Reflection on Tech Integration Lesson Plan

Overall, I felt my lesson went fairly well. I obviously ran into an issue when I was using the Google Docs portion of the technology. Rather than allowing all of the users to edit the document,  I only put that they were able to view it. So no one could type their sentences into the Google Doc I made for class. Had I originally used the Google Doc and not posted the in-class assignment on the wiki, I probably would've had more time to mess around with it and get all of the kinks worked out. However, I last minute when I got to class, changed from the class wiki to the Google Doc. This was one of the few times I had made my own Doc so I didn't realize I needed to allow others to edit it and that is why it didn't work. I was able to figure out the issue while they were working on creating their own Google Doc to put their responses in and some students were able to add their sentences to my Doc before I began calling on people the share their answers. I thought, although the mistake shouldn't have been made, it was good to see that while you want to incorporate technology, it isn't reliable all the time whether you make the mistake or there is an error with the technology. That's why it is always important to have a backup plan, which I was able to provide everyone with an alternative way to share their responses.

I thought the lesson was effective over all. I could see that when I had the students share their responses to the prompts I had given them for sentences. Although our class is at a higher level than I would teach that lesson to, given more time, I think it would be a good lesson for younger students as well. Writing is an important aspect of life, as everyone usually needs to communicate through writing at one point or another. With more time, I would've gone into more detail about the different parts of speech and how those related to clauses. Since I didn't have much time in class, I wasn't able to do that. But I thought the class was able to respond to my prompts correctly, which demonstrated that they did understand what I was getting at. Further, in my classroom, students would have to independently edit their peer's work and submit it to me which would show me their personal understanding, as the class involved a lot of group work.

Core Competencies

After reading the New Media Literacies article, I found it interesting that they focus more on the idea of kids having the social and cultural skills to be able to participate fully in a technology savy classroom. It seems too often teachers try to incorporate as much technology as they can, however, does this truly benefit the students? I really enjoyed the approach this article took.

The "Play" literacy is one I fully agree with. I like that they discuss how having the desire to play can have a positive impact on your interactions with technology because you're more likely to try more with a computer than those who don't have that sense of play. "Multitasking" is one that is becoming more and more necessary in society. Often kids are on the computer doing homework, listening to music, being on facebook and more. It seems it is necessary to build one's multitasking skills to be able to be successful in society today. I have also found that "Negotiation" is more relevant with technology after being in Education 109. I've found more ways that technology is beneficial and have also been able to see how it connects you with people who see things differently than you do.

I think all of these literacies have been used in class thus far, as we are being forced to use beneficial technology and play with it to learn more about it and it's benefits. Multitasking is one used in and out of class as we are seeing how many things we will need to be doing at once as teachers.

Engaging Others on Twitter

After realizing my last attempt didn't post to Twitter, I tried again just now to ask about beneficial ways to incorporate technology into classrooms. Personally, I felt it would present more of a distraction to students rather than benefit them. Although, after being in class and seeing how many useful sites there are I now feel that it could be a potentially great thing. So I'm waiting for responses as to how education can help in classrooms!

Privacy

For teachers, it is difficult to maintain privacy. This is especially true with today's technology and the fact that it continues to get more and more advanced nearly every day. Even with being able to set Facebook to private, etc. you never know just how much or how little the public is seeing. I do feel that it is not a prospective employers place to ask for a username and password to access a private Facebook account, simply because you are taking every precaution to keep your personal life private. The only other option would be not to have a Facebook at all, however most people do use it for it's intended purpose and should be allowed to continue to use it regardless. However, it is our job to make sure we are protecting ourselves as educators and not putting ourselves in compromising situations by having inappropriate pictures, etc. on Facebook or any other social website. I feel this is especially true after seeing just how much you can pull up on the internet from years and years ago about a business or even a person.

EDUC 109/261 Blog

In Education 107, we were shown how to blog using Google Blogger. I decided to continue using this because I can create a new blog under the same username and do not have to sign up with a new e-mail and password. Also, it will come up separate from my EDUC 107 blog. I am also at least familiar enough that I can create blogs and won't have to re-learn it on a separate website and can just continue using Google Blogger like I have been.