Online Resources

Summary: This discussion covered the many uses for online resources in education. Each participant listed their favorite resources and shared their knowledge.

What I learned: I discovered many new online resources. This discussion not only provided me with links to resources that other people are using but it also encouraged me to look for some new and exciting ones to share with the class.

Was this valuable? yes

Discussion critique: I would have liked to see this discussion happen closer to the beginning of the course. I think there would have been more participation if the class members were not involved in big group projects.

Teaching and Learning in a Ubiquitous Computing Environment

ARTICLE SUMMARY: This article provided case studies of what is possible when students and motivated/educated teachers have access to an ideal (technical) classroom.

What I learned: When provided with the tools and training, teachers and students can succeed in the classroom. This confirmed my believe that technology does aid in the learning process, even if due to the enthusiasm of using new tools.

Was this valuable? I am not sure. I guess it confirms my believe in integrating technology into the classroom and making sure that teachers are trained to use it effectively.

Discussion critique: I think everyone was wishing they could take a turn in this classroom and I know I would love my children to have that experience as well.

Two perspecives of technolgy integration

ARTICLE SUMMARY: This article provides a review of the literature that addresses the effect of technology on the culture of teaching and learning. This synthesis examined the historical trends of technology, explored policy changes that have influenced technology’s role in K-12 curriculum, and how these changes have resulted in a new definition of literacy that now includes technological literacy. This paper also examines the gaps between the vision for technology and its practical realities, concluding with a call for future educational research in technology.

What I learned: I found this to be a very difficult article to read and understand. I am not sure I learned much from the article. I didn't see a big difference between the two perspectives, they both had the common goal of enhancing student learning.

Was this valuable? NO

Discussion critique: The discussion was very helpful. Understanding that others were struggling to fully understand this article and the sharing of what they took away from it was good.

Suggestions on how the discussions could be improved: I thought everyone did a great job of explaining how they interrupted the article and sharing their frustration about not quiet understand the difference between the two perspectives.

Teacher views on technology integration

ARTICLE SUMMARY: This article describes a study that examined six teachers’ views on the factors that affect technology use in classrooms. The research examined teachers of grades 4, 5, and 6—for three years, studying the teachers both as a group and as individual case studies. Three teachers were selected and analyzed for changes in their educational views and practices. The findings point to two patterns in teachers’ views and the factors affecting the use of technology in the classroom. The first factor is the influence on technology adoption, and focuses mainly on the human factor. The second is factor is the nature of the influence when using technology in the classroom, ranging from technical to cognitive transformation. The three case studies reveal three different profiles of change and demonstrate the relations between teachers’ opinions concerning the conditions affecting technology use, and the changes that occur in teachers’ views and practices.

What I learned: I have often felt bad for teachers and the lack of PD they receive with regards to technology. This article reinforced my beliefs that teachers need more training but they also need to want to learn. These two features play a part in the success of technology integration into the classroom.

Was this valuable? I liked learning about the step approach. This was worth reading the article for.

Discussion critique: This was good discussion - just a little to short.

Suggestions on how the discussions could be improved:

Learning with Laptops

ARTICLE SUMMARY: Learning with laptops explored the impact of one-to-one computing to student attitudes in regards to learning and school. It compared two groups of students in different grades, one group with personal laptops and one without to see if their feeling toward education and school was different. The study also evaluated performance based on standardized test scores to see if there were academic differences between the two groups. The study found that the use of technology had little impact on the younger students and a more significant impact on the older students with regard to their attitudes toward school and learning. There were several variables that could contribute to this finding, the largest being standardized testing.

What I learned: What I felt after reading this article was sadness. I know the article was there to inform others of the positive impacts technology can have in education but what I thought after reading it was, standardized testing is impacting our students in negative ways. Even providing our students with personal laptops, motivated and educated teachers is not enough to make school a fun place to be and learn. The stress the students are under takes away from the fun of learning. Students begin their educational careers with positive attitudes, loving their teachers, class and school and the older they get the less enjoyment they have in school. It made me sad.

Was this valuable? Not really. There wasn't anything I could take from this article and apply in my career.

Discussion critique: The discussions all agreed that the laptop experiment was successful. Everyone seemed to agree that this was not a suprise and that all students could benefit from having a personal laptop.

Suggestions on how the discussions could be improved:There wasn't much to discuss about this article.

