people think that the "escape" was actually a PR stunt, and the way the company has reacted does not seem to put this idea to rest.

Either way, it is amusing to think of a robot that "wanders" out into traffic and blocks a lane on a street for almost an hour (it was about 40 minutes) before being found by the company that made it. After two escapes in less than a month one of the co-founders was quoted as saying that they may have to "dismantle" the robot so that this doesn't continue.

As funny as this may be, I think it also shows how the idea of self-driving cars and similar inventions actually have the potential to move through an area without coming into contact with something else. However, I am not sure what sort of speeds this robot is capable of, and I think we still have a long way until the public feels safe with cars driving but no one in the driver's seat. However, I do find it interesting at how quickly technology is moving and I sometimes wonder what it will be like in 10 years, or 20 years. To think that my first flip-phone was in high school, and now children in elementary schools have smartphones...I am not sure if this is a good thing or not. Hopefully all of the stories and movies about robots taking over the world do not come true!

Does Technology Belong in Classroom Instruction - Josh Mozer

This article from the Wall Street Journal discusses the impact of technology on classroom instruction and if it is a benefit or detriment to student achievement. The author tries to include both the pros and cons of technology integration into public schools. For the positives, the technology allows students to connect with other users around the world to share information, provide feedback, and gain new perspectives not possible in the classroom. However, with these opportunities it becomes much more difficult for the teacher to manage student behaviors.

Like the authors, I believe that technology integration does include positive and negative aspects. The biggest issue the author has is the amount of management technology requires of the teacher. This is true, but the quality of authentic learning opportunities that students have access to via technology is worth it. Teachers must teach and model appropriate practices with technology and ensure that their students are following these guidelines. It does take time to teach these skills, but once the students have the skills, they are given a much richer, more meaningful educational experience.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/does-technology-belong-in-classroom-instruction-1431100454

2016 and Beyond: The Future of Classroom Technology

By Melanie Nathan

     It is difficult to believe that in my lifetime - a span of almost 25 years - my community has gone from very few people having a home computer and even fewer people having an internet connection to worldwide high-tech classrooms that connect nations that are separated by thousands and thousands of miles. In this article, Melanie Nathan discusses four major innovations that are imperative to the modern classroom and what will continue to be important as technology develops or becomes more common in the coming years. For those of us who are in the educational field, technology is increasingly important to our classrooms and in the coming years will be the main focus of our curriculum. Knowing this, being aware of what technologies are becoming available to us is imperative to having not only an updated classroom but one that gives the students the tools they'll need to be successful in the ever growing technological society we live in today. 
     
     The article hits on points such as 3D printing and new platforms that teachers and districts will be using in order to share information with students but the most important point I found was that of the mobile classroom. Going on numerous job interviews, one of the first questions that I ask districts is whether or not the school is headed in the direction of 1-to-1 classrooms, meaning that all students have their own computer or device. I have yet to get  a no from an interviewer. Across the nation and more increasingly the globe, classrooms are going nearly paperless with all students connected together on the school network and learning technology as it becomes available, unheard of in prior generations. 

     Global and mobile classrooms are on of the most exciting things about becoming a teacher in 2016. My possibilities for lessons and teaching are virtually endless. However, while this is an exciting time in education, it can also be  trying one as new sources of distraction are available to students. With the rise of the mobile classroom, I imagine more and more teachers will move to the back and play more of a "man behind the curtain" role in the classroom. How else are we going to make sure that all of our students are on task in the classroom if instruction stays at the front of the class like is the norm. Overall, though, I believe that the new technological innovations in the classroom can be a great thing for students and teachers alike. Students will take a greater amount of accountability in their learning than any previous generation and teachers will have more resources at their fingertips than the educators that came before them.

     

http://www.teachercast.net/2016-and-beyond-the-future-of-classroom-technology-by/

Should Elementary Students Have 1:1?

