Section VIII addresses new directions and emerging
technologies for IDT. Select three of the following and reflect on how you
might apply each of the following in your current or future position in the IDT
field:
- distributed
or e-learning environments
- rich
media
- networks
or Web 2.0 technologies
E-Learning
E-learning is a major part of my growth and
development at this time in my career. I participate it webinars, listen to
podcasts. In future positions I feel e-learning will be a significant part of the
process of educating teachers in the use educational technology field. Many teachers and school districts have a
difficult time balancing employee training and affordability. The main reason for
this is the school district’s budget concerns. As districts look to save money
e-learning offers an effective way to reach many teachers on a limited budget.
Also by hosting workshops online like the one I focused on with iPads in an
earlier assignment the teachers get benefits from learning in a social
environment. Providing rich learning environments that promote networking and
creative thinking will not only be cost-effective but also more productive than
traditional training approaches. The key factor when designing these e-learning
opportunities is to keep the focus on the learning and not the technology many
of the tenured teachers do not like new gadgets
like iPad’s, but if introduced to them with peers present they are
compelled to learn.
Rich Media
This is
an interesting area of IT, Rich media should not be used unless it compliments
learning. In today’s technological, iPhone world we can produce and acquire amazingly
high quality media but, this media can be too much for some learners. In my
current position I acquire this sort of technology for the professors here at
the University. I was just speaking with one of them today about how effective
or not effective this was in the academic classroom today. In his opinion to
show a whole movie to the class is too much, they get bored. He stated he” break
it up into small clips from the movie to enhance the lesson”. I have also found
that if I use a diagram and it moves or does something my students seem to
remember it. Making rich media is something that I would like to learn how to
do. I think that as I transition into producing original instruction for
professional development that using rich media in a beneficial way it will
enhance participation and learning.
Networks
or Web 2.0 technologies
Web 2.0 is the term given to describe a second
generation of the World Wide Web that is focused on the ability for people to
collaborate and share information online. Web 2.0 basically refers to the
transition from static HTML Web pages to a more dynamic Web that is more organized
and is based on serving Web applications to users. Other improved functionality
of Web 2.0 includes open communication with an emphasis on Web-based
communities of users, and more open sharing of information. Over time Web 2.0
has been used more as a marketing term than a computer-science-based term.
Blogs, wikis, and Web services are all seen as components of Web 2.0. Link: http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/W/Web_2_point_0.html
Web 2.0 has had a significant impact on my learning,
As a Library Media Specialist this tool is one that I use to provide countless
avenues for me to learn and grow in my field. I use Facebook, Twitter, RSS
Feeds, Blogs and more to keep up to date on technology emerging in education.
Regardless of my future position in the education field I know these tools will
continue to provide value in learning about the new educational opportunities. There
is a website I would like to share that I found in a former ETEC class, there
are 35 different web 2.0 classroom tools that you might use sometime in the
future.
Section IX
As educators we strive to help students do
their best, to acquire information in the best possible way. Technology is a
tool that we can use to enrich the learning experience for the students. Many
of the school districts serve low socioeconomically cultures where students
have no access to technology outside the school. Equal access to technology is
important, but learning is the key. We
need to make sure all students regardless of where they live and what their
physical limitations might be has access to the same technology and resources.
If the schools would keep computer labs open before and after school so
students could use the schools technology would help them to fill equal and
accepted. The ethics are important; students need to learn that they are also
responsible for their learning and use of technology. They need clear guideline
to protect them from web monsters. I believe that web technologies do provide
for diverse learning situations. If a child is struggling with self-esteem
issues, teach them to create a virtual world where they can be successful, then
take that confidence and build it into the classroom, for instance have them
teach another child how to create an avatar. They can use these tools in many
positive ways. I think there should always be an adult educator to oversee the
technology being used in the classroom, it is positive, but it can become
negative as well, look at what Facebook post have created for some students, it
is a tool that must be monitored.
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