Response to Computer Delusion

I'm sure there is a lot of truth in what was said in this article. I also think that is is very negative when it comes to the importance of children using computers. I think that programs in music, shop, art etc. should not be eliminated in favor of expanding technology. There is a place for all these programs in schools. Computer instruction is very important for children. Noone can deny that children need these skills to survive in the world of their future. If they want to make a decent living, they need to have these skills. I think that the key to using technology in schools is to plan purchases with input from teachers and principals. It is also very important that some of that money be spent on ongoing professional development for teachers and support when they want to use the equipment. It's important that there be computer teachers and technical personnel on staff to help teachers integrate technology into their lessons.

Value Added for the uses of Technology

It goes without saying that every choice we as educators make, when adding technology to our lessons, has to add value to the lesson. There are so many resources we can choose, they need to be relevant to the lesson. Just like we were always admonished about giving our students busy work, we should not just use technology because we are expected to. We need to take the time to come up with the right resource or project that will enhance our lessons. That is why media specialists and computer teachers are so important to have on the staff of a school. It's also important for teachers to have time to get together and bounce their ideas off each other and learn from each other and enjoy a little support.

Digital Divide

There is so much inequality in this country, such a wide gap between the haves and have nots. There are still a lot of families in this country that do not own a computer. I know most teachers expect assignments to be typed instead of written. This would be hard for children who do not own a computer. Thank goodness most libraries are equipped with lots of computers. If teachers start incorporating the use of the Internet into their teaching, as far as accessing articles to be used for homework or the use of Internet sites to complement a homework assignment given in class, the student who does not have ready access to the Internet would be at a disadvantage. We need to address so many issues in this country before we can expect technology to be integrated fully into our schools.

Non-Linear PowerPoint

I think there are endless uses for PowerPoint in the classroom. I happen to really like using it as a presentation tool when I am introducing an application in my computer lab. I think the format of Jeopardy etc. is a very effectively tool to use with a class. The students get very excited when you use these types of tools. In the past the teachers I have worked with have used premade PowerPoints they found on the Internet for subjects such as the Metric System and the Revolutionary war. The only problem that arises is that the students and teachers want to keep playing when the class ends! It is a very effective tool to be used with the Smart Board. The game show format really appeals to the students because that is what excites them, not boring lectures.

This is my Photoshop Project. I have finally managed to put my girls at the beach together - the next best thing to being there!

Reflections on Touch Screen Table

I thought that there were many similiarities to the Smart Board in the Touch Screen Table as far as the interactivity. I'm not quite sure though how you would use it with a class full of children. If you could afford to have one for every two children in the class and paired up the students, I think there would be endless possibilities of how to use it.

Reflections on Class thus far

I feel much more comfortable creating webpages now than I did last week. I have a better understanding of Photoshop and look forward to using it on my digital photographs. I'm a little concerned about finishing all this work by next Thursday. All of this information and work will be very handy to reference for the future. The copyright articles were a little bit hard to read through. Jen has been very helpful.