(Not in list form, but it does capture my thoughts)
I feel that technology has an ever growing place in education. Unfortunately it has grown much faster than I have been able to keep up with. What I am coming to realize is that technology, especially web technology, allows a much greater level of collaboration than students have traditionally have. One of my classes monitors water quality of one of our local rivers and we are able to share this info with other sites on our river and with state and national water quality experts. This has been great for the kids to see and experience. Web technology can also help students and teachers better organize the millions of resources that are now available. I think one of the key components to effective education using this web technology is the student's ability to not only find quality information, but to organize and apply this information. I think web technology also has the ability to show students how interconnected life really is. Too often a student views science as science, history as history, and math as math, without realizing that all three really are interconnected. I think technology should also help students best communicate their learning and discoveries. With the multitude of different applications out there students have the opportunity to communicate with a variety of people/forums/groups and must learn how to best reach their target audience. With all of this being said, technology cannot be the education for students. Technology can be a tremendous tool, but not when it interferes with essential content. Technology should be used to supplement the student's natural inclination to discover knowledge and not replace the outdoors, laboratories, print text sources, and group discussions. Technology should also be easily integrated for the students. If students capture video, they should have a simple method for uploading that video on a computer and editing it without detracting from the essential content. Finally, web technology needs to be safe for the students. They have the freedom to put so much of themselves out on the web that they need to be educated how to safely share information and access information. This is where I feel the most direct instruction needs to happen, the rest seems to come fairly naturally to a majority of my kids.
I agree with much of what you wrote in your guiding principles. I think that one of the main things we have to consider is the point you made about safely sharing information. Gone are the days of destroying the negative to be rid of an incriminating picture. Sadly many of our students will learn lesson's like this the hard way. Also our students find information so easily and quickly on the web that they fail to give credit where credit is due. That's another area where guidance is needed.
ReplyDeleteJill
Using technology to share the data from your class's water quality study is awesome and I am sure provides the students with an authentic picture of how science professionals work together! I want to move my tech focus in that direction.
ReplyDeleteKate
I also agree with what you wrote for your guiding principles. I think it's so important that technology be used as a tool and not take away from the content. Great ideas!
ReplyDeleteI really like your ideas on the collaborative nature of technology. The idea that students can collect and share REAL data with others is so cool! At my husband's grade school one of the classes talks via Skype once a month with our niece's class in California. We are in Iowa. The kids love comparing what they are doing in each of their subjects. It is so much more than being penpals, which they do as well.
ReplyDeleteStrongly agree with the statement that technology can be a tremendous tool, but not when it interferes with essential content. In my experience, sometimes the bells and whistles of the technology overshadow the content. On the positive side, if the technology can open a window into understanding, then I certainly want to use it. Also agree with the ease of use comment, because, again, the students only have so much time, and if the technology frustrates them the assignment may not be finished.
ReplyDelete