In this my eighth and final week of class I was asked to reflect on emerging technologies. Despite my graduating from high school in the early nineties, I really still consider myself to be a digital immigrant. It occurs to me that the students I encounter are the ones that are fascinating because they are seem to come to school with a knowledge of how to use technology. I watched them in amazement as they marveled over the mobile laptop lab as I wheeled it into the room but then was even more shocked as my class of twenty Kindergardeners mastered the Kidspiration software within minutes and the class was completely silent, with the exception of a few students that needed help with the mouse pad at first.
Technology is here to stay and every school year we owe it to our students to give them the best that we have to offer them, despite not being able to afford a Promethian board for every classroom. I am so excited to use all that I have learned with my class next school year. This course has sparked my interest in looking for more ways to use technology for lower elementary students and helped me to find creative ways to engage my young learners. Next school year I plan to request grant money for a Promethian board for the lower elementary grades to use as well as a iPod Lab and cart. It is also my hopes to facilitate a professional development on Voice Threads at my campus. In these ways I hope to provide the staff and students at my campus with the opportunities needed to become adept to the 21 century learning environment.
Technology Goals
Hi 222,
I've been working on my professional certification and have identified integrating technology as an important area for targeted growth. I love your blogs because, like the one above, they, without fail, remind me of things that I already know and can do --like use Inspiration and teach Kidspiration-- as well as directions to focus my grant dollars and professional learning --like the use of iPods and MP3 players. Last year, I got a listening station and books on CD. Before the year was out, and I purchased a new line of books with grant money I received, the CD player had broke and various CDs that I had loaned out were lost or damaged. Luckily, I experienced this frustration before I purchased more CDs and CD players.
Unfortunately, MP3 players haven't been as easy as I'd like, at least, for transferring recordings from CDs.
~CCG