Technology in the Classroom

In today's traditional classroom there is a lot of technology present. From laptops to promethium boards. The laptops can serve many purposes such as an interactive backchannel. I was introduced to this in my Ed Tech and Design lecture this past semester. Students were able to comment, discuss, and ask questions to the professor's in the back of the classroom and classmates about the topic that was being presented. My first thoughts of this idea were not all that positive. I believe it served as a distraction to the students and the presenter. As time went on I saw the benefits of the backchannel first hand and changed my thoughts about it. Now I believe that the backchannel is a tool for additional learning. Students can keep listening to the presenter while asking questions to others without distracting the audience or the presenter. It also enhances their learning because they discuss with each other the particular topic and get excited and interested about it. I believe if it was required by the professors that students comment frequently throughout the lecture that there would be more development and learning going on. I believe that in a college lecture setting that the backchannel served as a beneficial technological learning tool. I'm not sure how well it would work with younger students but found a blog about a teacher's thought on it. Check it out at Cool Cat Teacher Blog: http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2007/09/installing-backchannel-in-my-classroom.htmlhttp://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com/2007/09/installing-backchannel-in-my-classroom.html

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What to Believe in the Digital World

Since technology is becoming such a big part in education and learning, students need to be educated on what to believe in the digital world. Not all sources of information are accurate and reliable. There are many different ways to post both factual and non-factual information on the Internet in today's generation. Such as a blog like mine and Wikipedia. Students may become confused on what is a person's opinion and what are facts. Therefore as educators we need to ensure that our students learn the appropriate ways to search and use information. Recently there have been programs created exactly for that reason. The News Literacy Project is just one example of a program that places secondary journalists in middle schools and high schools to educate students on how to evaluate and use reliable information. Check out their website: http://www.thenewsliteracyproject.org/. If our students become knowledgeable and comfortable with using the digital world it could open new doors in their education.

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One Laptop per Child

There are many different organizations out there that are promoting students to have their personal laptop for use in the classroom and at home. One Laptop per Child is just one organization that is trying to provide students in developing countries with laptops. With laptops that come equipped with content and software designed for collaborative and self-empowered learning, students become engaged in their education and with one another. One Laptop per Child is not only thinking about the student's educational life but also their financial life. They have created a laptop called the XO that is low in cost and extremely durable. It contains special features such as a readable screen under direct sunlight for those students who attend school outdoors. Check out this video about the XO Laptop....



I believe as future educators we need to support organizations such as One Laptop per Child because you never know where you are going to teach and the resources that are going to be available to you and your students.

Here is the One Laptop per Child website, check it out! http://www.laptop.org/en/vision/index.shtml

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