Technology in Middle School
Introduction
In the 21st century, students must be adept in new literacies and technology. Teachers, educators, and parents have a responsibility to teach students the skills they need to become proficient in these areas. Therefore, educators should find engaging ways to incorporate the use of technology into the curriculum. Parents are also mentioned because outside of the classroom, they have an obligation and responsibility to interact and observe how technology is being used. Huffaker (2005) writes “Some scholars suggest digital fluency will be another prerequisite for sociability, lifelong learning, and employment opportunities. The uses of educational technology have a twofold advantage; they can promote the types of literacy traditionally encouraged in
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discussed how four middle school teachers used Jing, Wix, Google Sites, and Blogger with their students.
Jing is a Web 2.0 tool used to capture images and screenshots in movie format (Kovalik, 2014, pg. 91). The teacher who implemented this tool for students was to create online portfolios. Students were allowed to become familiar with the application before completing the assignment. The teacher intends to use Jing in future classes and expand the use by showing students how to upload videos to YouTube and add music to their videos.
Wix is a website builder that eliminates downloading applications to the computer. Websites are built on Wix and stored online (Kovalik, 2014, pg. 92). Students were introduced to Wix through a classroom Wix page. Each student’s name was listed alongside hyperlinked buttons so students could access each other websites. To begin the use of this tool, students watch a short “how to” video. The teacher was available for questions and help if needed. Students who had complications with building their web page were paired with advanced
Currently the time students and teachers may interact is restricted to class time and meetings. With technology, “educators are beginning to interact with students…in ways they never have before” (Source B). The number of times they may interact is limitless. Teachers may use social media apps to communicate outside of class and enhance the pedagogical experience. Teachers can use this technology to have their students “post writing assignments online” as to facilitate peer review, “Practice foreign languages in electronic forums” in place of pen-and-paper journals, and “pass out PDAs” to enrich scientific experiments by organizing data for out-of-class use (Source B).
For this professional development training session teachers will be using Chromebooks, Google classroom, and the website padlet as a collaboration
The World Wide Web had revitalized education by making it easier, and more efficient to teach. Before the creation of the Internet, the most popular and widely used way of teaching was mainly with books and lectures, limiting the speed and efficiency of information to learn, while also limiting the number of units given in a school year. With the Internet, teachers were able to discover and teach topics easily, leading to quicker lessons and topics as they use the web browser and online sources to benefit the speed of the lessons as well as better the students in different ways to educate. In addition to teachers using the Internet, students also greatly used it to help with homework, to fully understand a topic, to help with projects, and to communicate with their teachers. In a study from Pew Internet & American Life Project over students and their interaction with the
Task 2.0 Apply the basic design elements of a good website to a teacher website using the Apps in the Schoolwires software
As a digital immigrant, it takes a lot of effort form me to keep abreast of the latest advances in technology. Digital Native students utilize technology often in order to socialize with friends and complete projects. Teachers need to thoughtfully determine what technology applications are most effective and enhance instruction (Hammonds, Matherson, Wilson and Wright, 2013). By staying focused on student engagement and learning, teachers should find websites, application and programs that align with these goals.
During your first year of teaching, the most important people you will have to communicate with are your students. Children of this generation are very technology literate and by using technology in the classroom to communicate with them is a great way to get on their level. One way I plan on doing this is by allowing each student to develop their own website. On the students’ websites they can post their homework, class projects, artwork, and some writing samples. Since most parents work, this gives them the opportunity to go on to their child’s website and see their child’s work such as pictures and samples of class work (Greenspan 2002).
effectively is not only a good policy; in some cases it is the law. Multiple links to websites and video presentations provide technology integration strategies that can be used in different content areas. The development of a website containing educational technology projects, resources, and lessons, allowed me to easily compile useful media-based learning information for dissemination with my classroom, colleagues, and other instructors across the globe for enhanced learning.
