I agree that David Warlick’s Priority of Education questions should be reversed. We as educators must ask ourselves WHAT should students learn. According to the reading and viewing I have done, I realize that educators must change with the times and current students. If instant messenger and emails are important to this generation, we as educators must find a way to integrate that type of writing into our instruction. In Warlick’s book, Redefining Literacy for the 21st Century, he states, “The challenge of this book is primarily to explore What students should be learning. If successful, the How and the How Well will follow as a matter of course, building themselves out of the context of a new literacy and the changing environment that demands it’(17). After viewing the videos and reading the weblogg-ed conversations and the Pew reports, I realized that teachers must integrate techonological social interacting into the classroom. To answer Warlick’s questions, students should be learning how to read and write/compose. Students should be learning this through authentic means such as blogs, for students are comfortable to express themselves freely. If students are allowed to use blogs in classrooms, they will learn to express their ideas with a large community and enjoy doing in.
The article “Technology and the Engaged Literacy Learner” by Linda B. Gambrell illustrates how effective internet learning can be. The internet can allow students to gain access to reading materials and information. When using the internet, “Students can pursue their interests in a range of topics and locate information from a wide range of sources”( 290). Instead of going to an encyclopedia, student can use google. This article also illustrates that classrooms that provide students with the opportunity to read online promotes student engagement with a text. Finally, the internet allows students to socially interact with others. Students can use these technological forms of social interaction to discuss texts, which helps them feel that they are taking ownership of their learning.
Monday, January 29, 2007
Richardson, Pew, and Weblogg-ed
After viewing Will Richardson’s videos, the Pew report, and the conversation on weblogg-ed, I realized how beneficial blogging can be to students and professionals. Even though I experienced the benefits of blogging in ENG 374, the information presented on these sites reinforce the importance of blogging.
The videos on Will Richardson’s site show that blogging can teach more about ones’ profession and technology. Blogs and other social networking technologies allow individuals to have intellectual and engaging conversations. Richardson makes it clear that blogs are not online journals;they are learning spaces where individuals can interact with others. Blogging provides a space for authentic learning and interactions. Furthermore, Richardson also illustrates that blogging promotes reading and composing. The “read and write web” is a new type of internet that not only lets people access information; it allows people to write content. The internet now allows individuals to “consume,” “create,” and “share” information with others on the web.
Another reason that blogging and social networking are important is found in the Pew reports. The Pew reports illustrate that teenagers are the predominat age group that create different types of works onling. In the first Pew report, it is stated that “[f]ully half of all teens and 57% of teens who use the internet could be considered Content Creators. They have created a blog or webpage, posted original artwork, photography, stories or videos online or remixed online content into their own new creations.” This quotation coincides with Will Richardson’s videos, for he asserts that the internet or web 2.0 allows people to not only consume information but create it. Furthermore, the second Pew report indicates that teenagers are already using the internet for social networking. Specifically, “[m]ore than half (55%) of all online American youths ages 12-17 use online social networking sites.” With this information, teachers must use the social networking habits of teenagers as a gateway into writing.
Finally, after reading the weblogg-ed conversations, I saw the real-life benefits of integrating a blog into a classroom. The first Weblog conversation that stuck out to me was from Kaironews. In this weblog, the individual discussed a conversation he or she had with students about the reading and writing they did out of class. Many students didn’t think that the y wrote out of class until the teacher brought up instant messenger and email. It seems as though students enjoy this type of writing because it is authentic to them. Furthermore, this author goes on to say that “If we hope to have students continue to write outside of our class, having students use Blogger or WebCrimson gives them complete ownership of the text. Authentic learning is the most important instruction one can have. And this illustrates that blogs or other social networking devices encourage students to become writers. Another benefit of blogging is from the author Terry Eliot who believes that blogs give students “freedom” to write about what they want. Again, this ties into authentic writing, but freedom in writing helps students become life-long writers. In addition, weblogs also help “students exercise critical thinking, take creative risks, and make sophisticated use of language and design elements.” They help student become technologically savvy, and they help students improve their writing skills. Finally, weblogs can be a place for further instruction where teachers post assignments and other learning materials.
The videos on Will Richardson’s site show that blogging can teach more about ones’ profession and technology. Blogs and other social networking technologies allow individuals to have intellectual and engaging conversations. Richardson makes it clear that blogs are not online journals;they are learning spaces where individuals can interact with others. Blogging provides a space for authentic learning and interactions. Furthermore, Richardson also illustrates that blogging promotes reading and composing. The “read and write web” is a new type of internet that not only lets people access information; it allows people to write content. The internet now allows individuals to “consume,” “create,” and “share” information with others on the web.
Another reason that blogging and social networking are important is found in the Pew reports. The Pew reports illustrate that teenagers are the predominat age group that create different types of works onling. In the first Pew report, it is stated that “[f]ully half of all teens and 57% of teens who use the internet could be considered Content Creators. They have created a blog or webpage, posted original artwork, photography, stories or videos online or remixed online content into their own new creations.” This quotation coincides with Will Richardson’s videos, for he asserts that the internet or web 2.0 allows people to not only consume information but create it. Furthermore, the second Pew report indicates that teenagers are already using the internet for social networking. Specifically, “[m]ore than half (55%) of all online American youths ages 12-17 use online social networking sites.” With this information, teachers must use the social networking habits of teenagers as a gateway into writing.
Finally, after reading the weblogg-ed conversations, I saw the real-life benefits of integrating a blog into a classroom. The first Weblog conversation that stuck out to me was from Kaironews. In this weblog, the individual discussed a conversation he or she had with students about the reading and writing they did out of class. Many students didn’t think that the y wrote out of class until the teacher brought up instant messenger and email. It seems as though students enjoy this type of writing because it is authentic to them. Furthermore, this author goes on to say that “If we hope to have students continue to write outside of our class, having students use Blogger or WebCrimson gives them complete ownership of the text. Authentic learning is the most important instruction one can have. And this illustrates that blogs or other social networking devices encourage students to become writers. Another benefit of blogging is from the author Terry Eliot who believes that blogs give students “freedom” to write about what they want. Again, this ties into authentic writing, but freedom in writing helps students become life-long writers. In addition, weblogs also help “students exercise critical thinking, take creative risks, and make sophisticated use of language and design elements.” They help student become technologically savvy, and they help students improve their writing skills. Finally, weblogs can be a place for further instruction where teachers post assignments and other learning materials.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
NCATE
After reviewing the NCATE technology and media standards, I realized that most of the instruction that I have experienced has not included new technology or media. I have worked with Blackboard, WebCT, and PowerPoint, but I have not worked with other new technologies like IMovie.
After reading the first standard, I realized how important media is in the lives of our future students. When I was student teaching, students were not encouraged to learne about new media in their lives. Another part of the standards that I thought was interesting was composing media. By incorporating this standard into the curriculum, students will not only learn about new media; they will learn how to use it, and create projects that are authentic to them.
After reading the first standard, I realized how important media is in the lives of our future students. When I was student teaching, students were not encouraged to learne about new media in their lives. Another part of the standards that I thought was interesting was composing media. By incorporating this standard into the curriculum, students will not only learn about new media; they will learn how to use it, and create projects that are authentic to them.
Welcome
Hi everyone my name is Bridget. This blog will focus on new technology and advances in present day classrooms. I recently finished student teaching, and I have witnessed how technologically savvy current students in high school are. There have been many changes in schools since I graduated high school, which was only four years ago. As future teachers, we must realize that we have to change with the times in order to connect with our students
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