Module+12+Questions

Participants: Ashly Call, Lori Jones, Audra Bull, PJ Parsons - Group 2

Module 12 Questions:

1. What does research say about the topic?

AC - At the time this article was written, there was little research about the effectiveness of using technology in the classroom. The two bits of research that stuck with me were that students with high abilities were able to effectively search through hypermedia text quicker than students with lower abilities and technology is highly motivating for stuents and some teachers.

LJ - This chapter didn't have research to prove that new literacy was more beneficial that traditional methods. But that students were able to use the technology effectively is promising.

AB - Students today are surrounded and inundated with new types of technology. There are so many types of new technology and it changes so rapidly, it is not feasible to expect one person to know everything about each new technology; it takes a village, to borrow a phrase. In terms of academically, students today are motivated by technology and seek technology for their answers. It is incumbent upon schools to incorporate new technology into the classroom. Unfortunately, the latest data shows schools are not keeping up with the changing times. Add to the need for the physical technology to be placed in the classrooms, the teachers need professional development to understand how to best use the new technology.

PJ--The video "Shift Happens" was based on simply statistics, not research, really, but isn't it so true we are training students today for technologies and problems we don't even know exist yet? The research community is so used to being able to begin and end a study, over years, using the same methods all the way through, but researching the use of technology will require different methodologies. By the time a method has been decided upon, the research started, things change mid-stream and it's difficult to get any valid results. The research community is concerned about reporting any results because of the shortness of the duration of the research efforts, the results might not be valid or skewed. What a pickle. I liked the section on why research if new literacies are motivating when it's obvious they are and spend time researching to see if using the new literacies lead to gains in comprehension and learning. I would like to add to the others comments that, yes, schools need to keep up with technology by placing it in classrooms and spend more on professional development training to keep teachers up to date, as well; however, until the funding is appropriated for schools to do such, this will continue to be a growing problem. In the Shift Happens video, by the year 2029, they will have computers smarter than humans, so they will probably be the ones who can teach our youth and help them keep up with technology. I wish I were kidding.

2. Evaluate your comfort zone with 5 being really comfortable with the new literacies (technologies) which are available today.

AC - I would rate myself as a 4 for my comfort level with technology. I have used most technologies (Internet, SmartBoard, etc.) and feel that I can learn technology with ease. I have used technology in my class, but I don't feel as comfortable teaching with it as I am using it in my personal time. That is why I gave myself a 4.

LJ - I feel I would be a 4 as well. I am comfortable with what I use in my classroom but there is always room for improvement. I love using the smartboard with my students and feel I am getting better at it.

AB - Before this summer I would have placed my comfort at a 2+. I have a smartboard in my classroom. I have attended two different professional development sessions in how to use the smartboard. Due to the addition of the smartboard, several other technology additions were made. Students were asked to incorporate videos from youtube in several of their inquiries. I had heard of a wiki and seen a brief description of how it worked. In addition, I had heard of a wordle. After this summer though, I would up my rating to a 3. I am now planning on having the students keep a blog instead of a journal. In addition, one of our first activities will be to create wordles and digital movies.

PJ--I'm with AB on this one. I would have rated myself at a 2 before 5463 this summer. Now, I'm excited about doing digital movies of our Reader's Theater for the students to hear and see themselves work. I am definitely incorporating blogs, wikis, and wordles and word splashes into my curriculum this year. Digital writing and story telling, student-led parent conferences, slides on the Smart board of funny events in my classroom using a digital camera to upload them onto the computer. I'm even going to get Kindles or some kind of ebooks to put in my classroom. I'm the only classroom in my building who requested laptops and wireless service with the Stimulus money. I am so GLAD I did. I would rate myself at a 3+, maybe a 4, but at the same time, I know all that I learned this summer will be old news very soon, if it isn't already. It will be up to me, as an invested educator, to keep myself trained and up to date on the latest technologies. I can't wait for my school district to have the funds to educate me. Stay on top of the technology wave is more than money. It is my duty to keep my students up to date.

3. Plan ways to incorporate new literacies into your classroom curriculum. What do you need to have to incorporate them? Where are you going for expertise?

AC - I like the idea of participating in an online research project that involve classes from around the world. I think it would be a great experience for my students to have a problem to solve, collect data, interpret the data, and compare their data to that of other classes. To implement this, I need to find a project for my class to do. The website, www.globalschoolnet.org, would be a place that I go to find projects for my class. Also, there are many teacher websites that explain online projects.

