Challenge Based Learning

When we first started talking about this topic in class I was a little confused about this project, so I am glad we had a reading that was related to it and really explained the idea of Challenge Based Learning to me. I have heard of the idea or ideas similar before, especially since I have been in Woodring. However, I never had the chance to experience one of these types of projects while in high school and I know it is something that I would have enjoyed.

I really liked this week's article, I found it very informative as well as inspiring. It really got me excited as a future teach of all the ways I can try and implement this in my classroom. There are several aspects of challenge based learning that I think are great for working with this generation of children. One of them is that it is exciting and unique. Instead of just having student learn about issues you are having them think of ways to solve them. Instead of assigning students something to read and write about, you allow them the chance to follow their passions and do something meaningful. It brings group projects to a very new level. I also really liked the idea of framing it around the workplace. This is not only essential skill building but it also might also get some students, that before were not thinking about their future, to get excited about getting a job on day. I also like the teamwork that is involved because this allows students the chance to put aside differences and find similar interests among their peers.

I think this is going to be my favorite project of the quarter and I am excited to see everyone else's ideas about this concept!

IPads for Literacy Learning

I really enjoyed this article because it seems as though school all around are starting to really embrace the IPad as a tool for teaching.This is on specific example of how the evolution of technology is shaping our classrooms.It really got me thinking about when I have see the benefits of using IPads in the classroom and believe that it is something that every school/teacher should try and model.

My old K-12 school recently received a grant that helped bring technology in the classroom and with it several of teachers have been able to use these IPads for all ages of children. It is a great way to get student's to be engaged as well as learning new things. The great thing about it is that children and even teenagers love to use these tools and don't view it as work but more of play. But with this resource available it is important to use it correctly in the classroom. I believe it is very important for teachers to research ways to use the technology, like reading this week's article. I have seen some who just have the technology in the room and either don't use it or don't use it for educational purposes but as incentives for the students and only have games on it. It is a shame to see this because like the article mentioned there are so many great apps that go along with the IPad and other resources like it and should be taken advantage of by everyone that has the opportunity.

I also feel like using IPads is a great way to teach children how to use technology in all different types of ways. For some children the IPad may just seem like a toy or game but I feel it is the teachers responsibility to teach the students how to use it for educational purposes as well. I can't wait to use different types of technology in my future classroom but I also understand that it is not going to be simple. Technology takes a lot of work to correctly apply in the lessons and teach students how to use it responsibly.

Keep Students Safe: Online

I think this weeks article was the most interesting so far. Like we discussed in last weeks review technology is growing at such a fast rate. I really appreciated the term "technology natives" that this article used because it is so fitting. The younger generation has always had technology available and so their experience and relationship with it is completely different. I have young siblings and cousins that have had a Facebook account since they were in fourth/fifth grade and they don't understand the danger that can go along with it.

One of the most bothersome things to me that was mentioned in the article was cyber bullying. One of my friends in middle school was always bullied but when everyone started to get Facebook it got so much worse. Because of the disinhibition the Internet provides my fellow classmates became even more brutal towards her. She eventually had to transfer schools and create a new account and blocked all the bullies so they would leave her alone. My classmates did not realize that even though they weren't saying things to her face it was still just and hurtful.

I hope to stress the importance of not bullying and the serious consequences that go along with it, both bullying in person and over the Internet. But this is not an easy task and with technology evolving even more students Cyber Bullying could become more extreme.

The Age of Transliteracy

I found this weeks reading very interesting and relevant to today's culture. Since print has become overpassed by the Internet and other sources it only makes sense that teachers need to be prepared to change, especially those who did not grow up in the time of the Internet. Our generation and most likely the next generation to follow rely so much on the Internet for all sorts of things. 

But as useful as the Internet is, it's purpose is not really in line with the Common Core Standards. The Common Core Standards are trying to prepare students to be skilled readers that read for meaning and the Internet is more set up for speed. When I think back to this last week's searches I did on the Internet,  almost all of them involved getting facts very quickly on what I was looking for and then being done. I looked up the weather or one or two facts about different topics. But I did not do any sort of in-dept reading on any of it. I also noticed that, like the article mentioned, I will scan sites for just several seconds before I decide to continue reading or look for another one. Our fast-paced life styles do not really fit in well with reading for meaning but that does not mean it is an impossible goal. 

I really enjoyed the slogans to keep students focused and believe a lot of the ideas are great starting points for encouraging students to read for meaning. These are tips that would greatly improve the students relationship with the Internet, I know personally I could benefit by working on a few of these. I think all of these slogans teach responsibility for using the Internet which if available in the classroom can be very beneficial for learning. I think the most important one of them was knowledge mode. The Internet can be a very tempting distraction and students need to be actively engaged in the learning in order to not stray to social media or games. 

We are living in such an exciting time because so much has changed so quickly due to the Internet and other new technologies. With this in mind, it is important to find the balance between printed text and other benefits of the past and today's tools like the Internet. Teaching the next generation the best of both times and encourage reading for meaning is not an easy task, but it is something worth fighting for. 

I Can't Think....Really I can't!!!

First off I would like to say that I am not an experienced blogger so sorry in advance if this drags on a bit! 
 
To be honest when I first looked at this article just briefly a few days ago and just looked over the title and caption I instantly thought "hmm it is about twitter I don't have a twitter account so I am probably safe from whatever this article says twitter does to you". However, after thoroughly reading it over today I have to admit that I am not safe from information overload due to technology, in fact I suffered from this exact problem a few days ago. 

I am planning a trip to Vancouver in early March and decided I should start looking into hotel options this weekend which seemed like a simple enough task but I was shocked when I just started my Internet search. As soon as I typed it into Google I was bombarded with ads and reviews from all different websites. It took a few minutes but I finally picked the website I would use to start my search. From there things only got worse! There were so many categories and ratings that I would be looking at information on one hotel and three more would be advertised on the bottom page just leading me to them. I had to decided what I was interested in. What part of town did I want to stay in, did I want a pool or rec, free WiFi or flat screen TV, a modern or condo style, skyscraper or an inn. I was having, like the article mentioned, a total failure to decide something that wasn't even that complicated but due to so many options I couldn't pick one.

Once i finally decided on one I liked there was four different room options with different styles and sizes and prices for each. To save you from anymore of my frustration I ended up texting my mom and have her pick one for me that she already knew was good.

I guess the moral of my blog is this, don't use Google to try and pick a hotel in Vancouver and something I assumed I was safe from actually turned out to be more relevant to myself then I thought. Because reflecting back this topic it is not the only time something like the hotel fiasco has happened. Technology is such a big part of our lives, or at least mine, that it seems like a lot of my decisions lately, or you could say lack of decisions, were due to it. As to the categories of “sufficers” and “maximizers” I would say I fall somewhere in the middle of the spectrum. At times, like mentioned up above, I get very overwhelmed. But on the other hand I am able to pick somethings quickly, and not regret my decision later on. I mean hey I was able to create this blog post without changing the font too many times!