I would like to start this blog by stating that I have the basic computer skills of your average octogenarian named Ethel. That being said, I must now discuss what forms of technology we used in class that I found most useful for teaching. I will also discuss my least favorite. So, let’s start with the good one—Smart board.
The Smart boar, or interactive white board, is an amazing little toy. It makes you able to bring up web sites, have interactive lesson plans, and its fun to play with to boot! The ability to navigate the internet in front of the class without moving to a cramped computer lab says volumes. Gone are the days of walking single file in a long hallway in silence. Now a student can perform amazing and interactive presentations to the class it an unending array of Technicolor and web links. However, it does have one drawback…
Wile it is useful and interactive, it would be difficult to use for younger classrooms for exactly this reason. What do you want to do in your classes form age k threw 4? POKE STUFF! In my attempt to use this bit of tech with a small group ranging for k-3 I found it difficult to say the least. Such care is needed to keep the Smart board functioning that it seems almost impossible to allow an entire class to enjoy it much less an entire grade.
To move onto my least favorite—chats and the anonymous clicker. I dislike these technologies for very similar and moral reasons. Apart from chats being difficult to organize and, well let’s just say it, pointless in a classroom, they both destroy what I believe to be the most important thing one can learn. They both take away the accountability of the student. I feel that if you learn one thing over the years it is the ability to form an opinion and defend it in an articulate and convincing manner. When students do not have to stand and defend their opinion they will never learn how. Thus becoming useless in today’s intellectual society.
All in all, I enjoyed this class and the people in it. Have a great time every one.
This is Dan Williams signing out… “Good night and good luck.”