I remembered my classroom days when I listened, made notes and had little interaction with my teacher. I often reflected on how this type of passive learning impacted the different types of learners. Today, with the emphasis on technology in the classroom, I strongly believe that this will provide greater access to all learner types in the classroom. Indeed, technology is changing the global landscape. From sending a resume online to a prospective employer to working in a company, in almost every job an employee must have at least basic computer skills for entry level jobs.
Students are challenged to learn to use and engage with the different forms of IT. As their technical skills develop, it will definitely transform learning inside and outside the classroom. I concur with Moursund that IT in schools empowers students (88).An IT assisted PBL can foster and promote higher order thinking if use properly. Having learned how to create blogs and use reflections at Seton Hall University, I incorporated it in my lesson. My students had to create a blog and post a reflection based on a school trip. It was challenging for some of the students, but in general, they enjoyed the empowerment of learning a new program.
I don’t believe that all teachers and parents are aware of the impact of technology in our world. The older teachers are technology challenged and have no inclination to embrace something new. However, they are forced to learn how to use computerized grade book, since this is standard in our district. Some parents in my school district have no idea how to turn on a computer. I think it is very important for the community as a whole to be provided with basic computer instruction so that they will be able to assist their children in home work or even to communicate with teachers. However, they must be willing to learn. One of my colleagues and I offered to stay late one day a week to conduct classes for parents of students that needed basic computer instruction. Needless to say, it was well intentioned but poorly attended by parents.
Technology should be integrated in all subject areas not as separate subject such as computer class since it involves accommodating different learning styles, engaging feedback and improving presentation of work. An example of the latter point was when my students did an international business project. The class evaluated their peer’s power point presentations after which the students made changes to their PP presentations for an improved grade in their summative evaluation. A lot of teachers in my school use technology only for projects and complain when other teachers are utilizing the lab frequently. Even though we have staff developments that encourage technology use, I believe it is not widely used by the staff. I integrate technology in all my lessons. My business finance and accounting students are required to create balance sheets and spreadsheets in the lab. In the classroom, my students have been required to research and teach a lesson using the smart board, PP or overhead. I have also been posting assignments, home work, projects etc on the district e-board to encourage students and parents to become familiar with it. When students complain that they do not have a computer at home to access the e board, I inform them that they can use their phones to access the website. Most of them have cell phones with internet access. No excuse!
Although the goals for IT use in education is ambitious, one must be realistic. A lot of classrooms do not have working computers, printers and even printing supplies. Sometimes it is frustrating for my students to be unable to print a brochure or other project in color. Also, we do not have enough technical support to assist faculty in the design, development, and use of technology in the teaching and learning process in the classroom. I also believe that before any student should use a school computer they should have a lesson an internet safety in order to ensure security. Students must know and use strategies to acknowledge, identify, and negotiate 21st century risks.
Having read this book, I feel pretty comfortable that most of my students are immersed in ‘second order effects’ like using electronic calculators for accounting, using the web for research and using other programs like podcasts, blogs and in the near future, digital story. However, the uses of IT in classrooms still have a lot of challenges to reach all these students in the different grades. There are some students in high school that have never used a computer prior to attending high school. But it is great that there is an emphasis to integrate IT in education and to be a major part of the curriculum.
Chandrowtie Sue Fermin
Project Based Learning
Journal Entries Appendix A
Dr. Skeele/EDST 6306
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