So it has been 3 months since my last post, and that feels like forever ago and only a day ago at the same time. The MAC program is flying by in a painful sort of a way, but some how I am surviving...
Anyway, on to more relevant matters: technology... Starting off the semester, I had high hopes to incorporate technology into my classroom. I wanted to use a wiki and I wanted to try to incorporate technology in every way possible. I even checked to see who had computers at home, etc. However, I didn't ask the students about their comfort level with technology. Asking students to type their papers is something that most teacher do NOT require. I even have students, who do not know how to double space a word document. Many students took losing 10 points over typing their paper. This should make me want to use technology more to help out the students in our technology driven world... But instead it sort of flew out the window with lesson planning.
I feel somewhat disappointed in how little I am using technology in my classes. I think that the students at my field placement would really benefit from it, too... but it seems like there is so much more to manage with using technology. For example, I tried to use a grammar girl podcast. I checked to make sure it worked on my mentor teacher's computer the day before, but then it was blocked the next day. In the end, I had to download the podcast to my computer and burn it to a CD. It worked out, but it was a lot more complicated. The other downfall is the technology illiteracy of some of my students. I know this should make me want to use it more, but the thought of having to explain all of the technology aspects seems overwhelming on top of just getting content knowledge to the students and making sure that they are following directions, etc.
Anyway, I did use a PowerPoint for a game and I am using it to post what we are doing each day, so at least that is working out. And I am giving assignments where students can use technology as an option. But for now, I am putting the wiki and other technology ideas away for May. In May, we will be reading Lord of the Flies and I will no longer have MAC classes! (less than 2 months, I think I can, I think I can). Thus, I hope that I can force myself to reexamine the role of technology in my classes then. But for now, it will be overheads, blackboards, worksheets, and my daily PowerPoint...
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3 comments:
i'm the same way, afab. i was thinking the students would be tech savy, but almost half are not and about 5-6 have so little computer exposure, it boggles the mind.
Autumn I applaud you for your perspective on wanting students to be able to successfully maneuver technology in their learning. At the same time, it is a one-step at a time process. You should be proud of what you ARE doing, since you are doing more than most teachers. In addition, you are aware of the future skills that your students will need in the workforce. Bravo!
Echoing Liz...small steps, small steps....
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