How this reading impacts my thinking about technology’s role is the reading expanded my own knowledge. This reading did not question my thinking about technology’s role in teaching and learning, the reading allowed me to be more aware of new technological uses. Before this reading I never heard about Really Simple Syndication (RSS), therefore this information I obtained is new, but intriguing towards my thinking.
After reading this chapter, I am quite amazed by a service available 24/7. Yes, there are multiple websites available 24/7, but I am amazed by the service RSS does for you, it retrieves information for you. I believe RSS will benefit me in the future. In the future, I will have to prepare multiple lesson plans and I, personally, like to work ahead and always be prepared. I can imagine myself in the classroom teaching one lesson and when the day is over, I can come on aggregator and locate my precise information that I requested or subscribed to. This, in the long run will allow me to be a head because I don’t have to waste the extra time seeking ideas—the computer will do it for me! Even as a student myself, I dread looking up information directed towards one typical subject, but now I will know that there is a device if you will, that does the work for me.
Through RSS one must take the extra precaution of making sure the information has a credible author. What struck me in this chapter is on page 74, where the author of this book indicates that he tends to depend on bloggers in this case, that use their full name. Being an author of any blog, I would not even recommend putting your full name (as indicated in our Education class as well). Personally, I would also tend to trust a person with a full name on a blog, but I am just concerned about their confidentiality. Another unique thing about RSS is that when you subscribe something, typically, you are able to receive constant information which will benefit anyone, especially teachers. Being able to receive constant information is something that technology seems to lack. Yes, one can practically receive information by clicking something, but when you need to add a new software that require five to ten minutes of downloading; whereas, RSS retrieves that information immediately for you.
2. What will you do differently as a future teacher as a direct result of this new thinking?
As a future teacher, I will follow the steps throughout the chapter I read and go about making my own RSS and aggregator. In the future, I want to teach at the lower elementary level, preferably second grade, so incorporating RSS into my life will be very beneficial. At the lower elementary level, all the teachers are very busy and always have to be on their toes. Sometimes teachers have to take a couple minutes to think of another activity to do with their students on a certain subject, but if I have RSS and subscribe to multiple blogs, articles, etc. about all subjects I teach, I will have optional activities or lesson plans at the click of a button.
Although, I as a future teacher will adapt to using RSS, I am not sure if I will incorporate RSS into my classroom as a whole. First off, as I read this chapter I had to reread some sections because they did not make sense to me. I know that my second grade students will not be reading this exact same text, but I as the teacher will have to aide them in the understanding of RSS, but how can I if I do not fully understand RSS. Secondly, second graders do not have much research to engage themselves in; I am not making a generalization, just indicating my own personal thought. Again, I am unsure how to incorporate this technology tool in the second grade classroom, but for upper elementary grades this would be a great aide for those students. Those in fourth, fifth, sixth and so forth, RSS will guide them in helpful researches. It is important to note that those students should take special precaution on credibility of all resources while using RSS.
Again, I am stricken with the grade level and I believe RSS would benefit those at the higher elementary level and beyond. At the lower elementary level, students are still developing academic skills, so they would not be able to benefit from using RSS.
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