Technology+Reflection


 * Technology Reflection **

This page is my thoughts on the technology that was introduced in class EIPT 3043. **Podcast:**I think the podcast could be used as a valuable tool in a classroom, particularly for reaching students that are resistant to more traditional forms of education, i.e. lecture and note taking. The student perhaps needs to have a different medium in which to gather information, such as a brief audio clip with the important fact supplemented by online resources to round It is also very useful in reaching students that have a disability. Students with ADD/ADHD can pause the audio and take a break or give their full attention to note taking or an activity. They can also rewind and listen again to ensure they are absorbing the content. A student with a hearing impairment can benefit by wearing headphones and adjust the volume to their his, and a student with a vision impairment can fully participate in a lesson. Furthermore, if a student has stage fright, recording a podcast can help them practice his public speaking. I would use podcasts in the classroom to supplement my lectures. I would also assign it so that the student could put his own creative spin on his project.

The Smart Board was very intimidating when I first tried it out. It was large, intricate, and seemed like someone had to be really smart to use it (no pun intended). However, after getting my hands on the software I really enjoyed how user-friendly it was. It was well organized, had a great interface, and really inspired me as a teacher to come up with creative and interactive lessons for future students. I think the smart board is great because when I played around with it in the neato lab, I felt like a kid again and wanted play with the magic pen over and over. It is a great tool for the classroom and I think it will really inspire kids to get involved with technology and will help teachers push the envelope of pedagogy.
 * Smart Board:**

The neato lab was interesting, and it was great to see how technology could be re-purposed and used in a classroom. Some products we saw were an iPad, a writing pad, a tape recorder, the Smart Board, and some electronic kids' toys. I loved the challenge of coming up with a strategy to incorporate the piece of equipment into the classroom. I chose the tape recorder and decided that I could incorporate it by having two or three on hand and record different instructions for different stations and having the students rotate in groups. This way if they did not hear the instructions the first time they could simply rewind the tape and listen again. This also would allow the teacher to move around the room and focus on the students that need more instruction and redirecting kids that have strayed from the task at hand. It is important to see all this technology at once because it demonstrated to us that teaching tools are everywhere, we as teachers just need to be creative and see them for their potential. It think all teachers should have similar labs or conferences so that they can stay abreast on the latest teaching equipment. It also keep a classroom instruction fresh when the teacher tries new things.
 * Neato Lab:**

Inspiration: This program is very valuable for a student, not matter what age or grade. The basic functions would be great to take notes and organize information for papers, while reading articles or books, or original ideas. I think that the conversion aspect when it puts it into traditional note format is invaluable, especially if I were to write an outline of a lecture, I could format my ideas in Inspiration and convert it to a handout for the students. The fact that you can add pictures helps convey information as well as help students with disabilities, specifically those with Learning Disabilities. I plan on acquiring and using this program for future semesters and when I begin teaching.

This past week we were visited by current teachers who use technology in their classrooms. They brought examples, insight, and advice for budding young teachers. The visit from the teachers, Jodie and Robin, was great because they had excellent insight into teaching with technology. I especially enjoyed the Smart Board examples that Jodie provided. I really enjoyed listening to Robin because I see myself teaching in a more rural setting. Her classroom is what I am expecting my classroom to be like. This class is great for introducing technology to future teachers, but I will always remember what Robin said, "technology will fail, always have a backup plan." That is great advice for young teachers, because not everything will go according to plan, particularly when starting out fresh. Lastly, it was great to hear from them that training is readily available and that administrators will not dump technology onto teachers and expect them to figure it out as they go. //**"Why I teach: to instruct students about our history and to be a positive influence in others’ lives."**//
 * Teacher Visit:**