VoiceThread

    I like the VoiceThread technology. It kind of reminded me of the digital story but it was a little less complicated. I think VoiceThread is an easy way of asking students a question and getting them to respond to you. It provides a different way of answering questions rather than sitting down, raising hands, waiting to be called on. I think if students themselves got involved in making VoiceThreads, they would have a lot of fun with it. They could comment on their friends VoiceThreads and have their friends comment on theirs. Of course, I think the teacher would always have to monitor these VoiceThreads to make sure no one is saying anything inappropriate on theirs or a friends. But if everyone behaved I think VoiceThread is a good piece of technology to incorporate into the classroom.

Thanksgiving!

     It is almost Thanksgiving break! Which means good food, good company, and no classes. I can't speak for everyone, but I definitely need this time off. I am so excited to go home and enjoy the holiday with my family. I need a break from the getting up early and massive piles of homework.
    This break will be the rejuvination I need to get through the last 2 weeks of the semester and finals. It's crazy how fast this semester went by! We're almost there. :)
    I hope you all have an amazing holiday with your friends and family. Remember to always be thankful for everything you have in life. Never take it for granted. Enjoy!

iMovie

      I really enjoyed making the iMovie. It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. I was really intimidated to start working on it, I thought it was going to be all technological and impossible to create. I'm glad it was a group project; certain things I wasn't sure of my group members could help me out with. This is definitely a great piece of technology to be used in the future classroom. You can put your students into groups and have them create their own iMovie. It can be integrated into almost any subject area. Our class integrated ours with Math, but it can also be integrated into Science, ELA, anything. I think students would really enjoy getting to tape each other as well. They could play director, actor, etc. It would be fun for them.

Technology vs. Hands on Learning in Classroom

     I recently read an article from the Classroom 2.0 website that debates the use of technology in the classroom. Our EDU315 class is based around the idea that technology should be integrated in the classroom and it is important that students get the use of technology, because we are entering the technological generation.
     The school that is discussed in the article is The Waldorf School of the Peninsula where their teaching philosphy is based on hands-on activities and learning through creative tasks. There are no computers, no screens, just simple pens and pencils and blackboards. Good old-fashioned learning.
    What is your opinion of this? Is no technology beneficial or hurtful for students? Are we too dependent on technology to do work for us? I just thought this was a really thought-provoking article. It raises many interesting questions that are worth discussing. Is there too much technology in our schools?

Article: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/23/technology/at-waldorf-school-in-silicon-valley-technology-can-wait.html?_r=1