Clickers

Clickers are another wireless Internet learning device (WILDs)that can be used to augment a lesson. I have used clickers with students for social studies, science, and language arts lessons and the students are so engaged in the activity.

Survey Monkey

I loved creating my first survey using Survey Monkey. I didn't find it very user friendly but I think in time it would get easier to use. This online tool will collect your data which can later be used in a math lesson.

Geocaching

My daughter did a geocaching activity in first grade last year. The kids loved it! It just goes to show that even the littlest kids can use technologies to enhance their learning. Visit The Official Global GPS Cache Hunt Site at www.geocaching.com.

Access Versus Safety

This is a huge issue for Library Media Specialist and teachers. It is essential that as educators we instill digital citizenship in our students. I do agree that schools need to find "moderate ground" (p. 23). NetSmartz (www.netsmartz.org) is an outstanding site that is helpful to teachers, students, and parents.

del.icio.us

If you don't use this site you should! It is a great way to share information with others.

Learning with Technologies

According to Jonassen, Howland, Marra, and Crismond (p.10), "Meaningful learning will result when technologies engage learners in the following:

-Knowledge construction, not reproduction
-Conversation, not reception
-Articulation, not repetition
-Collaboration, not competition
-Reflection, not prescription

All of these areas are clearly addressed in the National Educational Technology Standards (NETS-S) as well. Collaboration is a key component in making meaningful learning occur. In my opinion, and an area that I need to work on as an educator is the reflection piece. You always seem to me starting something new before you have even thought about what you just did.

Testing Factories

After doing the reading for this week many topics became "Golden Nuggets" for me. After being a teacher for 16 years, 8 of which were at the fourth grade level, Jonassen, Howland, Marra, and Crismond state that, "Schools in America have become testing factories. Federal legislation has mandated continuous testing of K-12 students in order to make schools and students more accountable for their learning." I have truly felt these pressures from administrators and realize how much pressure classroom teachers are under in order to receive a passing school report card. I agree that students need to be willfully engaged in a meaning task in order for them to learn but this task does not always take place in the school setting.