Empowering Students with Technology

The introduction chapter of this text explained the difference between automating and informating.  I agree that sometimes technology can make a task less efficient.  General Motors spent tons of money for technology and the text said the quality of work declined.  Using technology for informating "requires thinking about opportunities that could not be achieved without the technology."  Therefore, in my case, using a digital calendar instead of a paper and pencil calendar would fall under automating.  However, if I use google docs to communicate with my teaching team and/or my students, and we can all comment on each others' work, then that would be an example of informating.  Another example of informating referenced in the text is creating an authentic audience for students.  That is a really cool idea!

Reading Response for Week 2

Chapter two of, In Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms covered a new type of writing called connective writing.  I never thought about how connective writing using a blog could motivate and push my students’ thinking about various topics.  I introduced a type of connective writing last year using a paper and pencil.  Students in the same book club and would write a response on paper and then it would get passed around to group members.  By the end of the week, students would receive their original paper back with comments from other group members.  I can see how much better using a blog could be.  Students would not have to wait until the end of the week to receive feedback and they could all respond to each other on the same blog.  That is something to consider for my classroom!

The 10 Most Popular Teacher Tools Being Used This Year

I just finished reading the article, The 10 Most Popular Teacher Tools Being Used This Year.  I was surprised to learn that I am familiar with five of them.  Of the five, I have used two in my classroom: YOU-tube and Dropbox.  I have had success with YOUTube.  We began a new math curriculum last year and I found excellent videos to show the students.  I would also send home the link so students could watch and reinforce the skills being learned.  Dropbox was another story... it was complicated for me to have all my students drop documents and retrieve documents using the laptops and desktops.  The challenge also stems from my not always having internet access when I am doing school work.  This year I would like to use google apps (googledocs) with my colleagues.  We do not have much common planning time and I feel this may help us easily share information on projects that we are working on.  The challenge is.... are my colleagues ready for "another new thing"?  I'm hoping to get really familiar with google docs so I can be a resource for them.

Blogging and Computerless Families

Blogging can be a really useful communication tool.  How often should classroom blogs be updated?  Would the time of year matter?  Probably... a busy time of the school year may require more updates.  How do parents without computer access feel a part of this techno community?  Now, my school sends home paper copies to families without internet access.  Does anyone have any suggestions?