Week 5

I feel I was pretty inspired about the use of technology in my classroom when I first even started in the teaching program. Like the video from Oceanside N.Y. the teacher was preaching student self awareness of technology, because we don't know what the changes will be like in the future so teachers and students must be self assured that they are using technology effectively.
At the Booker T. Washington Magnet school the teacher offers most of his classwork to be available online, using students activity on the web to help set up a subject area lesson guide. By providing notes, assignments, blogging and discussion boards online, they get students ready for types of activities they will use in college or beyond and it helps utilize the technologies available to give inspiration for the students to want to do their work on the computer. So I think this is a very good view of how to set up a middle school or high school classroom. Now his difficulties would be those students who do not have internet access at home, other than the school or local library, I would ask him "How he makes sure students who do not have access to the internet, still have the opportunities that he has within his classroom?" I know that most students have access to the internet, but with the way the economy is, there are probably a lot of people who don't.
I also think utilizing the smart board and everything it has to offer is a huge asset to a classroom, especially for first year teachers. I think the program helps teachers gain access to items on the internet that will help give them inspiration for teaching and also provide numerous ways of interpreting material for students to actively engage them in their learning!

Technology Blog #1

I think the mindset list that Beloit college publishes is pretty crafty and intuitive. It does hit on points that the incoming freshman class have always experienced. I feel it is basically saying that kids growing up these days in this day age I mean, are almost "spoiled"! They have always had it an easier way and have always been protected. Which I think has created a bunch of kids that are weenies and whiners, and also produced a lot of kids who want to rebel and go against the grain. Either way it that is not good. Now as for the future, these kids will probably be the same if not worse for their children, I think it will just get easier and easier for kids to access the internet and have mobile devices that tell them everything they want. Hopefully I am wrong in believing this but I like the idea of the Mindset list of each incoming class because it offers older students a small window into understanding the class that is new! I also disagree with # 55 that New Kids has been known as NKOTB, because this students most likely have no idea who New Kids on the Block really is!

The youtube video, offers incite to what students have been learning and what they have access too. Obviously school systems are not the same as they were 5 or even 10 years ago. Students don't like to read anymore if they can watch the movie or have someone read to them via book on tape. So the video is asking"How do we change this mindset" or what can we do with technology to actually make it useful in the classroom. If the students can understand a certain subject on the computer, then why not implement that into your classroom. It doesnt make sense not to use the technology provided, or even find better technologies that will help you become a better teacher!