A lot has happened during this ending month of September in my IT32010 class, although I do not have much to report as far as learning is concerned. Considering my stance on technology becoming a must-have in everyday life, I do not like the continuous introductions of applications and the usage of Edmodo.com. Edmodo did not prove to be a very valuable web tool when I first encountered it in a previous English class, and it seems that that has not changed at all with its introduction to this class. I do think teachers should be encouraged to utilize technology when it is available, but I do not think that it should take over the classroom. Also, I think people often forget that technology IS a privilege and that everyone in the world is not afforded that same privilege. Schools most definitely are not created equally, and all households that have electricity may not have anything save for the basic necessities connected to the outlets.
That being said, Donorschoose.org, a website that I came across on a blog for a previous assignment, is probably the most useful thing that I have learned about. It allows high poverty schooling of all education levels to receive donations for specific necessities via the internet, some which are basic and some which are not-so. I did love the digital introductions because it helped give a more intimate view of my classmates and also seemed to be something that I would like to integrate into any classroom that I’d teach. It also indirectly allowed me to find the Draw My Life videos, originally started by Sam Pepper, that’s become a hit on Youtube.com. Dropbox.com is also a wonderful addition to the online storage that I've been slowly utilizing, and the Treasure Hunt assignment that was recently due was a lot of fun.
I’ll admit that I really don’t understand the whole LO assignments, I understand that teachers have criteria, but I honestly think that the only thing that would be the same are the standards. Everything else, in my opinion, is going to depend on the individual and thus the assignments take me longer than any of the previous assignments. I guess I just don’t understand the concept behind grading a lesson plan outside of correctly using the standards considering teaching styles and student expectations vary. As far as classroom connections, outside of Edmodo, I haven’t seen any of the introduced applications. My other classes only use technology for basic things like uploading power points and email communications.
That being said, Donorschoose.org, a website that I came across on a blog for a previous assignment, is probably the most useful thing that I have learned about. It allows high poverty schooling of all education levels to receive donations for specific necessities via the internet, some which are basic and some which are not-so. I did love the digital introductions because it helped give a more intimate view of my classmates and also seemed to be something that I would like to integrate into any classroom that I’d teach. It also indirectly allowed me to find the Draw My Life videos, originally started by Sam Pepper, that’s become a hit on Youtube.com. Dropbox.com is also a wonderful addition to the online storage that I've been slowly utilizing, and the Treasure Hunt assignment that was recently due was a lot of fun.
I’ll admit that I really don’t understand the whole LO assignments, I understand that teachers have criteria, but I honestly think that the only thing that would be the same are the standards. Everything else, in my opinion, is going to depend on the individual and thus the assignments take me longer than any of the previous assignments. I guess I just don’t understand the concept behind grading a lesson plan outside of correctly using the standards considering teaching styles and student expectations vary. As far as classroom connections, outside of Edmodo, I haven’t seen any of the introduced applications. My other classes only use technology for basic things like uploading power points and email communications.