So much information, but how do I effectively use it?!

This semester, we have already been introduced to many different technologies through our Student Showcases. In our weekly seminars, our peers have introduced us to many different web based resources and software. Each week, I have challenged myself to understand how each of these technologies could be used in my future classroom. Some were easier to "fit in" than others. Here is what I have come up with...


Google docs

I really appreciate this tool, and I myself have started using it a lot! It is very handy, as I can access all my files from any computer. Not having to email myself documents so I can access them from places other than home, is one less thing to remember!

It was mentioned in class, that some students used google docs to do all of their lesson planning last semester. I can see the value of this, as I myself fell victim to a malfunctioning memory stick a few times. I wish I would have know about google docs a few months ago.


The big question thought, how can I use google docs to enhance learning in my classroom.
Having a science background, I can see this tool being used for any collaborative process, such as lab write ups. Having this online collaboration space is so helpful, as often students will have to collaborate and produce one final copy of a lab writeup. If I can figure out a way to track the history of editing on google docs, I could ensure that each student was participating in the write up. (Does anyone know how to track this??)



Xtranormal.com

This tool was extremely entertaining. Perhaps too entertaining... I think I was concentrating more on all the different expressions and arm movements I could make my character do, rather than how I could use it in the classroom.
However, perhaps it could be used as a way for students to communicate their self assessments?



Showing Evidence Tool

This tool seemed more complicated, and I think I would have to play around with it before I utilized it in a classroom. I think it would be a great tool to help students organize evidence before a debate.



SMART technology (an introduction to smartboards)

The good old smartboard. This thing is an amazing tool...I hope I have one in my future classroom because I really did love using it in my practicum last semester. I have barely scratched the surface of what smartboards can do, not to mention the new technology that is constantly being produced. With the smartboard, I was able to organize my lessons easily (using notebook software) and the transition from powerpoint to a website or movie was smooth (Press a button on the screen, no fiddling around on the computer). As long as there were no technical difficulties of course. I was also lucky enough to have a projector which was wall mounted, so we bypassed the problem of re-orienting the non-permanent projector (I could see how that may drive one crazy, and be reason enough to use the smartboard less).



Comic life

I myself have fought the valiant battle with comic life in the classroom. In a junior high science classroom, the girls were more interested in photo shoots using the web cams, than expressing what they had learned about heat and temperature. I think the main thing they learned from the assignment my partner teacher and I gave them, was how their hair looked. This being said, I realize that the assignment was not encouraging students to interact more deeply with the content. As Michele commented on my last post, students will become distracted if the assignment is "...weak or surface work -- when the task is challenging, meaningful and tied strongly to the discipline, AND teachers support learning through strong instructional and assessment practices, then students engage deeply and in appropriate ways with the task and technology".

Although comic life may have won the last battle, I am determined to win the war...

These are some of my own experiences with technologies, and some of my ideas around how I could use them in my classroom. I can't wait to learn more about the plethora of tools that are out there!