Technology Reflections

When I started this semester I was extremely nervous and excited. I had enrolled into my final six classes before I would start my student teaching in the spring. With taking six classes, I knew that I would have tons of homework, but I felt that I was up for the challenge. I was put on this path of getting my teaching license for a reason and I wasn’t going to let a few classes stand in my way.

One of the classes that I found nerve wrecking was my technology class. I have not been a big fan of technology because they have always found a way to mess up what I needed to do. I have always said a computer should have been a four letter word as much as I cuss it. I have had a few times that if the computer was any lighter I would have thrown it out the window. Because of the frustrations I have had in the past I was scared at what I would have to do in this technology class. But I faced this challenge as I had every challenge before it, head on. I did a lot of firsts in my technology class that I never thought I would have done. I created a blog, I created a PowerPoint that focused on a lesson, and I even created my own classroom website. Each of these challenges helped me become an efficient computer user. Now I am not scared to work with technology because I have learned valuable skills I will need to teach my students someday.

The assignment I struggled with the most was the excel program. I am still having trouble with this program. I had to have a friend help me with my assignment because I honestly didn’t know what I was supposed to do. I tried five different times to do the assignment but each time I got more confused and lost. At one point I seriously considered dropping out of school all together because I knew I was in way over my head. I am really glad I changed my mind.

My favorite assignment I did during my technology class was creating my very own classroom website. I had never done anything like this before and had some serious concerns about doing it. I have always been scared of putting too much information online where everyone can see it but I decided I wouldn’t put anything that was too personal on my website. I started working on my website on Tuesday night. I had it done and published on Wednesday evening. I really enjoyed making my website. I scripted the website like it was the start of a new school year. I included links for my parents and students. Because my last name is Jett, I used this in my website name, Mrs. Jett’s High Flyers. I thought that had a cute ring to it. I know I can use my classroom website to offer my students links to websites that provide extra help in specific subjects. I can use the website to give announcements for my parents about upcoming events. I can even use the website to offer ways my parents can get in contact with me. My classroom website has so much potential for educational use. I am so glad I faced this challenge and succeeded in making a functional website I can use now and later when I have my own classroom.

This semester I have faced a number of challenges. Each challenge I have faced head-on and with all my might. I have overcome many obstacles both educational and family. I am leaving this semester with wide eyed enthusiasm for the rest of my college education.  I will look back at this semester and remember fondly how I fought technology and I won the battle.

Technology Integration

I have been thinking how I would incorporate technology into my classroom when I start teaching. I had hit a wall when it came to things I could do to integrate technology into lesson plans that my students would find exciting and help them learn. I couldn’t think of any new and exciting ways to integrate technology until I started my Education Technology class’s new module. I started to realize I could use lots of different forms of technology to gain my students’ understanding of core concepts. I could have them read books and write book reports using the Word program. They could then take this book report and make a PowerPoint presentation about if they would recommend this book to a friend and if they wouldn’t recommend it why. They could use websites that would help them learn math and could also use websites to help them understand History. Technology really could be incorporated into all areas of curriculum. There were so many different thing I could have my students do, I was then overwhelmed.

After I calmed down I wondered what a normal classroom would be like in ten years. Would it still put an emphasis on technology or would it have reverted back to lectures and notes. I like to think that classrooms will still integrate technology into lesson plans. The world is leaning toward a life full of computers and technology in general. I heard on the news this morning that analysts are predicting that people will not use paper money in the future. I don’t understand how this will work but I hope they figure it out. I think teachers will still integrate technology into the classroom because it is still important to the world. In fact teachers might rely on technology more than they use it today. All lessons will be done with computers. Students will not have to learn to spell or do math anymore because they will have spell check and calculators to give them the correct answers. I worry about how the students of tomorrow will function when they get out of school. My daughter is a freshman in the high school. I was shocked over this past month when I asked my daughter what time it was one day. She couldn’t tell me because it wasn’t a digital clock. How could she have gotten this far in school without being able to tell time? She also has difficulties with money. This is really bothering me. I am worried about how she will survive if she can’t make change from a dollar. Will she still be living with me when she is a grown adult? I really hope these questions get answered quickly.

Then I started thinking about my son who is in middle school. How could I integrate technology if I was a teacher at his school? My son is having troubles with some of his teachers this year. He didn’t hit it off too well and is really struggling with Language Arts. If I were his Language Arts teacher how would I change things to ensure my students learned? I would start by thinking outside the box. I would bring in computer programs that would help with my students’ English skills. I would bring in as many computers as I could get to ensure all students worked on the programs at least twice a week. I would also have my students work in small groups making PowerPoint’s presentation to present to the class. If the students could put the terms into language that the other students would understand this would help me teach the lessons. I would also have the students work on projects that would incorporate some of their likes to. I would have them write a paper on their favorite artist. Or I could have the students analyze a popular song to see if the sentences make sense and have the correct subject verb agreement. I realized I could incorporate technology into any classroom; it just would take some time to do it. But as an effective teacher I promise I will take the time to incorporate technology to help my students learn.

Social Media Communciations

How has social media websites changed the way I communicate? That is a wonderful question. I was very reluctant to jump into the social media craze. My sister-in-law kept telling me that I needed to have a Facebook page so I could see pictures of my nephew Cade’s birthday party. I am a pretty private person and didn’t want my personal information floating around in cyberspace but after some coaxing from different people I reluctantly joined Facebook. I immediately liked what I found. I found it interesting to be able to find people I haven’t seen since high school. I have often wondered where some of my friends had landed after graduation. With the invention of Facebook all I had to do was type in their name and boom there they were, well most of them anyway. I didn’t really use Facebook for anything but looking at pictures until I reenrolled in college.

When I reenrolled at Columbia State I found it was very easy to find most of my classmates on Facebook. This gave us a place to talk about missed lessons and homework assignments. This also gave us a space to vent about any teachers we felt were being unfair to us as students. It is very easy to post a comment about someone when you know they will not see your comment. I have seen my fair share of people commenting badly about someone they know only to have that person find out what they had said. One thing I noticed when I use Facebook, is when it comes to younger people, they are more likely to say something questionable about someone else. I am not sure if they don’t think that person will see it or not. I have told my children everything you have ever put online will stay there. They are not to put any kind of personal information of any kind on Facebook. My daughter has a Facebook page and she can’t use a picture of herself as her profile picture. I have seen too many episodes of To Catch a Predator.

I have noticed that my communication skills have grown more cautious as I have used Facebook. I don’t post things like I used to, I never posted comments about everything I did but only posted the most important stuff. I have a friend on Facebook who posts when she goes to take a bath. (I think that is a little too personal for me, but it must be just fine for her.) The only things I post now are comments or questions I have about a class I am taking. Facebook is a wonderful place to connect with classmates because if I have a question I know one of my classmates will help me solve my problem. Facebook is also a wonderful place to visit when someone you know is in the hospital or are on vacation. I have a friend who is currently in the hospital. She has her laptop with her and we can check in on her right from the comfort of our house. I would love to visit her in the hospital but she is in one that is far from my house.

I know Facebook has changed the way I communicate to some extent but I still think I prefer face to face communication over cyber communication. I really like Facebook but I think it is time to find other things to use for communication. I think the next conversation I have will be in person instead of instant chat on Facebook.