The article that I found is called "Pros and Cons: Is Elementary Too Early For 1:1 Technology?" This article talked about the pros and cons of technology in elementary classrooms. One of the pros to 1:1 technology in elementary is students get a more individualized education. One of the cons to 1:1 is students won't use paper books as often, so many students don't know how to hold or use paper books. Personally technology is going to become more and more popular in classrooms, so as teachers we should start incorporating it as soon as possible. It is important for teachers to realize that technology is a tool, and should not be used all the time in school.


http://gettingsmart.com/2012/01/pros-cons-is-elementary-too-early-for-11-technology/

Bill Gates explains Why Classroom Technology Is Failing Students And Teachers

http://qz.com/634289/bill-gates-explains-why-classroom-technology-is-failing-students-and-teachers/

Bill Gates explains Why Classroom Technology Is Failing Students And Teachers.

By: Amy X. Wang

In this article Bill Gates is posted a question on Reddit to the effect that although technology has improved it seems as though K-12 education has remained the same; how should schools adapt with technology to meet the needs of future? Bill Gates response was seemingly well thought and developed explaining that technology has been helpful to students who don't struggle with traditional learning. Gates claims that the modern teacher is not often told what they do well. Gates explains that many new cutting edge gadgets (Ipads) can be helpful but are often misunderstood how to be implemented. Gates states that effective use of technology should be personalized towards the student engaging for the struggling learners. Gates goes further stating, “If they don’t feel the material is relevant or they don’t have a sense of their own ability they can check out too easily.” Gates although a rich silicon valley tycoon is seemingly very cognizant of the state and pitfalls of education. I think that all educators need to go out of their way to show students that the material is relevant and useful in real life. Technology should be personalized to engage all learners!

How Slang Affects Students in the Classroom

This article discusses how this new technology era is taking over student's language. It discusses how due to texting, twitting and face booking- students use a lot of slang to communicate. This has become an issue since a lot of these students don't seem to know how to write a proper sentence. The article discusses that a lot of college admission offices have seen a big difference in the writing samples they receive. With all of this technology being used so frequently, it has become very easy for slang to be the only way they know how to communicate online. What is worse, sometimes people are actually speaking with all these abbreviations as part of their daily speech. I think this is very important to teach our students, we need to teach them that just like anything there is a time and a place for everything. There is a time and a place to use slang and abbreviations such as "idk, btw" when they are texting their friends. However, when it is time to be serious and professional they must be able to write well written papers to show their vocabulary.

http://www.usnews.com/education/high-schools/articles/2011/06/13/how-slang-affects-students-in-the-classroom?page=2

School Technology Support is "Horrible"

According to Hernando County schools superintendent Lori Romano, the support for technology is "horrible."  When initially seeing the headline of the article, I was intrigued that someone would think technology in a classroom is a bad idea.

After reading the article, I was glad I stumbled across it.  It gives a great example of a school that has bought into the idea of technology in the classroom, but they don't have enough money to buy good enough technology that works.

If a school system is going to invest in technology, it must make sure to test equipment, receive advising, and run through a pilot program before making a giant purchase that will influence the future of the community's youth education.

Although it's a little dramatic the reporter focuses on one quote about computers smoking when they are turned on, it paints a picture of technology being a waste of time if the proper funds aren't able to buy workable technology in the classroom.  A classroom would ultimately be better off without the technology.

If I were Romano, I would push the state legislature and/or the school community for more public education funding.  If technology is not current in a classroom, a group of young people will fall way behind in their education.

http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/gradebook/floridas-support-for-school-technology-is-horrible-hernando-superintendent/2270309

8 Engaging Ways to use Technology in the Classroom to Create Lessons That Aren’t Boring

This article by Kelly Walsh lists eight different ways you can use technology to create engaging lessons for students in schools.

Her first way was to gather student input on different assignments. Her second way was to make it into more of a game, her third way was for students to create things, her fourth way was being interactive with it like using online whiteboards, her fifth was having students collaborate more, her sixth was project based learning, her seventh was simulations, and her eighth was live guest speakers via Skype.

