Week 1- Teaching and Learning with Technology (chapters 1&2)

Welcome to my blog. This is my first blog entry ever so bare with me until I get the hang of things. - Kelli

• What did you learn this week that you will use immediately in your classroom?
• From this reading I have learnt that technology needs to be incorporated at a very early age in every classroom. As a teacher I will use as much technology as possible to help my students learn what they can. I also have to make sure that I am completely up to date on all of the technologies which I will be using in my classroom and the ones which I will require my students to use. I have to allow myself extra time to learn or refresh with any program which is new or I haven’t used in a while. I have the responsibility to my students to stay on top of things.

• What steps will you take to implement this in your classroom?
• To do this I will require each student to use the computer to work on a program which deals with the subjects I teach. If I teach the higher grades such as 3-6^th grades then I will require them to use technologies such as a digital camera, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Microsoft word to do presentations and projects for the class.

• What challenge(s) will you face when using this in your classroom?
• One of the main challenges that I will face is the fact that not all students will have access to the technology needed at home. Another problem I will face is the pace in which the students learn to use the equipment and how fast they catch on and are able to move without someone’s assistance all the time.

• What will you do to overcome the challenge(s)?
• I will have to allow time in class for students who need the extra time with the equipment to finish the assignment. I might have to assign the assignment in parts to make sure that all the students stay together and that some don’t leave the rest of the class. I could assign each piece of equipment as a unit that way in order to go to the next you would have to complete the previous one. For the ones who learn at a slower pace then I will have to allow extra time for me or an aide to work with them until they get the hang of things. I could possibly if the number is low put them in a group together so I could show them all at the same time what they need to do and how to get going. That way I could help the others too. Another option I have is to pair them with buddies which know how to work with the equipment. This would give them a chance to not only learn what I am teaching but to learn from each other as well.