As working teachers and pre-service teachers, we all come from different places in terms of our comfort with technology in the classroom. After spending a week learning about technology and working with kids in the "Save our Stories" program, what are your hopes for the future? What do you think technology might add to your pedagogy? On the flip side, what are your fears? What scares you most about the thought of turning your classroom over to computers?
I am mostly afraid of the kids using computer time for entertainment rather than learning purposes. My hopes are that we can continue to document the lives and progress of our students and their cultures and lifestyles.
ReplyDeleteMy greatest hope for technology is to have many many more voices and point of view can be heard. This will allow future generations to see that their is more than one way to look at history. My greatest fear is that kids don't use their common sense and lawsuit start flying. This in turn limiting access is like censoring.
ReplyDeleteMy number one hope is to use these things next fall with my 9th graders. I really think that the personal narrative unit is going to be a lot better now, with the multimedia elements added in. My biggest fear is that I won't have access to the apple technology so I will have to figure out how to do all this with PCs.
ReplyDeleteSimply, I hope that I can aid my students in using the technology to help them become better writers. My fear is not having ready access to the technology at my school. I teach in a large school with many teachers and students who are sharing the technology.
ReplyDeleteI'm scared that technology will become a distraction, not an enhancement tool. I hopeful for new ways to encourage kids to learn.
ReplyDeleteTechnology needs to happen in my classroom. My fear is that I will go back to my classroom and keep teaching what I've always taught. But my hope is that bringing in technology will be a smooth and meaningful transition from my already established classroom community.
ReplyDeleteMy hope is that educators continue to explore and become more comfortable with humility. The reality is that we, as teachers, will never be ahead of the curve (not even Bud) so I think tech can flourish and enhance education if maintain that attitude. As for fears... my only one is that, at the end of the day, the wrong people are often in charge. My question is what will it take for those to see the same value that we do.
ReplyDeleteHopes: Technology supports learning
ReplyDeleteFears: It doesn't
Answer: Jump in with both feet but wear your goggles, snorkle and flippers. Be cautious in your risk taking.
The future is now and the technology is here. I'm using technology in my College Composition class at CSU and I hope to incorporate more tools. One of my fears is simply logistics and the amount of time it can take to set digital lessons up. I still grade hard copies. So I foresee myself switching over to digital grading in some future's present.
ReplyDeleteWritegirl's response brings up an interesting combination idea. I hope to get my students to think of the Internet AS a classroom where the same classroom rules apply to the online setting.
ReplyDeleteMy biggest hope is to get kids GENUINELY EXCITED about learning and developing their skills. I want them to own their learning and really take charge of it. There are so many different technologies that are accessible and have wide appeal to kids these days, and so I have great confidence that I'll be able to combine my lessons effectively with technology to realize this hope.
ReplyDeleteTo what Phaedrus said, about personal narratives: I never thought of that. This blogging or online journals of other kinds could be a great way to brainstorm for a memoir. But we can always use pen and notebook, too...
ReplyDeleteRe: apcoyote
ReplyDeleteIt does take more time, up front. But like many things in life, I find that the setup will take time but it has the potential to save way more in the long run once you are up and running.
I share your fear, Morgan Burke. You say it well when you say that your only fear is that "...at the end of the day, the wrong people are often in charge." This takes me back to Will's focus on the term "pilot" yesterday. I intend to one day take this fear and transform it into hope by having a discussion with those in charge about doing a pilot technology experiment with my students :)
ReplyDeleteTo MissMichigan: Just remember that technology should be used to reach your goals. It's not an end in itself. It distracts us if it becomes a separate thing we do specifically for the sake of "teaching technology" when technology becomes an integral part of what you do in the classroom it's no longer a distraction. It becomes a source of empowerment for you and your students.
ReplyDeleteOnline grading scares me too. I want to give my students something physical to hold, touch, and review. Where can I find balance there?
ReplyDeleteJo-Jo: I love your poetry. And I agree with you. Jump in! Bring a towel, cause it might be chilly when you get out.
ReplyDeleteAnything you can do on Apple, Phaedrus, you can do on PCs. You'll just need to take the time to figure it out, which won't be all that long. I struggle myself with multitasking MissMichigan and can relate to this fear.
ReplyDeletePhaedrus said... "technology should be used to reach your goals". This is the most important aspect of the week. Thanks for the reassurance.
ReplyDelete