Tools for Success

A carpenter uses a hammer and a saw to complete his job.  A baseball player uses a ball and baseball bat for their job. There are many professions that require tools to be able to successfully complete the job.  Even teachers use tools to do their job but I never thought of students using tools to successfully go through school.  As I read this chapter the potential of the Internet became very apparent to me.  The Internet has such potential for the success of students that it would be silly not to use it as teachers.  The numbers that are presented in the chapter on how many students are using the Internet is growing every year.  It is very important for us as teachers to keep up with this technology and keep our knowledge up to par.  To use this technology as a tool for learning is key for success its also important to use it as a communicator between students.  This was a great chapter to help me create a web page for my classroom.

How will you walk the fine line between traditional teaching and Internet incorporation?  I look forward to the challenge to finding ways to help my students succeed. 

Its a New World

As I was driving in my car this morning I heard a news clip of a local school going high tech.  This school just handed out 300 laptops to its students. The move to technology and traditional learning is evolving quickly. The principle was quoted that "I'm excited to be moving away from a paper school to a non paper school". Not a mention about the benefits the students will have at their disposal. Oh well I'm sure he was thinking that, but anyway a great story for education.

As more students get access to this technology a new world is opened for them. To be able to reach so many is a positive thing. Do you think this switch to a more technological atmosphere is moving to slow or to fast?

It suddenly Hit Me.

While going through all of the Tech assignments it suddenly hit me. There is an endless amount of tools for teachers to use to help teach and inspire students. If I wasn't excited before about incorporating technology into teaching I sure am today.  It is an overwhelming feeling though on just how much there is at our finger tips. How do you know what is the most effective? I guess trial and error will be my best friend.

As I talk to some teachers that I am close too its amazing on how little they know or have heard of some of the things we have learned in just this one class.  The teachers that know what I'm talking about just don't seem excited about these tools.  I wonder why?  The few tools that I have learned about so far portaportal, blogging, and web sites I view these tools as a way to help my make my job easier and much more efficient. 

The sky's the limit is something I'm figuring out about the amount of resources that are available to me.

Blogging to Learn

Finding ways to reach students in today's time is a tricky and hair pulling experience.  Everyday has been such an eye opener and got my thoughts stirring.  Being able to use blogs as a communicator to my students is a great tool.  Having a place were they are always up to date on assignments or announcements is a powerful thing.  I have not thought of using blogs in this way and it makes so much sense to do so.  I see my classroom using this tool on a weekly basis for reminders of what has been learned during the week.  Even classroom management of rules and procedures can benefit from using blogs.  If I think I have forgotten something very important from a lesson plan I could just post a blog and the students can be instantly informed. 

Parents will also have a place to go to find assignments or events.  Communication with parents to me is very important and with every one's busy schedules blogging can come in handy.  While reading over this weeks material to me this has been the one tool that I will use.