RodriguezJournalPost #10

How can technology engage and inspire learning for diverse students?

Multicultural education is a term used to describe how teachers go about affirming the expansive diversity of student interest, needs, and talents present in every school classroom.

James Banks states that all students regardless of where they come from or physical characteristics should have a equal chance to learn in school and participate in all programs and activities.

Sparking an interest is a key element within a group that is diverse.  What are their common interests and how can a teacher capitalize creating lessons around the group’s interest.

Integrating technology that allows students to obtain knowledge regarding information they have never been exposed to help students realize that their dream may not be out of their reach.

Technology can assist with making culturally relevant curriculum and instruction available to students as they learn how math will help them in real world situation.

Creating teaching and learning situations in which students can work together allow for student cross culture, racial, language, and gender boundaries on common projects together using technology.

Student benefit when their classroom goes beyond its four walls and into real world events and situations. Technology gives students the access to any type of information they can think of or what to research.  Teachers can utilize virtual field trips, translation materials and ways to expand communication between students and teachers during class as well is outside of school.

Tech Tools

Social Bookmarking

              Classroom blogs 

RECAP 

Technology is doing its best to bridge the gap in diversity within the classroom.  It allows students to participate in communicating and working with students with different backgrounds.  Teachers are becoming more empowered when it comes to working with groups of diverse students.  The more familiar the students are with the technologies that they have at their finger tips the better they will understand what they are capable of as an individual.  The more exposure they have to new technology the easier it will be for them to transition from education to the workforce.  

Resource:  

Edward, S.A., Maloy, R.W., Verock-O'Loughlin, R.E., Woolf, B.P. Transofroming Learning with 

          New Technology 2nd Ed. Upper Saddle Riverm N.J. Person, 2011

RodriguezJournalPost # 9

What is multimedia technology and how can teachers use it to effectively create and share visual information dynamically in their teaching?

There are a wide variety of multiple media available that will allow teacher to create a real world within their classroom.

Text

Data

Voice

Picture

Video

Multimedia sparks the student’s interest in the material being taught as they can participate in activities and engage themselves with their fellow classmates both in and outside the classroom.  Multimedia encourages the student to think activity and respond with creativity and critical thinking.

The use of technology gives teacher the opportunity to be creative in how they prepare lesson plans and deliver classroom instruction.  Many teachers are using technology to create a shared learning environment for their students.

Multimodal learning: occurs when teachers combine spoken words with visuals or written text with audio or utilize simulations and models.

Tech Tools

                                           Power Point

Smart Class

LET'S RECAP

Today’s classroom teachers are required to establish a dynamic that will allow student to use as many of their scenes as possible.  The use of multimedia technology does just that as students are engage in real world activities established by the teachers outline and guidance. The students can work together to develop strong team working skills or they can work independently to establish their critical thinking and time management skills. Technology allows teachers to bring the outside world into their classroom and give their students a head start on what real world is all about.

Resource:
Edwards, S.A., Maloy, R.W., Verock-O'Loughlin, R.E., Woolf, B.P. Transforming Learning with New Technology. 2nd ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J. Person, 2011

RodriguezJournalPost#8

How can wikis foster collaborative learning among teachers and students?

According to the textbook, Wikis: is a word that was generated from the Hawaiian word meaning quick or rapidly, are websites that teachers and students create and edit together by reading and revising each other’s ideas and comments. Wikis got their start in the mid-90’s and have grown quit popular over the years because of the way they engage the users in the process of sharing information collaboratively.   

In school wikis allow teachers and students to do the following:

• Use technology in meaningful ways in the classroom
• Collaborate with peers and colleagues
• Synthesize and explain the content they are learning through written expression and different forms of multimedia expression.
• Publish their writing and other creative or scientific work
• Receive feedback about their learning both inside and outside the classroom

The uses of wikis make for a positive collaborative learning environment for student to work together as teams to research and develop new elements to their learning.  Collaborative learning experiences in school simulates that way information is developed in our society.  There is never only one right answer in solving a complex question and wikis allow student work with each other to develop and solve complex social and technological problems. 

• Teachers are always trying to create new learning environments for their students. Developing a wiki with their students will allow both the teacher and the students to work collaboratively in the project. 
• Teachers can also us wikis to help with curriculum design and implementation.

The role of the teacher during collaborative learning is to be a facilitator and support the peer to peer collaboration.Wiki projects can be exciting for both the teacher and the students. The following suggestions can help teachers use wikis with their students.

• Decide on group processes: Teachers can introduce the project as a single student or group.
• Choose the Nature of the Wikitext: Teachers could ask each class to start a new wiki or work with a wiki that was previously written.
• Watch for Inappropriate or Plagiarized Material: Teachers must come up with clear rules as to what is considered inappropriate or plagiarized materials.
• Give grades for student work: Teacher needs to devise a rubric for the individual or group.

Tech Tools

http://www.wikispaces.com/ 

Recap

Wikis are being used to enhance the learning of students in most if not every classroom. Teachers are utilizing this technology to allow their students to collaborate and actively engage in their educational experience and progress. Teachers become facilitators and support their students learning instead of teaching them to a test. The students are allowed to explore their potential and learn from their mistakes.  Maria Montessori believed in allowing children to develop at their own pace and encouraged them to interact with their peers to do so. This age old philosophy has become a common practice in today's educational system.

Resource:

Edwards, S.A., Maloy, R.W., Verock-O'Loughlin, R.E., Woolf, B.P. Transforming Learning with New 

Technology. 2nd ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J. Person, 2011