Etmer

This article states that "technology is now considered by most educators and parents to be an integral part of providing a high- quality education." I believe this to be true, as generations grow our use for computers is becoming larger and larger. But i wouldn't want it to take over our classroom activities. However, it is important to teach students the technology and give them great use of these as this is what they will be stepping out to in the future. So by hindering this process we are not doing our future generation any good.

Full integration of computers in the classroom is a distant goal (Marcinkiewicz, 93.) Teachers are hindering the progress of students in the progression of using technology to learn 'with' at school. Etmer argues that fear and control have more influence over us and ICT than the opportunity to overcome this and enhance technology in the classrooms significantly. If teachers do not believe that ICT can work in a classroom and be used for effective learning then they will not use it!

In other words students miss out on technology if a teacher has had bad experiences with ICT. We need to conquer these beliefs so that we understand that the value of ICT is important to students learning as this is the way of the future. Obviously as i keep saying, it should not overpower the classroom activities but it needs to become apart of it as it will be useful to students in the future, plus students love using them! We need a healthy balance between ICT and teaching. And we need to be comfortable with our uses of ICT as a teacher, why not let the students teach you a bit about it as well!

Bradshaw

This article states something that is very important to realise in teaching. Students get bored very easily and teachers do not expect much of students to dig deeper and really delve into what is being taught. They are saying it is something that is being taught and then re-said in the exact same way, regurgitation. It is important for us to remember that students need to develop their own opinions and to decide for themselves by being creative with what they have learnt.

Vygotsky believes that students need to develop new ideas from experiences and knowledge. As knowledge comes from the creation of meaning that occurs from life experience. Bradshaw states just that- get student to develop their own ideas and opinions instead of the teacher or seeing this is ICT, a web view.

Bradshaw states that there is pressure being felt by teachers to get so many topics completed by the end of the year that they feel they have no time for new ICT learning. However, when you think about it, ICT brings many ways of cognitive learning to the establishment. The discussion board is a great cognitive tool! We used this last year in ICT and this is a great way to hear what others think and you can then develop these ideas and create a more expanded view on top of your existing beliefs. You may have an article to read and then this is a great way to chat about it and develop your view into a more creative way of thinking, even changing your existing opinion maybe.

This blog we are doing is another example!
All students are creative and why not get this out of them by exposing them to ICT and prompting questions in class, get discussions going. Be realistic with the world, there are so many views it is not just one sided.

Computers as Mind Tools- Jonassen.

This article by Jonassen states that "The technology program judges the learner's response and provides feedback about how accurate the learners' response resembles what was presented to them." He is saying that basically such learning is not meaningful as it does not mindfully engage students in making meaning.

I never really thought about how teachers may use a computer program as 'working with it and not from it.' I always just assumed that when you find a great site to research from or play an interactive game on you are automatically working from the computer to enhance your learning. As teachers we need to make sure that we are engaging our students in critical thinking about the subject they are learning. Not merely just doing the questions and repeating mistakes with minimal feedback.

Being familiarised with 'mindtools' as Jonassen calls them is a great way to become aware of what to look for in a program and how to implement that program into your ICT use in class. Mindtools require students to think about what they know in different and meaningful ways. Students are then learning strategies and thinking deeply about what they are studying.

I think a great site to use as an example of a mindtool and not just a game that repeats its feedback is 'mathletics'. This gives students structured feedback, how they rank in a global statistic, plus it gives the teacher a sound knowledge of how his/her students are improving and where their weaknesses are in your particular math topic!

I love the fact that Jonassen has put out the thought that computers can be used as a cognitive tool. "As it supports meaningful learning and knowledge construction in higher education and is used cognitively as it reflects on what students have learned and what they know." This is not only important however in an ICT based education for subjects but also in work based activities around the classroom. All subjects should be tools for engaging students in a reflective and critical thinking manner.

Information Age- Elliott.

I think it's a great idea that the Ministerial Counsil for Employment, Training and Youth Affairs launched the National goals for Schooling in 1999. They said students will become "confident, creative and productive users of new technologies, particularly information and communication technologies, and understand the impact of those technologies on society."

Research shows that teachers who use and keep updated with the new technologies are more "motivated", "creative", and 'Involved" (Primary class research). It showed that more computer- active classrooms were strong communicators, excited about teaching, had positive attitudes and enthusiasm, confidence in teaching and many students claimed that these teachers were "fantastic" or "excellent". Those who have 35min or more ICT time in the classroom made teachers better classroom managers.

I have to agree that this outlook on teachers who use ICT in the classroom would seem more on the students level and will appear more updated with the times. It's great to have ICT time within your classroom lessons as this is what today's generation of children have been brought up with (hence, the last article) Those teachers who see technology as infamiliar and stay in their own set ways of teaching without any creativity are going to somehow be a downfall in teaching. Students will not want to learn as it is boring and not entertaining enough for them, it is out of their time.

Teachers need to remember that we are forever learning and there will never be a "set way" of teaching. This is life, the world moves on and we cannot let it leave us behind! We therefore, need to adapt to new technology all the time as those students who teachers adapt to their way and make an effort will encourage learning! There is nothing wrong either with letting the students show teachers "that little bit more about technology" it will give them an achievment and a more personal atmosphere. We are human after all!

"individual teachers must be prepared to alter their conceptions of teaching and learning as change occurs only when new understandings of the tasks and processes are constructed, not simply when technical innovations are introduced."

I love this as it keeps things in perspective, we cannot use technology for everything as some things just aren't appropriate for it! We need to keep a balance between ICT and learning activities around the classroom and outside. Everyone is forever learning and therefore, it is not only technology we need to keep up with but also the way in which we teach other subjects. Keep things active and entertaining! Coming from teaching from the blackboard onto paper, from paper to the worksheet and NOW from worsheets to entertaining speeches and hands on activities!

Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants- Prensky.

This article by Prinsky was quite an eye opener, i knew that this was happening in our generation but reading made it more clear that it is something we have to change and adapt to.

Technology I think has become the way of new generations and it is up to teachers/ educators to become familiar with technology and be able to use it confidently within the classroom and around home. However, not every subject can be done using computers or at least may not be appropriate and it's important to balance this with interacting with your students. So i loved the idea that Prensky said to use role plays, visual, music etc in class topics.

I personally think that children expect and want entertainment, everything appears boring because of the way life has been developing and all the brand new exciting gadgets that come our way. Teachers need to be CREATIVE with their lessons and make them entertaining by putting in activities, movies and music... Children love to be involved and love getting creative and expressing themselves. We have a responsibility also to play the part. We cannot just arrive at the class with an amazing lesson and explain what to do, teachers should deliver!

Be exagerative in your actions, be an actor and dress up to play the role! Move around and use hand actions, walk, jump... Basically be a motivator, let them know that you want to be there! If your excited, they will catch those vibes. If your smiling they will smile. It's all about entertainment and being individual. Be different with your lessons and take on creativity. Teaching should be fun! Learning should be fun! Interact, don't just sit there, use the available technology that children love and incorporate it into your lessons so they come to school knowing that learning math today 'isn't going to be that bad because I get to challenge someone from around the world on mathletics! How cool is that!'

Embrace technology, be confident, take a chance, inspire!