http://powertolearn.typepad.com/teaching_with_technology/integrating_technology/
I listened to the podcast called: "Trends for 2010" by Jim Lengel. To access it, I started at blackboard week 9-10, under Podcasting and Education. Then on "Where to Find Podcasts Page", I clicked on, "Teaching With Technology Podcasts" and that is where I saw, "Trends for 2010".
In this podcast, Mr. Lengel speaks about how teachers are integrating technology into the classroom more each day. They are allowing students to bring in their laptops and other devices to use in the classroom. Teachers are more carefully preparing their presentations with interactive questioning and media. In their lectures they are using online companions so the students will be occupied while they are on their laptops. Teachers are seeing that they don't need to always be the center of attention in the classroom. With technology, the students can focus on content and ideas instead of the teacher. At Killingly High School, each of the students carry a laptop to every class. The middle schools in New York City all have smartboards in their classrooms. Many young students go home with new stories and texts on their iPod or Kindle. With an iPod, a projector the same size, and a short cable, a teacher can present slides, and show student work. One iPod can hold hundreds of books. All of these would be great to have in the classroom. I chose this podcast because it showed me how much it could aid a teacher in getting her lessons understood by all of her students and not just a few. I would recommend this podcast to others because it shows just how important technology is when used in the classroom.
It's very easy to see how this can all increase learning very quickly. But there is always the issue of cost. Not every child can afford it. Some schools give a heads up noting that every child needs a laptop and so on. But for me that is not reality. I grew up in the city of New York and didn't own a computer until I was about 18 yrs. old. This can get costly. I see how these new technology trends in teaching can contribute to the attentive factor of students, but what about one fighting over with another about who uses it first. I mean this all is good but too much money to be played with.
ReplyDeleteMoney is a big issue. With technology constantly changing, it is difficult to keep up. I am wondering though if technology could actually SAVE money. What if school systems didn't have to buy books? What if they could issue iPads or e-readers instead? You know how much textbooks cost for your college courses. E-books cost less than print textbooks. Think of the savings.
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