Blogging Introduction

My name is Taylor Morrison and this is my first blog.  I am not sure how to work it but I am playing around with the technology!  It is very interesting and fun to post information about yourself and to view other peoples blog that are in the education and technology course.  I would advise students who have not used blogger to watch the video on how to set up your personal blog.  Other then that it is not hard at all.  I went through and personalized my page so that it would best describe me!  I would say just have fun with it!


Critical Thinking Module:

Ten ways to get smart with SMARTboard, is an article about the different ways this device can be used in the classroom.  The author Amber Price said “I found that most of the teachers, being new to the SMARTboard, were not even sure how to use an interactive whiteboard instructionally with their students.”  She provided a workshop for teachers to learn how to use the SMARTboard by modeling lessons, showing them the software, and guiding them towards a more independent use of technology (Price).  Then, she shows the top ten ways to use the SMARTboard effectively in the classroom.  Note taking and brainstorming, games, united streaming, interactive flannel board, click-and-drag activities, interactive worksheets, board games, graphic organizers, interactive websites, and PowerPoint presentations (Price).  All of these concepts can help students learn in a various amount of ways.

What about the schools that do not provide the technology of the SMARTboard?  Yes, the SMARTboard is a great interactive tool in the classroom, but not everyone has that luxury.  When I was in high school, during my senior year at Plainfield High School, we moved to a brand new school.  Each classroom has a SMARTboard.  Before school started, the teachers took a workshop, like the one in the article, to learn how to use the SMARTboard.  However, not everything can be learned in one workshop, there is just too much information to absorb.  Therefore, every so often, it was the students showing the teachers how to use the board.  Everyone thought they were so cool, the different things you could do and the new things you could learn.  It is all about the experiences, and learning from others.

Another question I thought to myself is, is the SMARTboard effective at all ages and at every grade level?  Looking at the examples in the article, I remember the use of almost all of them in the classroom, even as a senior.  Then, looking back at Price’s examples, she used the SMARTboard on grades Pre-K through grade 5.  I would say that yes, the SMARTboard is of great use at every grade level.  For example, the click-and-drag activities were used to review for a test, and it was also like a game.  It would be a fun, interactive way for elementary students to learn, the can look, feel, and touch as well as read, write, and take notes.

The pros and cons of texting and IM, is an article about how texting and IM has affected the world today.  A survey was taken asking 65 high school students about their usage of texting and instant messaging.  Some of the questions were, how many hours a day do you text, do you text during class, do you use texting to cheat on a test, and do you text while you drive, and do you think it is dangerous to text while drive.  It was interesting to see that 49 student’s texting while drove and only 22 thought it was dangerous.  The article goes on to show the effects on class work, and that texting can decrease your writing skills.  Also, the cell phone is a major distraction in the classroom such as students not paying attention, constantly texting, or using texting to cheat (Loftis).

Even though there are many cons about text messaging, I believe that the factor about texting can decrease your writing skills underestimates that texting could increase your writing skills.  Thomas Johnson believes that “students can differentiate between the use of “text-speak” and formal English (Loftis)” He believes that that they know how to speak to their friends versus how to speak to a professor.  Also, that some students use this “text-speak” language to take notes so they can write faster (Loftis).  It is interesting to hear that because I do the same thing.  Sometimes professors go to fast or talk to fast, and abbreviating things that you can understand will help you catch all of the notes.

I will admit that as a student, I tend to text during class and I have tried to text while driving but it was way too dangerous.  Banning cell phones in school would not stop the problem, because students will just find a way to get around it.  Also, I just do not understand people who text and drive, such as my friends.  When I am in the car while they are driving, and they start texting it is not only affecting their life but mine as well.  Also, if you are a parent texting and driving, you are not setting a good example for your children.  Reading the stories in the article about accidents attributed to text messages and the many people that were killed because of texting.  Why take the risk?  There is nothing more important than your own life.  “In my opinion, the benefits are not worth the cost of the distractions” (Loftis).  Yes I agree with the statement by Loftis, but it just depends on the person who uses the phone.  It is the responsibility for your own actions and someone who has access to the text message cell phone, should make wise decisions.