Hamblet argues that students should have assess and learn how to use technology during their time in high school because it could help them adapt faster to the transition from high school to college (56). The high schools that allow students to be hands on with technology give students to be more successful throughout college. In this program we attempt to put work sheets together in order encourage students to use technology. When looking for colleges that they want to attend we assist them by giving them techniques however we attempt to let them navigate the web by themselves so that they could get accustom to researching things without the assistance of anyone else. When students accomplish navigating the web and using technology this component benefits them as well as their family members through their transition to college.
Need to order a pizza, just go online. Need to talk someone, just text them. Want to buy some clothes, just go online. Technology is everywhere, and will only become more and more prominent. In Doulos, technology is rarely used and the old fashioned way of learning is enforced; handwritten notes and lectures. The computer lab is often over booked and students are unable to use computers when needed. Doulos not being a technology based school has many negative effects on students who are planning to attend college.
As schools promote 21st-century learning, there has been a push for literacies which encourage students to be 21st-century learners. The two overarching literacies, new and digital, has taken over the three R’s literacy, reading, writing, and arithmetic. New Literacies continuously change due to the new technology emerging providing different ways to get information and communicate with others (Leu et al., 2015). In contrast, digital literacy is the ability to use digital tools to access information for understanding and communication (Jose, 2016). New literacies and digital literacies also differ in aspects of use in the classroom. New literacies are the building blocks for digital literacy; which are the skills students need to understand the internet (Maloy, Verock-O'Loughlin, Edwards, & Woolf, 2017). New literacies can be taught without the use of technology because students are learning to locate, evaluate, synthesize, and communicate information. Teachers can demonstrate these skills using encyclopedias and journal articles to gain a minimalistic comprehension. Once students learn the necessary understanding, teachers can transfer these skills to online which will promote digital literacy; furthermore, digital literacy can only be taught using digital tools. Teachers would teach students how to use computers and the social practices of the new literacies to gain an understanding of the digital literacy (Jose, 2016). Furthermore, digital literacies
It is crucial that students are not just being educated in only one way. Each child is different; as a result, learning styles should be versatile and open to new strategies. By learning to use technology correctly, teachers are preparing themselves, and the students for the future by developing certain skills that will be essential in the 21st century. Besides developing the students’ technology skills, students will
“Literacy has expanded from the notions of reading and writing to include the ability to learn and interact with technology in a meaningful way” (Ventriglia, 2007). Additionally, 21st Century skills require students to be well versed in how to use technology to meet their learning needs. Therefore, digital literacy is the means in which a person uses his or her technological skills and knowledge to manipulate and produce a product. Furthermore, a digital literate person collaborates and communicates with others to produce and create original content for academic or professional gain. Teaching digital literacy means I too must use and operate technological tools in my own learning process.
The learning objective was to ensure that each student completing the course will increase their digital literacy, develop essential computer skills, improve a basic understanding of computing, and increase computer use in their daily lives. In addition, students will increase working knowledge and understanding of standard computer tools and applications all the while increasing working knowledge of basic networking and internet functionality.
As we navigate through the 21st century, technology in the classroom is becoming further predominant. iPads are replacing our textbooks, and we can research any desired topic on our smartphones. The impact that technology has had on today’s schools has been utterly momentous. Educators have now seen firsthand the numerous benefits of technology in the classroom. According to a study by IT Trade Association CompTIA, around 75 percent of educators have come to the conclusion that technology has a positive impact on the education process. Educators have also recognized the significance of developing these technological skills in students so they will be prepared to enter the workforce after they graduate (Cox). By incorporating technology in the classroom, teachers are setting our students up for a successful life outside of school. The increase of technology has even changed how teachers teach along with how
We live in the era of technology, and we experience rapid technological progress. Many things around us have become automatic. Specifically, technology has become a part of many fields such as math, science, business and education. Also, kids in this generation are raised with smartphones, tablets, multimedia and many other technologies. Ramamuruthy and Rao (2015) describe students today with the term “digital native” because they are exposed to technology everyday (p.24). Since education plays a significant role in society, it needs to be developed in order to meet the demands of the 21st century. In other words, students need to be educated in a way that keeps up with their daily lives.