I really liked this article. I found some of her ideas quite intriguing. For instance, I like the idea of setting up a Skype with someone from the outside world that would have great information on a subject. Another way I liked was her idea about simulations. Those seemed like cool ideas that I would want to potentially look into. Finally, I like the student feedback. I think it is always important for you to stay up to date on practices, and students can tell you if they are engaged or not.

http://www.emergingedtech.com/2014/10/technology-create-lessons-that-arent-boring/

Advantages of Using Technology in the Classroom

"This increasing focus on technology use in schools and the shifts in ways that modern-day learners communicate have impacted how computers are used in the classroom." This article talks about students coming into school more knowledgeable and capable with technology; this stat just keeps getting bigger. To deal with this statistic, technology is being added to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields. We have to add more technology into our core curriculum to prepare our students for the 21st century and where it is heading with technology. "For example, modern-day education is not focused on simply learning concepts or facts as they are laid out in a curriculum. Instead, it is about the process of building connections." As teachers, it is important to make sure the students are receiving our messages, and we have to pique their interests to do it. This not only puts the student in the driver's seat, but it also shows them the importance of correct information and building relationships. Using technology in the classroom allows us, as teachers, to teach the way the student learns. This article definitely gave a lot of benefits of using technology in the classroom which fits right into what this class has been showing us.




Source: Boundless. “Advantages of Using Technology in the Classroom.” Boundless Education. Boundless, 21 Jul. 2015. Retrieved 28 Mar. 2016 from https://www.boundless.com/education/textbooks/boundless-education-textbook/technology-in-the-classroom-6/edtech-25/advantages-of-using-technology-in-the-classroom-77-13007/

Tech Solutions for Special Kids - Article Title

This article talks about what types of technology is incorporated into the special education classroom.  Many special education classrooms use assistive  technology in their classrooms to help special needs students keep up and be able to participate in classroom lessons and activities.  Some examples of assistive technology used in the classroom are: Dragon Naturally Speaking software for students to command and dictate verbally, adapted keyboards which are voice recorders that connect with the computer to allows students to respond verbally to test questions and put answers into the computer, screen magnifiers for students with visual impairments, Kurzweil software which reads printed material to students, reading pens used to scan words or sentences which then is read aloud and it can also provide definitions, recording devices for students to listen to information and also record info which can be replayed again and again, text information put on CDs for students to read or view particular information anytime they need to, Squeak software programs helping students to work in a programming way in small groups or individually, Alpha Smarts for writing, laptops, oversized keyboards, larger monitors, Flipper Port for maximum visibility, scanners with text-to-speech software like E-text Reader, Intellitools, Boardmaker, Earobics for audio word recognition, phonics,and pics, different stations and television productions, internet sites, and iPads. The best way this article states to use assistive technology is when it is appropriate for the student and it does not pose a distraction for them.  Also, when a student refuses to use the technology, then it is not recommended for use with that student.  The educators in this article are more than 50 individuals who are part of the Education World Tech Team.  They are educational professionals who volunteer their time to contribute information about different technology devices that have used based on their experience and expertise.  I would like to continue to look for articles from these authors so I can keep up with the latest and greatest assistive technology for best helping students in special education.  The article is from:  http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech/tech224.shtml.

5 Tech Trends that Could Supercharge Education in 2016

http://www.edtechmagazine.com/higher/article/2015/12/5-tech-trends-could-supercharge-education-2016


The article begins by talking about how virtual reality technology will become more available for classroom learning. The article mentioned that virtual reality would aid in the students learning "experientially" rather than by traditional methods. I know this would help the students understand certain concepts in science that are otherwise complex and difficult to imagine without some type of experience. The article then talks about 3-D printing and how technology for this is becoming more affordable. This type of technology wouldn't just replicate an established model, it would allow students to create an idea and see it come to fruition. That is amazing. Companies are investing in how technologies interact because most people have a variety of devices around them. Wearable technology is projected to be utilized in various ways in and out of the classroom. It may help with effective communication between teacher and student, as well as between teachers for collaboration. The article then goes on to talk about artificial intelligence robots that will become available for classroom use. The AI robots are known to engage special education students that would normally be withdrawn in the classroom. The author suggests putting the technology in the students' hands and see what they can create. Celebrate failures and analyze successes -  using technology to learn by doing and exploring. 

