Quiet+Writes

Jan. 7, 2009

My knowledge and use of technology is similar to a 1994 Mazda 323. Why this vehicle? It is simple but reliable. The vehicle has very few frills but it will eventually get you where you want to go. It just may take you some time to get there. My knowledge of technology is basic. I know how to use most programs but not how to take advantage of any of the extra features that they provide. The Mazda is similar in that everything is manually operated. When using technology it usually takes me quite a bit of time to figure things out. I do not know any of the shortcuts to make things more efficient but I can usually arrive at finishing what I intended to do.

Jan. 21, 2009

I think that it is difficult to learn completely onyour own. Generally there are may things that can contribute and facilitate your learning.

The last thing that I learned on my own was how to use One Note. While I am not completely comfortable with all of its functions I am able to do basic things with it. I've learned how to set it up how I like it.

March 4, 2009

Who am I as a teacher is a difficult question. I think an easier question is who will I be as a teacher once I have the time and resources to implement the thigns that I would like as a teacher. Essentially I think one of the most important roles of a teacher is to provide opportunities to students. While opportunities is a very vague term I think it is accurate. As a teacher I provide opportunities for interaction, for collaboration, thinking, problem solving. I provide students with opportunities to see things they may never have seen before. I allow them and provide them with a place to take part in athletics, music, art, drama. They create their own knowledge.

A challenge that I have as a teacher is to prevent myself form putting limitations on students. I try to allow them to come up with ideas as to how they are going to present, share, and acquire information. Information may be somewhat misguided in that it is only a small part of the equation. More importantly students acquire skills that allow them to seek and create knowledge.

To be honest at the moment in many senses I don't believe that I am being a very good teacher. I feel like I am being stretched in so many different directions that I cannot focus my attention and efforts in any one area. I feel like I am doing a huge number of things but that I am not doing anything particularly well.

What I need to do and what is important that all teachers do is to take a step back and think about what is important. I need to prioritize the things that I am doing and get some sanity back in my life and my classroom.

March 25, 2009

What is learning? Learning is ongoing. We never stop learning. The challenge is making the learning meaningful and efficient. I feel sometimes that we are bombarded with information and new things to learn. It is difficult to find the time to investigate everything. Even when you narrow it down it is difficult to become a true expert in an area of focus. My focus this term has been on learning how to use Microsoft Movie Maker. I can use it and I have been able to create some very nice work with it however I am not very efficient with it and I do not know all of the tricks to make using it easier. My next stage of inquiry is to take some of the specific questions that I have to some of my peers who are experts at using the technology. The more I do use it the more comfortable I become with the technology. Time always seems to be an issue. I can't quite seem to find the time to do everything that I want. As I move forward I think that my learning will be greatly impacted by time management.

April 8, 2009

My digital kids are basically all of my students. All of my students are proficient with at least one type of technology. While some are obviously more proficient than others all of them are able to do something. The majority of my students are able to create their own movies and upload them to YouTube. They have all grown up in a digital world and are exposed to digital media on a daily basis. You can tell because they are all involved in using some sort of technology. Eighty five percent of the students in my class own either an MP3 player or a cell phone. Seventy five percent of them have uploaded a video onto YouTube. I can also usually tell the students that are very tech savvy because they are always willing to help when I become frustrated with technology (this happens very often). They can teach me a great deal. When I have any questions there is generally at least one student in my class who is able to help me. They have a great deal of knowledge.

April 29, 2009

Something I am learning about technology is... Something I am learning about learning is... Something I am learning about teaching is... Something I am learning about myself....

May 13, 2009

I see many issues with using technology. Perhaps the biggest obstacle is lack of access to the technology. Our school has very limited time to use technology. We have only one lab that is available throughout the day and about thirty three teachers trying to use it. It is generally booked far in advance. The other issue with this lab is that most of the computers are extremely slow if they work at all. The other lab is only available one block a day. It is a much faster lab and generally has fewer issues. The other issue is lack of knowledge on my part. I find that I am getting very frustrated with technology. I don't know that anything that I have tried to do this year has actually worked without major problems.

Nov. 4, 2009 Constructivism - How does it relate to technology and teaching with technology. Teaching technology must include a constructivist approach. Technology is such a huge topic and those who we are teaching are coming from such varied backgrounds. The learning must be put onto the students. They need to take ownership of it for true learning to take place. Instructivism may work for teaching some skills when it comes to technology but the greatest benefit will come when students are truly engaged in what they are learning.

Prezi seems as though it would be a very useful tool. I think that it will be very useful once I figure out what it is all about. Seems a bit difficult to navigate, most likely because it is new. I look forward to using it instead of power point.