Prompt #10

The chapter that I will be reviewing regarding a core subject area is Chapter #7: History Education in the Digital Classroom. In order to integrate some of the online resources identified in the chapter, lessons could utilize a variety of different websites to help guide the lesson. For example, students could be encouraged to use timelines to help follow along and understand the order of historical events. One instance in which a timeline could be used would be while learning the different battles that occurred throughout World War I. Images could also be found to display maps and other historical images in a digital classroom. When it came to the younger grade levels, games could be introduced to help in learning the states and their capitals. While I listed a few ways technology could be incorporated into a history classroom, there are so many more ways that it could be done!

Prompt #9

The issue that I will be reviewing is Issue #10: Memorization in the Digital Age. When it comes to memorizing facts in today's digital world, I think that it is safe to say that if we do not know the answer, it is probably somewhere within reach. However, I do believe that there are some facts that should still be memorized. A great example of facts that should be memorized are times tables. By knowing this basic concept, it takes much less time to figure out how much items will cost than it does to take out your calculator. While technology does make information easily accessible to us, sometimes it would just be easier to simply know the facts.

Prompt #8

The issue that I will be reviewing is Issue #7: Facebook Etiquette. When it comes to Facebook, I believe that there is a line to draw between teachers and students. In my opinion, I do not think that as a teacher you should be friends with your students on Facebook, even if they ask to be your friend. I think that giving each other access to personal information could lead to awkward situations for both the students and the teachers. However, I would agree with being Facebook friends with a student after they had graduated. I would never add them, but if they wanted to stay in touch with me at that point, I would be more than willing to as well.

Prompt #7

After reviewing the new Web 3.0 technologies in Chapter 5, the technologies that I believe we should be skating toward in American K-12 classrooms are game-based learning and mobiles. Not only are games shown to be effective learning tools, but most children find games enjoyable. Through personal experience I have found that game-based activities gave me a fun way to retain information. When it comes to the mobile aspect of this group of technologies, I think that it could be most useful for high school students and beyond. Most teenagers have their phones attached to their hips at all times and therefore having an educational program on it could make it easier to not only complete homework, but also study.

Prompt #6

Throughout my lifetime, I have noticed the evolution of technology in both society and in the classroom. Some of the things that I have witnessed evolving are the change from VHS to DVD and cassette tapes to CDs. I also vaguely remember the switch from dial up to broadband. Reflecting back on the type of technology used when I was in elementary school certainly opens my eyes to see how far that it has evolved. Today it is rare not to own a computer where as when I was younger, it was rare to own one. The use of technology today definitely plays a much larger role in society and in education.

Prompt #5

In order to achieve the five educational standards identified by ISTE for teachers, I plan on integrating technology into the classroom as much as possible. With my major being music education, I believe that technology can help to play a very large role in the classroom. Through the use of videos, students can be enlightened on how music is so similar and yet so different throughout the world. The program SmartMusic can also be used to help evaluate students and assess their progress. As a teacher I not only hope to use technology as an educational tool for my students, but also as an informative tool. To fulfill standard five, I would use technology in order to help inform my students and parents about upcoming events. Through the use of the three previously mentioned technological uses, all five ISTE standards for teachers could be completed in my classroom.

Prompt #4

In order to achieve the six educational standards identified by the ISTE for students, you can help in encouraging the use of technology in day-to-day life. In order to achieve the six standards, students could be encouraged to research a given website or even find a website of their own. That research alone helps to fulfill two of the six standards. Students could also be encouraged to create a survey or poll using social media or other surveying websites. While research plays a large part in fulfilling the standards, by creating a digital project and understanding how to do so, students can fulfill all of the standards. By assigning group projects, the ISTE standards for students can be achieved.