Throughout this course, I have learned a great deal about technology in the classroom. With the ever changing world, it is very important for both teachers and students to utilize new technologies as a way of reaching students. Although some of these technologies may not be practical in a classroom environment, I think the important part is that I was able to experiment and try something new. Throughout the 5 Week term, I have been exposed to many useful and cool technologies that I never knew existed.

One of the most important aspects of new technologies is its ability to expand creativity. Creativity is an essential component in a change from industrial model education to information age education. More than ever, students need to be creative, experiment, and fail. As such, this will allow them to constantly ask questions and become lifelong learners. Essentially all technologies mentioned during this course can allow students to be creative. Sites like Wordle, Xtranormal, and Weebly allow students to create and learn. Furthermore, I believe the skill-sets these technologies teach is much more important than the factual information we teach in the classroom. Having our students become creative thinkers and having them unafraid to take risks will benefit them exponentially in the job market and "the real world" (much more so than being able to list the causes of World War I).

Another very important aspect of technology is its collaborative nature. Wikis and Google Docs allow students to collaborate on works, create stuff, and learn. These can be great final projects that allow the students to have fun and learn. I also believe that collaborative learning is an essential component to constructivism. Rather than have the teacher simply tell the students what they need to know, the students decide for themselves what is important (and find the answers to their own questions). Collaboration is also important because each student has their own skill set and prior knowledge. As such, the students have the ability to bring their "forces" together to learn from each other in a successful manner.

As a teacher, I will make every effort to stay in touch with emerging technologies and use ones that I believe will benefit my students. It is my hope that through continuous experimentation, I will become a successful teacher and allow every student to reach their full potential.

What are standards? Its quite simple really. Standards are a set of topics that every teacher is required to teach to their class. For example, as a 9th grade World History teacher, the State of Ohio requires that I teach my students about important Enlightenment thinkers, ideas, and its subsequent affect on later generations. However, little known are the technology standards that teachers are also required to teach. The International Society for Technology in Education, or ISTE, is the professional body that steers technology education in the US. By browsing the ISTE website, you can see many cool things, such as teacher and administrator standards. The website also includes several useful resources that teachers can use. To be even more specific, the Ohio Department of Education website includes the specific technology standards for teaching in the State of Ohio.

All of this information is very valuable to teachers. Previously, I had not known that I was required to teach technology standards in my classroom. As such, this new knowledge has made me more aware of what information I must know and teach to my students. Just like the content standards in their field, teachers should acquaint themselves with the technology standards in their state. It is important to remember that as teachers we are teaching our students the skills they need to succeed in life, not just the skills to pass our course.

Possibly even more important than the technology standards (which, lets be honest, most teachers probably don't actively teach) are the school technology rules. One of the most important technology rules is the school's Acceptable Use Policy, or AUP. The AUP is a document that states what children are allowed to access while using the school's internet connection. Oftentimes, both students and parents sign the AUP document stating that they understand and will abide by these rules. I am sure that most teachers will have a pretty thorough understanding of what activities are acceptable and which activities are not. However, it is still very important for teachers to familiarize themselves with the AUP in case a "gray area" arises. Children need to learn how to acceptably use technology, and as teachers we are the facilitators of that.

Lastly, and most important of all, are emerging technologies (well, emerging to anyone who has lived under a rock for the last 4 years...or North Korea). What is the point of having technology standards and netiquette if children do not keep up with the continually evolving world of technology? As of right now, several not so emerging technologies are used by millions of people everyday. Some of these technologies include social networking sites such as Twitter and Delicious. Other technologies include Podcast (a downloadable, non-streaming visual or audio episode) and Google Docs (Google's free equivalent to Microsoft Office).

These new technologies are very important in today's world. Student's must know how to use these technologies because they are what is "in." There is a sort of "technological arms race" in which everyone must constantly be up to date with new technologies. A student who does not stay up to date with these technological innovations cannot possibly expect to make themselves marketable in the job world. As such, it is important that we as teachers stay in tune with emerging technologies for several reasons. As stated, we need to know what technologies are important to teach students for the job market. It is also important to stay ahead of technology that can be used to exploit the educational system (such as free-translation, or some other website that allows students to cheat). Lastly, knowing about emerging technologies will allow our students to learn. As stated in a previous blog, I did my field experience at a school that gave every student an IPod with course related apps. Although not every school may have these means, it is important that teachers know about emerging technologies to help our students learn. Sites lite Twitter or Facebook can allow teachers and students to (appropriately) communicate during off hours. If the student has a question, then the teacher can easily be contacted for help. Furthermore, things such as Youtube videos and Podcasts can be used by teachers to supplement their material and further student understanding. Understanding the popular technologies can also allow teachers to build their lessons around student interests. For example, instead of a research paper, students can be assigned a "Wikipedia Project" where students critique the Wikipedia entry on a given topic. Ultimately, what matters is student learning. There is no reason that teachers and students should not be aware of the many resources they have available at their fingertips to help facilitate that learning. 

Technology is consistently changing. As such, so are the rules and standards. As teachers, it is vital that we can stay on top of emerging technologies and better reach our students.

On the other hand, maybe new technologies aren't such a good thing.

Whether it be youtube,google, wikipedia, or something totally different, the use of digital content is a must for any modern educator. As technology evolves, so does the way children learn. As a result of these new technologies, teachers now have access to many resources that they never did before.

One particularly useful website for educators is Google. Google has a wide array of uses. Aside from its normal use as a search engine for websites and images; Google Scholar can provide scholarly, peer-reviewed articles while Google Books provides both full length versions of books as well as samples for books that are still copyrighted. Another particularly good website for books is Project Gutenberg. Project Gutenberg is a massive database of out of copyright books in both Ebook and audio book format. Websites like these can be used by teachers in many ways. Most noticeably, these websites are fantastic for helping students conduct research. With just a quick search and click, students will have hundred of articles or books in a matter of seconds. These sites can also be used to demonstrate to students the difference between acceptable and unacceptable sources (scholarly versus something less credible). Websites like Google and Project Gutenberg make the acquisition of knowledge infinitely easier. Hopefully this ease  will allow students to enjoy learning and spur a lifelong interest in gaining new information.


Some sites, such as Delicious, allow for people to compile and share a massive list of their favorite links. In doing so, educators can better share their knowledge and "tricks" with each other, with the end resulting in a successful learning experience for the students. One such example is power point palooza. By cruising other people's Delicious accounts, I came across this fantastic website.Power point palooza allows you to find power points on the subject of your choice. As such, I can integrate aspects of these power points into my lectures or simply use the whole thing. As a professor once said to me, "education is about stealing the best material you can find in order to help the students learn." In order to better educate the new generation of Americans, educators must be sure to embrace and use these new and emerging technologies.