After reading the text, it was interesting to see how technology had evolved the traditional classroom. I thought that it would
change my thoughts on how technology works with students. Chapter 1 was about the teacher what advances
technology can create for a class. Chapter
2 discussed technology and the reasons towards why teachers need technology to
get as much as they can from the student, along with the cons that it can have.
What stood out to me in Chapter 1 was TPACK and the 21st century Skills Diagram. Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge can be best described as the way content can be taught through the paradigm of the world today. There are three types of knowledge, which reminded me of my experiences back in school. This can relate to the the Diagram of 21st Century Skills teachers use to "represent the knowledge and understandings that students will need to succeed in our highly technological, information-based-society, including the ability to think critically, make informed judgments, solve complex problems, think creatively, communicate and collaborate with others, use information in innovative ways, and take responsibility for one's personal and civic life (Maloy, Verock-O'Loughlin, Edwards & Park Woolf (2016), p. 16)." The teacher acts as the sole catalyst that blends the technology, content, textbooks, and the individualism of the students all in one, during the class day.
This can connect with Chapter 2 of the reading with student-centered teaching. It's geared more towards students learning at their own pace. This is "constructivist, progressive, project or problem-based teaching (Maloy, Verock-O'Loughlin, Edwards & Park Woolf (2016), p. 40)." It can engage students, while they think critically and process the new information being presented. It mentions mathematics, where I can definitely see myself using technology with the way the textbook describes, even though it uses an elementary school of students as an example. A system like 4MALITY would be useful with Visual Vicuna to reinforce new equations and formulas with graphs and animations to depict new word problem examples to work on.
After reading this, if you all could discuss:
1. Which software is most useful for your classroom with regards to your subject?
2. What are the benefits to having a Flipped Classroom? What are the negatives, if any?
3. How can we as teachers, ensure that students in low-income homes don't lag behind the rest of the class when using technology that isn't readily accessible outside of the classroom?
What stood out to me in Chapter 1 was TPACK and the 21st century Skills Diagram. Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge can be best described as the way content can be taught through the paradigm of the world today. There are three types of knowledge, which reminded me of my experiences back in school. This can relate to the the Diagram of 21st Century Skills teachers use to "represent the knowledge and understandings that students will need to succeed in our highly technological, information-based-society, including the ability to think critically, make informed judgments, solve complex problems, think creatively, communicate and collaborate with others, use information in innovative ways, and take responsibility for one's personal and civic life (Maloy, Verock-O'Loughlin, Edwards & Park Woolf (2016), p. 16)." The teacher acts as the sole catalyst that blends the technology, content, textbooks, and the individualism of the students all in one, during the class day.
This can connect with Chapter 2 of the reading with student-centered teaching. It's geared more towards students learning at their own pace. This is "constructivist, progressive, project or problem-based teaching (Maloy, Verock-O'Loughlin, Edwards & Park Woolf (2016), p. 40)." It can engage students, while they think critically and process the new information being presented. It mentions mathematics, where I can definitely see myself using technology with the way the textbook describes, even though it uses an elementary school of students as an example. A system like 4MALITY would be useful with Visual Vicuna to reinforce new equations and formulas with graphs and animations to depict new word problem examples to work on.
After reading this, if you all could discuss:
1. Which software is most useful for your classroom with regards to your subject?
2. What are the benefits to having a Flipped Classroom? What are the negatives, if any?
3. How can we as teachers, ensure that students in low-income homes don't lag behind the rest of the class when using technology that isn't readily accessible outside of the classroom?
Hey Roberto,
ReplyDeleteYour third question is the one that really stood out to me from your discussion questions. One of the more important things to remember when incorporating technology in the classroom is to understand the reality of the students. Teachers cannot be 100% sure if a student comes from a low-income home and therefore it is important to not rely heavily on technology outside of the classroom. In the classroom, a teacher can see and use the technology desired for a lesson. However, if a teacher assigns an assignment to be completed at home using technology, there is no way of ensuring that every student in the classroom has the ability to complete it at home. Therefore, I do think it's important to try and keep the advanced technology in the classroom and try to avoid using technology for homework assignments. (Unless the teacher is 100% sure every student has the ability to complete that assignment.)
Hi Robert!
ReplyDeleteIn regards to question #2. I just recently learned what a flipped classroom is and I can see both the benefits and negatives. I like that a flipped classroom can offer more individualized help for students. It can also give the teacher more time to see student work. On the opposite side I think that model will only work for advanced students. If students are teaching themselves the material, they must do it correctly or else we are setting them up for failure. We also must have extremely motivated students or else they will be left in the dust in the class.
Hi Roberto,
ReplyDeleteI feel like it is our job as teachers to know our students. If we know that all the students have technology available to them at home then we can assign homework involving technology. But if it is not available then we should try to not give homework that involves technology. Sometimes we may not be able to help it if the material is only available online. In these situations we should try and print out the material for the student(s) so they can do their homework and not fall behind.