Blog Post #2

Technology for Online Standardized Testing vs. Technology for Teaching, Learning, and Creative Inquiry

By Patrick Ledesma

Full article found here:

http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/leading_from_the_classroom/2012/05/dreaming_about_future_technologies_during_online_testing_season_the_2012_nmc_horizon_report_k-12_edi.html#comments

“The report also identifies challenges, including:

• The demand for personalized learning is not adequately supported by current technology or practices.
• Digital media literacy continues its rise in importance as a key skill in every discipline and profession.
• Economic pressures and new models of education are bringing unprecedented competition to traditional primary and secondary schools.
• Institutional barriers present formidable challenges to moving forward in a constructive way with emerging technologies.
• Learning that incorporates real life experiences is not occurring enough and is undervalued when it does take place.
• Putting 21st century technology into 19th century schools is a major undertaking.
• We are not using digital media for formative assessment the way we could and should.

I'm looking forward to the full report. Until then, here are more questions to chew on:

1) Do you believe these technologies will be in your school or classroom in the near future?

2) Given the learning potential of these emerging technologies, does your school have a healthy balance between how technology is used for high stakes test preparation and for activities that integrate higher-level thinking, collaboration, problem solving, and creativity?

3) Are ALL students in your district benefiting from technology?”

My Response:

While our school does not currently use technology for high stakes test taking and uses it very little for test preparation, I know it will very soon.  Your question about whether or not there will be a balance between test taking preparation and activities for higher level thinking is a good one.  I would like to say yes, but in all reality, the answer is probably no.  Until we get away from high stakes testing, I think schools will continued to be  pressured to use their time in preparation.  I also do not feel that ALL students in our district are benefiting from technology.  Many teachers are underprepared and overwhelmed with new technology and do not have enough training to use them for more than word processing.  It will be several years before all students benefit even if the technology is available.

Reflection #1

What attitudes, skills, and concepts have you gained from participating in the course so far?

There are several things I have learned so far from this course.  First of all, I have learned how to navigate my way through a wiki with a lot more ease.  I have also learned how powerful a wiki can be in terms of collaboration, content, and accessibility.  Secondly, I have also come to recognize that there is a wealth of knowledge and resources available in the area of technology that I did not know existed.  I have learned a lot about different sites, terms, and technologies that I can adapt to fit the needs of my class.

What have you learned in the course that you will not forget tomorrow?

So far in this class I have learned that technology is coming and we owe it to our students to be ready.  After listening to several videos and podcasts and reading articles and blogs about the future of technology and what is coming our way, I feel more informed about my responsibility to prepare my students.  I also won’t forget that just because teachers have access to technology doesn’t mean they know how to use it for the good of students and support of the standards.  Investing my time in learning about innovative ways to incorporate technology is a must.

How will you apply what you have learned to your teaching and future learning?

I will apply all that I have learned to better my use of technology in my classroom.  I think that up to this point, I have not done all that I can to use technology to benefit my student s to the best of my ability.  Just turning on a Smartboard and writing on it does not constitute good use of technology.  While I have a classroom blog, there are so many more things I can do with it to help my students and parents get better use out of it.  I can incorporate more videos and resources to help my students.  I have also wondered if a wiki might be a better outlet for parents and students since they could also add content and comment etc.  I also think that I will continue to develop my PLN.  I really had no idea how powerful it could be!  After learning how to use Google Reader, Netvibes, Tweetdeck, and Diigo, the possibilities are endless!  I feel like I have already honed in on some good contributors and will continue to follow and learn from them!

Blog Post #1

Why Twitter and Facebook Are Not Good Instructional Tools

By Paul Barnwell

Full Article found here:

http://www.edweek.org/tm/articles/2012/05/30/fp_barnwell.html

 “A recent report by the Economic & Social Research Council refutes the notion that today’s youth, the "net generation," is truly tech savvy. After interviewing and collecting data from 2000 first-year college students in Britain, researchers found that only 21.5 percent of students had blogged, and only 12.1 percent of students had used wikis. Too few students are familiar or engaged with these sorts of technologies that are structured to promote academic rigor; instead, they opt to use Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr, most often as distractions from their studies rather than learning tools.

I've come to agree wholeheartedly with the study's findings. Do many students you interact with know how to do much more than Tweet, post to Facebook, or browse YouTube? Email is antiquated to students; after all, many kids are so used to fragmenting their thoughts that writing a substantial email is drudgery. Twitter is all the rage for teenagers and is a constant source and depository of mindless banter and instant gratification. Being tech savvy should include the ability to synthesize ideas and media forms, and create something original. So how can we promote more thoughtful use of technology in schools?”

My response:

I agree with what you said about students depending on technology that cheapens thinking or relies on flashy graphics.  While our students do seem to be more tech savvy, it calls into question just how savvy they are with technologies that are actual learning tools.  Teachers are feeling the pressure to be innovative in teaching with technology but the fact is that many teachers don’t have the proper training to effectively use and teach with technology beyond the “distractions.”  You question how to promote more thoughtful use of technology in schools and I think it needs to start with properly training teachers to use technology as a source of enrichment and critical thinking in our students.