After Dr. Ransom’s candid and emotional reaction to Amber’s comment about technology and curriculum, I decided to blog about how we can incorporate technology into the curriculum and think of them as occurring concurrently rather than separately. It was great hearing from Kathy Cassidy last night to learn firsthand how someone is really making this a reality, and for young students nonetheless! I bet her young students will forever remember the sound the letter “k” makes and that the words “kiss” and “kick” start with that letter, all because they made a Youtube video about the letter. I also love the idea of getting students to write via blogging. It’s more colorful, , accessible and official this way. The students know that their blogs are available to be read by anyone, so it gives them a real sense of audience. I think this would be great for older students who have to write longer papers, because they will be showcasing their work to the world. Also, the students feel a sense of ownership and can continue the blog long after they graduate from first grade.
Another teacher I know who uses technology in his classroom is my uncle. He is a 6th grade math teacher who is current on the latest classroom technology. Whenever I go to his house, he is on his laptop playing around with new software or websites and showing me how he is going to use this with his students. He’s excited about it, and that sense of excitement will surely transfer to the students. And since we know that not every teacher is on board with technology integrated into curriculum, imagine how excited the students must be to go to his class; regardless of the subject, they know that their lesson for the day will involve interaction with technology and will not be the same old same old of copying notes off the chalkboard. He also has his own website and posts his class notes online so that absent students can catch themselves up and parents know what to study with their kids come test time.
After seeing Kathy Cassidy’s work with first graders and my uncle’s work with math, it’s made me realize that technology CAN be and SHOULD be used as a means of teaching curriculum content because it’s effective with all ages and any subject.
Stephen Ransom said,
October 15, 2009 @ 6:25 pm
Renee, I like how you have identified some big issues here regarding blogging; namely, ownership, accessibility, and audience. These are truly powerful attributes when making ideas, events, and work open and sharable with a global audience. Even if they never go “global”, students understand audience the minute they begin to see comments appear… from grandma, mom, dad, and their peers and perhaps even other teachers that they have had…
If one can make their teaching more relevant, exciting, meaningful, and purposeful, then why not, right? Professionally, it becomes an obligation.
What a Network Can Do For You | EdTechTrek said,
October 14, 2009 @ 5:19 pm
[...] a try and being energized at how teachers were using these tools in real ways with their students. Others blogged about the “aha” moment of seeing how technology does not have to be an “extra”, [...]