Jeffrey Starman

https://docs.google.com/a/doane.edu/file/d/0B5AOHQcS-cAeODhkOGQwNmMtNDRiNC00ZjA2LTkwM2YtNDY4MGEwOWEyZWNj/edit?hl=en_US

Edmonton Public Schools Builds Collaborative Learning Community with Google Apps for Education

This article talked about school district, Edmonton Public Schools, that adopted google apps for education. There were a few problems that the district was experiencing that led them to the decision to adopt. First, there were only 30 computers per 400 students! Almost all of there students had internet access at home, but they had not collaboration program to utilize this outside internet access. For teachers, they wanted to see more progress in group projects. With google apps, teachers would be able to see who is doing most of the group work, and they would be able to give better feedback.        There were many problems to the technology they were currently using at Edmonton Public Schools. The solution that they came up with was to adopt Google Apps for Education. One huge advantage of the google apps is that they are free to use! Not only are the apps free, but they are also very easy to use. The school ran a pilot trial, and they got lots of great feedback that solidified their adopting of the program.
        Adopting this program has a great impact on education. First, collaboration from student to student and student to teacher became much easier! This allowed for a lot of feedback and formative assessment. One quote from the article stated that Google Apps "improved the way students learn and teachers teach." The school even began to see and increase in the homework completion among students. This was probably, in part, due to the increased interest that was being seen among the students. It did not just affect the students. There was high enthusiasm among both students and teachers after adopting the technology program.
  My school is uses Google Apps for Education. I like to think that I use them the way I should, but I still have a lot of work and research to do in order to utilize this program in the way it should be used. If done right, Google Apps can increase the effectiveness of my teaching!

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Assignment 7 - Blessen

https://wlteacher.wordpress.com/category/technology/


This short article discusses the SAMR model of technology use within the classroom.  Rather than list useful websites, it gave a short description of the SAMR model and why it is important.  First, it is a great way assessing at what level the technology you are using in the classroom sits and whether or not it is beneficial for students.

A quick summary of the SAMR model, created by Dr. Ruben Puentedura, is that it breaks down technology use into four levels: Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, and Redefinition.  The SAMR model allows us to see if we are merely "enhancing" the assignment or project or "transforming" it.  Are students basically doing the same tasks, just on a computer?  Or are they creating, evaluating, and accomplishing new goals with the curriculum?

I think it is important for any teacher to consider and reflect upon these questions when incorporating technology in their classroom because it can be easy to feel as though we're using technology efficiently when maybe we're simply using it often.  For example, while my students use their computers often in my Spanish classroom, sometimes they are simply doing rote exercises that could be done with paper and pencil.  I have to remind myself that while the activity may be enhanced by allowing quicker repetition or immediate feedback, my students aren't really creating anything or pushing the boundaries of what they can do.  There are so many opportunities in a foreign language classroom for students to "redefine" what a project looks like with our curriculum, and I need to be mindful of that and open to new ideas.  My students are creative and imaginative, and I should let them show it.

Article Reflection -- More High Schools Implement iPad Programs

Article Link: 

http://phys.org/print362392686.html

Reflection: 

This article discusses the effectiveness of digital learning and the fact that laptops, tablets, software, and apps are the paper and ink for the 21st century learner.  Kids love technology and it offers some huge benefits in the classroom -- tech literacy, improved engagement, access to real-world connections, hands-on learning, distance learning, etc.

The article also talked about has schools have struggled with tech roll-outs because not enough thought was put in to the logistics of it.  Schools have train teachers and think about how to support the issues the come with technology.

In addition, the article mentioned that 1:1 technology increased student success in schools; especially for students who had an economic disadvantage.

My school district is in the process going 1:1.  They are taking the process slow and working to train staff on what it is going to be like.  Also, the district is testing out various devices (laptops & tablets) to see what would be best for students.

For me, as a physical education teacher, 1:1 looks a bit different.  I see some big advantages, but it might be difficult to find uses for a device for a p.e. course where kids are doing physical activity in the gym, on the field, etc.