What’s Your Theory?
We’re going to be talking about a number of web-based tools that you can use in your classroom. I will be showing you how to get started with them, but how you ultimately use them with your students is up to you. I believe that the best way to get started is to think about your own personal theory of teaching with technology. This theory will (hopefully) change over time, especially as you become more experienced.
I’d like you to post a response to this blog about your theory. Consider the following question when posting your ideas:
- What are the possibilities of teaching with technology?
- What are the limitations of teaching with technology?
- How comfortable are you with technology now, and where do you see yourself in the future?
I look forward to sharing and learning with you!
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I see technology in the classroom as a way to: 1) help bridge the connection between the classroom and the larger community (local and global); 2) facilitate discussions and collaboration within a classroom and across classrooms; 3) allow students to access information in a variety of ways and from a range of sources; and 4) allow students to express themselves in a variety of media and share those expressions with others.
Some of these possibilities are on the opposite side of the same coin in terms of limitations. The public nature of networked technology can lead to inappropriate means of expression, where students unintentionally violate their own rights to privacy. I also agree with anthropologist and teacher Michael Wesch, who has said that students know how to entertain themselves online and do not necessarily know how to learn online. Working with technology in a manner which brings about quality results also takes time, a scarce resource given the current climate of hyper-accountability.
February 2nd, 2008 at 5:18 amI agree with everything said above. I also think that technology is a great way to engage students, as well as prepare them for the world ahead. Even the most simple jobs now require computer skills, and the need for computer knowledge is increasing every day.
February 2nd, 2008 at 6:18 amI think technology offers a rich palette to us: I can now show pictures, play mp3s, and do many more things. I don’t even know the real potential yet.
Drawbacks are when tech becomes a value for its own sake, and also that tech can change very quickly, so we need to think about how to build lasting transferable skills, rather than tips that will be obsolete when the next version of Word comes out.
I love technology and think I am a little ahead of the curve when compared to other English teachers (though not when compared to computer professionals…)
February 2nd, 2008 at 6:21 am