LJ - Teaching kindergarten I would like to teach my students to be comfortable with technology so they can build on it as they get older.

AB - I pretty much answered this question in my previous answer. However, to add, I am now teaching READ 180 this year. There is a pretty substantial technology component. The initial reading level assessment will be on the computer. In addition, each day the students will be interacting with the computer while practicing on various reading components. I am going to find a way to purchase some flip cameras to use with the kids.

PJ--Yeah, like AB, I answered this one in #2, but I like the idea of AC in being involved in online research projects with my students with other classrooms around the world. I would like my students to participate in ePals so they can have a penpal to write to from another place in the States or around the world. I love cultural exchanges any way they can happen. I'm an amature anthropologist, myself, and really love to learn about other people and their cultures. Since I didn't become a singer or a nurse, and if I hadn't become a teacher, maybe I would have been an anthropologist. Or archeaologist. Or a librarian. I would be happy to just get my students' feet wet researching and reporting on an animal or sea creature! They love to get on the internet, but they want to do what they want to do. When we have those days on the laptops, and we do, I sit with them and let them teach me things they are doing. I write stuff down, too, but when I go back to play their games or look at their sites by myself, I can't navigate the sites or games as well as they do. It looks so effortless when they are showing me, but it's harder than it looks!

4. Your questions from your group.

AC - 1. What technology do you like to use in your classroom?

LJ - I like to use the smartboard and let my kids interact with it. I feel this is important at this age. 2. The research in this chapter does not really prove that learning with new literacies is significantly helpful. Is there new research that states otherwise?* 3. What are your favorite teacher resource websites?

LJ - 1. How much technology is too much?

AC - I think that when people interact with technology more than they interact with people - it gets to be too much. Even though we have Facebook and MySpace as social networks, I feel that as a society we are getting less social. One of my pet peeves is when people are talking to me and texting at the same time.

3. What is the most important thing for students to gain from using technology in the classroom?
 * 2. What is the balance of using technology and traditional methods? Is it half, 60/40?

AC - I think that students need to learn skills that can benefit them in many situations. In order to adapt to changes, students need to learn basic skills that can easily transfer to new technologies. Internet and word processing skills are skills that I believe students can benefit from no matter what the future holds for technological devices.

AB - AC - When I was in high school, my mom had to sign a permission slip for me to get on the Internet in the school library. When I went to the library to do research, I had to sign in. I also remember that they used a site blocker to protect students from inappropriate sites. I think almost all schools use site blockers (which is a pain when I want to be unprofessional and check my Facebook) which is what they ought to do. I think teachers also have the responsibility of making sure students are using technology appropriately. AC - I can't imagine living without my cell phone. I have multiple automobile issues each year (most of them caused by me) so I definitely need a cell phone for when I'm driving. But, I do realize that cell phones can be a huge pain. I teach early childhood and I have students that bring cell phones to school to show off to their friends. I can't imagine what it's like at the middle school level. Cell phones take away focus on what is being learned if students are texting during class. It can become a huge classroom management issue.
 * What role do schools play in protecting children from inappropriate or unsavory elements when the new literacies allow so much in?
 * Why are cell phones such a problem?
 * *What are the pros and cons of all students having a laptop in the classroom?

PJ-- 2. What type of students would we have if we let them research all they wanted about topics they are interested in instead of the traditional "we know what's best for you" curriculum?
 * 1. How do we, the teachers in the classrooms, get involved in research studies to help add to the knowledge base?

AC - I think that our traditional way of teaching could use improvement, but I also feel the structure is good for children. Too many choices can be overwhelming and students who lack drive and motivation might fail to complete tasks. Also, there are things that students need to know like civics, science, and writing that students would not want to research because it is not a topic they are interested in. On the other hand, if there are students who are highly motivated - this might be a way to accelerate their learning.

3. What is dyanmic and different about the Bill Gates school on the east coast, and the Ron Clark Academy in Georgia? I don't think they use conventional, traditional methods of teaching. I would like to visit their schools someday. It's on my bucket list because I'm getting old!

AC - I have not heard of the Bill Gates school, but from what I know about Ron Clark, he tries to create a respectful and positive community. There is no real research on my part, I've just seen the movie. It was very inspiring how he helped those students by making learning fun.

Step 6: Case Study #9 is due - I thought there were only 8 case studies? PJ