Our class has a blog! New technology makes communication very easy. I am using blogger because I believe that our class will be able to communicate better. For those who don't understand blogging, it is an online journal where people can post diary entries and others can read and comment on each post or entry. Our class blog will be kept private so that only members of our class will be able to read, comment and contribute to our blog. Each student will be required to post on our blog at least once per moth. Our blog will be a place where students can share anything educational they want with each other. If a student finds a cool educational website they can post it, if they learn a new word, read a good book, learn a mnemonic device, or even just have a question. Blogs are a great place for students to collaborate with each other, ask question, and receive feedback although they are not in the classroom. Another benefit of having a blog is that it can be kept private so other people can not access the content like in facebook, myspace, or even instant messaging. There are a couple of drawbacks with using blogs first of all I will have to teach the students how to use it (which will take a little bit of time out of our day). I also have to assume they will remember how to do it. To ensure that the students remember how to post or comment on a blog. I have provided a step-by-step set of instructions with pictures that are easy to understand. I am really excited to use tool. I think that this blog has a lot of potential for students to communicate with each other and develop strong bonds of friendship with the entire class.
The second technology tool we will use in our class is starfall.com. This website is designed for young students and is focused on reading and phonics. As part of my teaching philosophy I believe that students who have a strong foundation in reading will succeed in other areas of school much easier than those who struggle with reading. I like this website a lot because it has a variety of interactive books, it teaches about riddles, tongue twisters, poetry, music, art, and even plays. There are also activities that correspond with all the different holidays. We will use this website in computer class to help build a strong reading foundation. This site is helpful for young students at a variety of levels from barely recognizing the ABC's to reading fluently so all students will benefit. These interactive stories are really useful because if a student is having problems reading a word they can click on it and it will sound the word out for them. This website is helpful because every student can get online and get the help they need rather than waiting for a teacher to come over and help them to pronounce a word. One drawback from promoting this website is that there is not the teacher/student or parent/student interaction that can sometimes be so crucial when young kids are learning to read. I require 20 minutes of reading 6 days/week, students can get on this website to complete their reading assignment but I suggest that it only be used 3 times/week and the other 3 days should be completed with a parent or sibling.
VIDEO: In the video it was interesting to see what people want for the future. I think that before we know it everything will be mobile just like they said. Soon we will be able to watch tv wherever we want, talk to people on the airplane etc. Right now our parents might not really know how to use the latest technologies that well, but before we know it we will be the parents and there will be all these technologies we don't know how to use and will have to ask our children for help. Modern technology is progressing so fast, and will continue to. I think that the kids in elementary school right now are the most technologically smart kids there have been of all time.
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