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white board

I have been interested in the white-board technology for a long time. I have heard a big commotion about it and it seems to be for a good reason. In the article by Keith Vallis and Peter Williamson titled Build Your Own Board, the authors explain a lot about the good reason why. It is an interesting technology that should revolutionize the classroom. The problem is that not everyone has the chance or the money to have one in everyone’s classroom. This article is about the options for us. It explains how to use regular projectors, software, a Bluetooth-enabled pen table and a wireless keyboard to create our own whiteboard.

A “brightboard” can be more cost effective than a regular whiteboard, but it is not as complete or efficient as a whiteboard. Even so, I think it will be up to the district or the school itself to see what will work in every classroom. The main idea is to give an alternative when the budget is not there. Also, it is important to see how interesting can the classroom become with this type of technology and how it attracts attention from the students.

It will be awesome to have the chance to play with this technology. I’m really not technology experienced, but I have always been interested in the diversity of information and methods of projection. This is the reason why I would like to see how all of these works. I know that depending on where I work I might not even been able to afford a “brightboard” but I will try to come up to with some other ideas.

testing the teachers in technology

In the Jun 2009 edition, Ann Ware wrote a piece titled Unlocking Excellence with Keys to Quality where she discusses the proper use of technologies to plan improvements. In this article she explains some of the points to consider and gives some important steps to follow.

• Become familiar with the goals and
strategies in your schools’ improvement
plan system.

• Align and embed your technology
plan within your school system’s continuous/
strategic improvement plan.

• Consider serving as an advocate
for the development of technology infused
professional learning as part
of the strategies that your schools
have identified within their improvement
plans.

• Participate in conferences that foster
research-based strategies, such as
ASCD, NSBA, and NECC, and that
provide opportunities to learn along
with peers.

The main point is to follow up this and other steps. She also talks about assessing or testing the advantages in education in a specific school and keep a track to show how much technology influence has in this. Over all I like this article since it is testing the educators used of technology and not the students directly. I think it is important to have a good projection of education in order for the students to gather as much information as possible.

I know it will be a great challenge to keep up with technology being a teacher and implementing education this way. It will be time consuming and it will take a lot out of me, but if I prepare myself adequately and in conjunction with the rest of the school, I will be able to pass the standards of excellence.

Donna L. Pasternak is an assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin. In her article titled, Going the Distance: e-mail from Norway, she explains a fun activity for language learners. The idea is to contact a classroom in a different classroom; in this case the teacher initiating the task was from Norway, contacting a teacher from Wisconsin. Then the students form both classrooms used emails to communicate to each other and almost test each other, sort of speaking. The idea was for the students in Norway to type in English and give all the information, myths, or important facts about the U.S.A, then the students in Wisconsin responding in same mater.

Overall, I have always been interested in culture and language, as I have stated before, but it is comfortable to know that it is possible to achieve projects of this kind. It has to be really interesting for the students to communicate and find out what is it that people from around the world think about you or your country, your culture. On the other hand, it has to be a great learning experience to talk to someone in a language you are just learning and avoid shyness of pronunciation and little by little practicing the language in question.

As the author of this article explains, “this activity generated high interest in writing to real people their own age; capitalized on their interest in other teenagers’ lives while practicing their language skills, and helped them to form international friendships.” There might be troubles trying to find the time or the classroom to coordinate this with, but I think that it will be possible to contact someone interested in a project like this in other parts of the world, simply because how effective it seems to be.

what tools would you use to educate

In the first position is the internet, second place goes to general productivity tools, third goes to interactive whiteboard, fourth goes to web 2.0, and last goes to portable devices. This are the results of a survey done to see what tool would teachers prefer to use, or what tools do they think are the most essential in education. The article entitled What Is Your Favorite Ed Tech Tool, by Paul Wurster shows the results of a survey done to a series of teachers and members of ISTE.

The results were of sum interest to me and I think to a lot of people. We can rely on the opinion of experts to see what tool, if we need to pick only one, should we aim for in the future. The divisions included the following and in order:

Internet (mostly search engines and e-mails)
Productivity tool (word processor, spreadsheet and others)
Interactive whiteboard and projectors
Web 2.0 (blogs, wikis, and other social networks)
Portable Digital Devises (mp3 players, PDAs, etc)

I thought the results were really interesting. The reasoning for the internet to be number one is as simple as, without the internet we cannot communicate, search for information, or even look for videos.

On the other hand, I realize that not every school would have access to all the technology, but as a student who is currently using all of them, with the exception of the white board, I think all of them are important, mostly power points and internet access. I will definitely try to incorporate as much as possible during my lectures and work projects. I think it will be great for the students to keep up to date and realize that communication devises are more than just fun games.

the real world taught in fantasy land, or isn't?

The article Walk, fly, or Teleport to Learning: Virtual Worlds in the Classroom, by Maureen brown Yoder, really cought my attention. in short, the main idea is to create a virtual worl and a virtual version of yourself, an Avatar. In this virtual worl, students can buy land, interact and even educate themselves and with the help of the teacher. this is awesome. Many people seems to be facinating with the idea of having an alter-ego or a second personality, and with a teaching tool like this it is possible.

I see this as a big opportunity for students to develop their personality without being afraid of the social image at schools. We, as teachers, just have to be careful on what is permitted on this sites. One of the ways to describe this worlds is MUVEs. "According to eMarketer estimates, by 2011, 20 million children will be members of Internet-based multiuser virtual environments (MUVEs)" up from the 8.2 million who are already participating in them today." this numbers are enormous. I can only imagine how great would it be if more and more of this virtual lifes introduce educational challenges.

But there is more, students and teachers are not alone in this. There are other projects like Global Kids and GamePill, who work together to make this possible. as descrived by the author "What's really great about the Global Kids project is that they mix virtual-world technology with real-world challenges, engaging young students in socially responsible efforts that can have a real impact on the world they live in at the same time that they improve their chances for a promising future."

I am not really a big fan of computer games or interactive games, but at the same time, I know and realize how big the gamer's crowd is. I think that if we can attach teaching and interaction between this two, the same way that GamePill and Global Kids intended too, we can provide lerning opportunities in social networking, finacial literacy, developing ones' identity, and lerning about life in general. I would like to try this one of this days, even when I'm not a fan of games, I think that if they are used the right way, we can reach more people than we think.

we need technology in our life

In the September/ October 2009 edition, I found an interesting peace called Professional development Changes Classrooms, by David H. Brock. This publication is in reference on how there has not been enough money directed into enhancing technology in some schools. It is remarkable to see how sometimes we don’t realize that if we don’t steps forward in technology and stop focusing in the same old traditional methods, we can easily lag behind and become superseded in the future. As the author says, “For a student to be competitive in a global market, we can no longer rely simply on traditional educational strategies.” In general, we have to focus as a complete unit, students, teachers, school districts, government, administration, and parents. We have to see where the technology and the word in general are rotating and shift with it not out of it. We need to be competitive and help the others who need to catch up.

I hope that the district or the school that I get to work for is as adapt or open-minded as the author of this article. I really think that technology is growing in a way that is pushing some of us students, and teachers out of the way. A friend once said “technology is growing faster than our power of understanding.” It is hard to keep up with the administrative area and provide to those in need, I know, but I will try my best as a teacher to see a way to push students to be updated. I think there are more ways to solve a problem like this; fixed schedules and sharing computers, ask for sponsors, or something. I just hope that my motivation continues like this. I hope that I get the support I need. On my side, I will try my best.