Education Evloving --- Tech-Savvy Students

ARTICLE SUMMARY: This report summarizes available literature reporting student attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors when it comes to using technology, particularly for learning. It explores both how our students are using technology, particularly for learning, and how they are becoming more and more frustrated with schools that are not embracing technology. The report includes students’ ideas thier needs could be better met. The report includes 15 major findings:

• Computer and Internet use is growing
• Students are sophisticated users
• Technology is important to students' education
• Technology is not an "extra"
• In-school access to technology is limited
• Home use dominates
• In-school use is not integrated
• Computers and the Internet are communication tools, first
• Metaphors describe how students use the Internet for school
• Technology has caused students to approach life differently; but adults act as though nothing has changed
• Students desire increased in-school access
• Students want to use technology to learn, and in a variety of ways
• Students want challenging, technologically-oriented instructional activities
• Students want adults to move beyond using the 'Internet for Internet's sake'
• Students want to learn the basics, too.

What I learned: The knowledge that students are often more sophisticated users than their teachers is not new to me, the fact they would like to see more technology in the classroom was not a surprise, the fact that they do not feel like sophisticated users was a surprise to me. This is one area that concerns me; students are often teaching themselves how to use a computer and the applications. They are learning through trial and error and not always finding the correct answers but simply work around. This method does not create effective or efficient users. The fact that students are recognizing and admitting that they need to be taught was a surprise, a pleasant surprise. Hopefully educators will begin to listen to their voices!

Was this valuable? Yes - I learned a lot from this article and the discussion.

Discussion critique: I think that we all agreed that technology is changing the way people look at learning and gathering information. Even us immigrants are using technology before turning to traditional methods to find information. Multitaksing is part of everyday life with technology. Students now use technology as their primary source of communication. Teachers need to take a look at this and consider email, blogging, ect as part of their communication tools with students.

Suggestions on how the discussions could be improved: Nothing - I thought it was great.

Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants

ARTICLE SUMMARY:Digital Natives/Immigrants— This article highlights how students today think and process information fundamentally differently from students of the past. This is a result of beginning surrounded by technology their entire life. This article compares these "digital natives" with the older generation who are learning and adopting new technology naming them "digital immigrants". It compares the facts about the technical and educational skills of native speakers and immigrants. It is more than just a generation gap separating today's students from their teachers. The way the brain is wired and how it responds is different.

What I learned: Students today are able to multitask and are capable of doing so. They learn differntly from previous students. The problem is our educational system has not caught up with them. This is something I have often thought about but never in this detail. I do not allow my children to watch tv, play on the computer, or text their friends during homework time. Maybe I need to take a closer look at how my children function best and quit living in the past myself.

Was this valuable? Yes! Scarry that my children are in school during a time where the generation gap is so large but it provided me with a lot to think about and discuss in my own district.

Discussion critique: Most people seemed to agree that there is a difference in natives vs. immigrants in technology. The natives seem to be much more intuitive about every new skill than the immigrants. The immigrants seem to question why more easily than accepting it just is. There seemed to be an undertone from the immigrants of why we need to change, it has worked just fine in the past. It wasn’t that they didn’t see any benefit from the technology but they didn’t see that the benefit was greater than the benefit from the old school methods. Most still felt that traditional instruction has a place in the classroom and the technology was good but was an extra.

Suggestions on how the discussions could be improved: Nothing - I thought it was great.

21st Century Skills

ARTICLE SUMMARY:
Developing 21st century skills is critical for today's learners. In order to thrive in a digital economy, students will need digital age proficiencies. It is important for the educational system to make changes in order to fulfill the changing needs in society. The curriculum must include skills that prepare students for the world beyond the classroom. The 21st Century Skills is separated into four categories :

21 st Century Themes

• Global awareness
• Financial, Economic, Business and Entrepreneurial Literacy
• Civic literacy
• Health literacy

Learning and Innovation Skills

• Creativity and Innovation Skills
• Critical Thinking and Problem Solving Skills
• Communication and Collaboration Skills

Information, Media and Technology Skills

• Information Literacy
• Media Literacy
• ICT Literacy

Life and Career Skills

• Flexibility and Adaptability
• Initiative and Self Direction
• Social and Cross Cultural Skills
• Productivity and Accountability
• Leadership and Responsibility

What I learned: Education is evolving to include more than just reading, writing and math. There are other skills that necessary for our students to learn. I have always felt that education is behind with what is being taught in school and what the world requires. If we want our students to be competitive in the job markets we need to change things that are being taught in our schools. While many of these changes deal with technology there are others that do not. There are many ideas on what needs to be changed but change does not happen quickly in education.

Was this valuable? YES
I had never thought about some of the changes that are needed to help our students be successful in today's economy. Technology is an area that I have thought about for years and wished there were ways the school could integrate more into the curriculum but many of the other topics had never crossed my mind.

Discussion critique:
I think that people we very good about sharing their experiences and opinions. I looked at topics in a way I would have never thought of on my own.

Suggestions on how the discussions could be improved:
I enjoyed this discussion and can not think of a way to suggest improvement. I have really enjoyed participating in the discussion and seeing what others think and are experiencing.