Next on my blog is assignment number 3, a digital autobiography of myself. We were given a couple sites to choose from: VoiceThread, PhotoShow, Animoto, or Vuvox. I chose Vuvox. We were only allowed to use 10 pictures. 10 pictures to describe something about us, ten pictures to define a piece of who we are. It was hard to do. I think of myself as being pretty good with technology, but it even took me about two hours to do this, but then again I'm a perfectionist. (ridiculous) I decided to chose my family to represent me. They are a huge part of who I've become and I love them dearly. I chose a song by the Weakerthans. There are one of my favorite bands and they were first introduced to me by my sister. This song is called "The Reasons". I hope you listen to the chorus because it's something I truly believe about most of the people in my life, and I think it's important for them to hear it every once in a while. I hope you enjoy it! Here it is:
My Digital Autobiography
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
Technology Today and its impact on Education
It's interesting to look back and to think about what the world was like without technology. People must've been much more private, not always knowing where each other was or what they were up to. But then again, that also means that moments between people maybe weren't shared as much. I know that in my family for example, we have become closer thanks to technology. In 2007, a blog was started by my aunts in order to share what was going on in their lives and know about the happenings and events of all my mom's extended family. It allowed different generations to share and to have connections with people that were leading lives so different from the ones they were leading because of the difference in age. I also feel like technology has brought me closer to my college friends. With things like Facebook and texting we can share photos between friends and have conversations that may have otherwise never occurred face to face.
In one of the books for my tech ed class (the class that this blog was made for) talked about the extraordinary changes that have occurred not just in everyday society but in the political world as well. For example, it is no question that part of the reason Obama is now president was because of his website. Supporters formed over 27,000 groups and within those groups raised money, held rallies, and got out the vote. Even the ads on Facebook made users aware of each candidate and what they represented.
It is true that technology has made it's way into many different aspects of society that at least I didn't expect it to appear in. Education for example was one of those categories. I'm excited to learn how to use the materials children use everyday and find a way to incorporate them into the classroom. I am also curious what kinds of technology this means for children of the ages I plan to teach (preschool through third grade). I am very curious how much media and technology children of that age have been exposed to. I know families where tv and technology is barely used and others where it is the primary form of entertainment. What do the teachers of today use for those age groups I wonder? Blogs, email, ipods, podcasts and skype are great ideas, but in order to make them work, children need access to expensive computers, ipods and video cameras(for skype). That being said, I still hope teachers strive to at least incorporate some form of technology into the classroom even if it is just music. Uploading, videos, mp3s, recording devices may seem like simple things but they could really impose a positive learning experience for a child. I can't wait to have my own classroom and to be able to make that influence.
In one of the books for my tech ed class (the class that this blog was made for) talked about the extraordinary changes that have occurred not just in everyday society but in the political world as well. For example, it is no question that part of the reason Obama is now president was because of his website. Supporters formed over 27,000 groups and within those groups raised money, held rallies, and got out the vote. Even the ads on Facebook made users aware of each candidate and what they represented.
It is true that technology has made it's way into many different aspects of society that at least I didn't expect it to appear in. Education for example was one of those categories. I'm excited to learn how to use the materials children use everyday and find a way to incorporate them into the classroom. I am also curious what kinds of technology this means for children of the ages I plan to teach (preschool through third grade). I am very curious how much media and technology children of that age have been exposed to. I know families where tv and technology is barely used and others where it is the primary form of entertainment. What do the teachers of today use for those age groups I wonder? Blogs, email, ipods, podcasts and skype are great ideas, but in order to make them work, children need access to expensive computers, ipods and video cameras(for skype). That being said, I still hope teachers strive to at least incorporate some form of technology into the classroom even if it is just music. Uploading, videos, mp3s, recording devices may seem like simple things but they could really impose a positive learning experience for a child. I can't wait to have my own classroom and to be able to make that influence.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Feelings of Technology
Technology should be an aspect of teaching, but I don’t believe technology should be the only form of teaching. I think it is important to use it to keep students on track and to create fun and new opportunities for learning. For me, technology comes easily and I pick up things very fast. I know however that that is not the case for everyone. I am curious how to use technology in an early childhood setting and to use it in a way that isn’t expensive or keeps kids from exercising or being creative. I don’t like certain ways technology does everything for you. I believe there are good games for children and adults to play as well as bad ones. I also am aware of the effect technology has on your eyes. I, for example, didn’t have to use glasses until after a year and a half of using the computer daily for school. My eyes do need a break every once in a while and I’m worried about that being an issue for young children.
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