REFLECTION - quick technology overview questions for Edris

Edris, what did you think technology integration was when you started this class?

 

o      I thought it meant integrating various technologies into classrooms but mostly computers. For students with special needs, I knew there were various assistance technologies for those students (and I am one) even if it means having to customize curtain technology – that can get pricy – for the student. This was my assumption what technology integration was. 

What new information/topic(s) was you're biggest take-away?

o      Learning how to design an attractive website for targeted audience, and teacher chats for keeping educators in the loop with other professional in their field. It is good to know if a teacher runs into an issue and she/he needs further assistance they can quickly text their issues of concern. Wait a few minutes and check to see if someone responded to questions with comments and suggestions. I like that an educator is not alone and left hanging. 

Was there an issue you change your mind about or are planning to look into more?

o       Oh yea! Right now, I just want to learn more about how to create websites with moving characters, audio and video. Once this click, I am on my way. 

How did the class change the way you think of classroom technology integration?

o      Now I know without a shadow of a doubt I will be co-teaching with technology for most, if not all, of my professional teaching career. With that being said, technology and me will become best friends or allies in the years to come.

AIM for Digital Equality

“Technology – savvy teachers can integrate digital text and other accessible formats into classrooms routines and activities in ways that generally don’t require major shifts in their instructional practices.” – Joy Smiley Zabala & Gayle Bowser

Joy Smiley Zabala and Gayle Bowser wrote an article in AIM for Digital Equality based upon 2011 prediction Doug Levin, the CEO of the State Educational Technology Director’s Association made. Doug came on CNN and gave his perspective about what America may look like after transitioning from No Child Left Behind to Common Core State Standards.

According to Doug’s prediction, within 10 years (starting from 2011), all schools and districts will become paperless and students will have to hand in their assignments electronically. Students that are disabled and have difficulty reading text on paper will benefit tremendously “from the use of malleable and flexible digital materials”. They will also be able to manipulate text size to a size readable for them or they can color code text if they like or if they need further help they can always get immediate attention from digital resources to help them comprehend content.

The article gave me the impression (in a good way) that all teachers need to start looking down the path for insuring “that your instructional materials are universally designed to be flexible, accessible, and usable for students with and without disabilities” because you never know if you have a student sitting in your classroom with a disability if she/he choose not to disclose their personal information for whatever reasons. Student that are struggling will also benefit the same as those with a disability. After reading this article and reflecting on content. I have to say I am impressed. It’s about time the playing field gets leveled out where all students could have the opportunity to succeed academically.

There were other additional resources suggested in this reading that educators could use as an alternative to acquire materials for students who are disabled or struggling trying to keep-up with other classmates: 1) an educator could purchase material and some publishers include CD based digital editions or you can obtain them online; 2) an educator has the option to create their own material by any means available that is in accordance with school standards, such as scanning paper materials and converting them into digital files or the educator could record their lectures and convert them to audio files; and 3) look for material that is free such as digital sources online for example.

Social Media in Education

From my understanding from these four articles: 1.) 13 Great Twitter Chats Every Educator Should Check Out; 2.) Can Tweeting Help Your Teaching?; 3.) Teachers, students and social media: Where is the line?; and 4.) Using Twitter to Break Down Classroom Isolation, that talk - from various perspectives –  about why “Twitter” or “Twitter Chat” is a good educational tool that educators can use for staying in the loop with other educators and a way they can share resources or information related to class curriculum.

Throughout the articles there were talks saying students can use Twitter to communicate with other students while working on group projects or individually. But seeing Twitter is a free subscription, that means anyone who has subscribed to Twitter is your followers including family, friends, colleagues - and last but not least - your enemies. Yep! All of them.

I also found out that Twitter is a free service - which is good when working on tight budgets - that allows educators to connect with other educators around the world using 140 characters or less. Basically, you got to get straight to the point.

You know who caught my attention the most? Christopher Begeron, a district-level technical coordinator in state of New Hampshire when he said, “some teachers are more open to collaboration and networking. Those who value personal networks are more excited about the technology even if they are not overly tech-savvy”. Now I can relate to him on that. But before this can ever happen an educator must first see if their district or school has a policy on Twitter before proceeding. I allowed, I suppose I could use Twitter for going over my plan of study and to keep students in the loop towards what is going on. These are just some of the many things an educator can use Twitter in their classroom.

If someone is interested in Twitter Chats, Susan Bearden, the co-moderator of  #digcitchat and #edtechcat, and she is the director of Information Technology at Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy in Melbourne, FL, posted some of the more popular chats for starters (besides her own): #edchat/#tlap/#satchat/#satchatwc/#satchatoc/#flipclass/#sschat/#engsschat/#ptchat/#kinderchat/and  #digcit.