THE ONE WHO DARES TO TEACH SHOULD BE READY TO LEARN!

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http://www.northampton.ac.uk/about/tours/education/ictsuite/media/panphoto/large/ictsuite-pan-lg.jpg

Who would not like a class like this?

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http://daily.hotpads.com/hotpads_daily/images/i_love_blogging.jpg

Blogging could draw out a young writer and open doors to their future.

Children love having an audience. The instant recognition and approval that comes from a crowd just can’t be beat. Employing blogs to help develop good spelling habits, grammar skills, and develop a love for writing at a young age is an innovative concept that has potential benefits:

Benefits
1.) Responsibility/Commitment - Daily Posts
Regular updates require children to be disciplined and responsible.

2.) Communication – Increased Communication with Friends and Relatives
Blogging or journaling gives children the opportunity to connect with relatives who might live some distance away, communicating important timely issues.

3.) Technology – Exposure to Internet Technologies
Children are growing into technology-laden world. Exposure to innovative Internet technology will help them with communication skills and résumé-building.

4.) Improved Writing Skills
When presented with an audience, children will want to present their “best” work.

5.) Improved Editing Skills
Proofreading is an important skill that is difficult to teach. Editing of daily entries will help children learn how to present their ideas clearly and professionally.

6.) Improved Spelling
Automated spell-checking helps children be aware of spelling errors when they occur.

7.) Typing
Getting children acquainted with keyboards at a young age will help them become familiar with their layout and function, quickly making them proficient typists.

Resource for Blogging Information – http://www.blog-connection.com

Because blogging involves the Internet, parents and teachers should also take the opportunity to educate youngsters about the dangers of the Internet. The Internet is global in its reach and developing safe Internet habits at a young age is critical. Remind children not to disclose personal information including names, addresses or location of events they plan to attend.

reference;

Housley, S. (n.d.). Blogs for Kids. retrieved 8, November,2008, from http://www.rss-specifications.com/kids-blogging.htm

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http://superfastcomputer.com/images/blogging.gif

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http://info.worldbank.org/etools/docs/library/98771/Policy%20Makers%20workshop/policymakers/gifs/pol_mod4_act1a_img2.gif

Before reading the article, “the emerging online life of the Digital native; what they do differently because of technology, and how they do it”, http://http://www.marcprensky.com/writing/Prensky-The_Emerging_Online_Life_of_the_Digital_Native-03.pdf I thought technology is only used for communication (i.e. chat, mobile phones, e.mail etc) and for entertainment (i.e.iPods etc.). However, this article amazed me by listing so many different things a Digital Native can do using the technology.

What amazed me more was the fact that these Digital natives do everything differently compared to non-digital generations in  amore sufficient way and thye have created ways to counteract the disadvantages or the limitations technology has. for example, communicating (via chatting) is very slow comapred to talking face to face, so these Digital Natives have made their own abbreviations to consume less time and convey their message at the same time.

What is more interesting and important at the same times is the fact that digital natives learn unconsciously, without any external pressure or drama. teachers can actually benefit from using technology in their classes

(i have experienced this with my own siblings and relatives. My 3 year old nephew has learnt his alphabets from the TV just by himslef without any external pressure or emphasis).

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http://petebradshaw.files.wordpress.com/2007/07/futurelabandme1.gif

taken from

http://images.google.com.au/images?gbv=2&hl=en&q=education+and+ICT&&sa=N&start=20&ndsp=20

what is important in terms of using technology in education is the self-suffeciency of the computers to teach students with no or very little effort. and it might sound silly, but  I am afraid that if technology/esp computers (i.e. learning machines or i should say teaching machines) dominate every part of learning, then what happens to teachers? who would need them anymore? how is it different from using robbots for general labour or from self-check machines at the supermarkets where customers can serve themselves?

in addition, the article ‘computer delusion’ http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/97jul/computer.htm also highlights some of the disadvantage of classrooms where technology is taking over;

here is no good evidence that most uses of computers significantly improve teaching and learning, yet school districts are cutting programs – music, art, physical education – that enrich children’s lives to make room for this dubious nostrum, and the Clinton Administration has embraced the goal of “computers in every classroom” with credulous and costly enthusiasm

The online newspaper “Teachers on learning curve” http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23479918-5010800,00.html i think, talks from the heart of many teachers. however technology is rapidly changing the way we teach and the way students learn, there is not many teachers who would feel safe using technology in their classrooms due to their lack of understanding/knowledge of today’s technology.

It mentions that teachers’ knowledge of the technology should be mentioned on their resumes to enhance their chances of getting a position as well as to recognize the importance of technology in education. I totally agree with this because the NSW curriculum (all science syllabuses 7-12) specifically requires students to be able to use computers, data loggers, and CD ROMs through their schooling, especially science students have to understand the relationship between science and technology. They should at least be able to pose the question “which one came first? The chicken or the egg? J Not really, but which one came first “the technology or the science?”

What I liked the most in this newspaper was that if teachers overcome their fear of learning the technology, it will help them tremendously in their teaching field. As Kirsten says “…”They may be used to fast movement, lots of color and push-button control but as yet, teachers are only human and we don’t have pause control, or a fast-forward, or an off switch…”

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http://www.interactions.org/sgtw/2006/0517/images/world_700.jpg

It is one of the most voted postings!

It is comparing a technology illiterate teacher to a completely illiterate teacher 30 years ago. I do not agree with this. We are talking about 30 years ago, not 30 decades ago. Obviously, technology is important in educating students, but if a teacher is illiterate in technology, who is responsible? The teacher or the system? And it should have been mentioned explicitly what is meant by illiterate. I do not think any teacher living and teaching at present, would be described as illiterate in technology. For me illiterate means completely unfamiliar with something.

Do you think a teacher unfamiliar with technology exists? (I am talking about developed countries).

Who do you think has been voting for this post? ICT teachers

taken from; http://www.cartoonstock.com/lowres/hsc3721l.jpg

All the literatures i have read and the blog postings from every1, shout the common notion ” use technology in teaching, students learn better when they can apply what they are elarning to their everyday life, bla bla bla”. But unfortunately it is true

students can learn alot from internet. My year 9 ! don’t want to talk about them. they were every teacher’s nightmare, but when it came to using internet for researching the differen types of Dinosaurs and the period thye lived (in evolution topic), these year 9 monsters were terribly interested to do the work.

that is when i realised the power of using TECHNOLOGY in teaching!