After using a blog for about a week, reading texts about blogging and reviewing some of the other blogs from our class I have learned so much. There are many things that I have noticed that I need to improve in order to make this blog a successful learning tool. The first thing that I need to work on is the visual aspect of my blog. I think that I will change the colors and the layout to make it a little easier for my viewers to focus on the content here. Please give me feedback as to how my changes help!
Secondly, I realized that in regards to my posting I need to use them as a means to begin online conversations that my followers and I can learn from. The purpose of this blog is to share ideas and learn how to best integrate technology so I hope to use my posts to faciliate this type of dialouge among my followers. In order to begin this difficult task I am hoping to pose questions at the end of each post and hope that others will comment to create an ongoing conversation.
So, here is the first question/dilemma I am posing to my followers. The biggest obstical I have in technology integration is teaching my students to use new technologies. Even if I know how to use the tool, my third graders often have difficulty picking up new technology skills. In an effort to eliminate wasted classroom time what is the best way to introduce new technology? I'm talking even the most basic like learning to use the internet. What are some of the things you have done in the past to help this situation or what suggestions do you have for me and my third graders?
I agree with your dilemma! I think that is the biggest hindrance of why teachers don't use technology as much as they probably should. My suggestion is to teach the students one element of a new tool/software at a time, and they should eventually feel comfortable enough to create/do it by themselves.
ReplyDeleteFor example,
If you like the software Windows MovieMaker:
The first time you teach them, only use clipart, the next time show them how to use text, then eventually you can move on to teach them how to find pictures online and how to import their own pictures or videos. If you move slowly, and teach one big step at a time, they should be able to eventually work independently. The first couple projects probably won't be "award-winning", but they should eventually catch on and use higher order thinking skills to get creative!