Technology Benefits in the Classroom

       In the article "Standing in the Schoolhouse Door: Teacher Perceptions of Mobile Phones in the Classroom" (2014)  by Kevin Thomas, Blanche O'Bannon, and Virginia Britt, they go on to discuss the benefits of using mobile devices for instruction.  Their main focus is on the use of mobile phones, however, they say that all mobile devices are of importance to utilize with the increase of technology use in the classroom.  They are beneficial tools due to their accessibility from almost anywhere.  You are able to use them to deliver media rich content, differentiate instruction, as well as utilize them for tasks that allow for instant feedback for teachers and students.  Not only has it shown to be a benefit for the teacher as an instructional tool, it has also shown to increase engagement, motivation, and productivity in students who are interacting with the tools.  

        In my experience the use of technology definitely increases the level of engagement in the classroom.  I have found that often when students look at books they have a disconnect to the text.  They lack the skills to identify with the images and content.  I do not know if this is because they are not as engaged with print and driving their own education, or if they really don't have any connections to the images and text.  Secondly, I have found it a useful tool in differentiation support.  We have a few curriculum based games that our students play for reading and math, and it allows for students to work at their levels and not be required to all work at the same level.  This helps to bridge knowledge gaps and fill content holes in their learning from previous years.  Lastly, it has shown for me in the classroom to be a great communication tool and give direct feedback to students and myself.  Materials is accessible by all of my students and it has increased their ability to ask for support from me while they are away from the classroom.  

Thomas, K.M., O'Bannon, B.W., & Britt, V.G. (2014). Standing in the schoolhouse door: teacher perceptions of mobile phones in the classroom. Journal Of Research On Technology In Education (4), 373

Blogging! What is it good for?

Overall, I have always felt that if you can create a word document, then you can blog!  The process is very simple.  I logged in with my google account and simply clicked create a new blog.  From there I was able to name it, create a url for access, and determine the layout I would like to use.  Very simple.  When creating a blog, all I did was title the blog and start typing!  You can copy paste images like you would to a word document that you may normally create in Microsoft Word.  You can also create hyperlinks in text and also with pictures.  Overall, I love blogging and use it often in my classroom.

Instructional Technology

“Technology is just a tool. In terms of getting the kids working together and motivating them, the teacher is most important.” – Bill Gates