Chapters 1, 2 and 3: Weblogs Reflection

1.  How does this reading impact your thinking about technology's role in teaching and learning?

Reading chapters one, two and three impacted my thinking a lot about technology’s role in teaching and learning. Before reading this chapter, I was not yet persuaded to use technology in my classroom (that is to the extent of Weblogs). I thought technology would be more of a distraction than a learning tool towards my future students. However, through reading these three chapters, I am persuaded to use technology in my classroom. Conversely, I am still hesitant to use technology, such as Weblogs, at the younger elementary level. I have a desire to teach at the second grade level and I deem technology would doubtfully “set back” learning. The reason I deem this is because students at the second grade are still developing their academic, social and behavior skills. With technology, the students would be developing academic and social skills to a certain extent, but not to the extent they should be at developing these skills. I feel as if technology would damper their writing skills because majority of his or her assignments would include technology (well, that is how the author of the book makes it sound). However, for students at the fourth grade and higher would have these skills developed and technology would deepen their learning.

Overall, I believe this impacted my thinking about technology in a positive way. Reading these chapters has made me think twice about technology and the benefits it can actually provide in a classroom setting.
           

2.  What will you do differently as a future teacher as a direct result of this new thinking?

            What I would do differently as a future teacher as a direct result of this new thinking is apply as much technology as possible to my lessons and teaching profession. Even though I have a desire to teach second grade, I will teach wherever God places me. So, as a direct result of this new thinking, I will try my best to incorporate Weblogs across my curriculum. Technology in my teaching professions would involve me having Weblog(s) of my own, in which the parents of the students are able to see what went on that day at school. I think it is very important that the parents are actively engage within their child’s learning. As a result of this I would create a Parent Portal Weblog. This Weblog would allow parent(s) to access what has been going on in the classroom, expectations for students and parents, classroom rules, etc. If I were placed in a second grade classroom I would engage in Weblogs with the class, so they are able to understand how to work blogs. If I were placed in a grade beyond third grade, I would have an Online Filing Cabinet be an important aspect with that class.
            Having an Online Filing Cabinet is a great way to document the students learning. I think it is a more productive way of “saving” student’s class work too. Sometimes their class work can be misplaced, but with an online filing cabinet one is able to access it quite easy. I also think having a Class Portal would benefit students in fourth grade and beyond. I definitely know that a class portal would benefit students at the high school level because it would prepare those attending to further their education after high school graduation. For instance, I disliked D2L my freshmen year of college, but later I found out why I did not like D2L. The reason that I did not like D2L (similar to a class portal) is because I did not have background knowledge of it and I was not the best person to be using technology. Now, I think D2L is a great way to communicate to your professor and/or classmates. As a future teacher I would definitely find ways to incorporate Weblogs such as an online filing cabinet, a class portal or even a parent portal, no matter what grade I am teaching at.