This week we were supposed to answer the following questions in our Blog: "How does what we are studying affect how you are teaching - what did we cover this week and how does it impact you?". Overall, many of the topics that we have discussed in CEdO 515 have impacted how I am approaching my teaching. Since I have started this graduate school program, I have started to suggest to my students that they sign up for a gmail account in order to have access to their documents anywhere they have access to a computer (using Google Documents). I have also found many resources regarding how to integrate technology into my classroom. I also have found that according to some of the surveys we have taken that I am pretty good at having my students use higher order thinking in my class. I just need to figure out a way to integrate the technology into that learning experience while still keeping my students on track.
Another thing that we have been learning about is how educators should choose software and online applications to use in the classroom. We have been given many different rubrics that we were asked to take a look at so that we would be able to explain which we would use and how we would then be able to use the rubric we chose in order to be able to choose software or apps that would be able to be effectively used in the classroom.
The last thing that we covered in class that I found would be very helpful for my class is the introduction of Google Sites. I feel that this is one of the sites that will be most helpful to me in my instruction. I plan on using my Google Site for Cardinal Stritch as my portfolio that will allow me to give a link instead of having to print out a dead tree version of my portfolio. I also am planning on using Google Sites in order to give my students another resource where they would be able to find what we have been doing in class, as well as links and experiments they would be able to do to further their understanding of the subject matter.
One of the things I have become increasingly concerned about is student access to technology. I hadn't really considered it before because I send a laptop to each of my students at the beginning of the school year. I think it's great that you encourage your students use Google Docs and Sites, but how do you address the accessibility element?
ReplyDeletePart of the reason that I suggest that students use Google Docs, is that MPS has a program for families that do not have a internet capable computer, to receive one free. They then would be able to dial up to the MPS servers if they did not have other access to the web. Also, the libraries of Milwaukee County have computers that are accessible to people who sign up to use them.
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