Describe a technology experience you had this week.
1. Description. Briefly describe your experiences (class activities, reading assignment, your school or job experiences). Do this in a descriptive rather than a judgmental way (merely record events without editorializing or agreeing or disagreeing). Make connections.
Currently I am on a paternity leave. While home I still want to stay connected with what is going on in my classroom and with my students. Last week I created a Google Docs assignment at home and shared it with my students at school. Each student had to make their own copy of the original assignment so I wouldn't have 23 students all working on the same document. Once they made their own copy they had to proofread a paragraph and correct the misspelled words. Finally, after making the corrections each student would "turn in" their assignment by sharing their document with me.
2. Impact. Tell what you have learned (or confirm what you had already believed, or how what you have learned differs from what you believed). How do you feel about what you learned?
This assignment had two goals. The first goal was to give the students more experience with Google Docs. The second goal was to have them identify the misspelled words in the paragraph. The students who shared their document with me all did very well identifying the misspelled words. The fact that I was able to see their document meant that they were able to share it with me, and that they met the first goal of gaining more experience with Google Docs. Only about one third of my class was able to follow the directions to copy the assignment, complete it, and share it back with me. Several students made changes to my original document instead of making a copy for themselves. Google Docs allows me to see exactly who those students are. A few students did not complete the assignment. These results show me that my class falls into three main groups: students who have experience with Google Docs, students who havelimited experience with Google Docs, and students who have little to no experience with Google Docs. I was actually hoping that more students had experience with Google Docs. Even though this is the first year that students are to use Google Docs instead of Microsoft Word, they learned about it last year in their technology class. Fifth grade is the only year that they don’t have a class specifically devoted to technology. In grades K-4 they have had a technology class. It is unfortunate for the students, and the teachers need to incorporate technology into their classroom so they students can gain experience. Hopefully with a few more activities and practice they will remember what they learned last year and become more familiar with Google Docs.
3. Intent. Make a statement about what you intend to do as a result of your learnings and feelings. BE SPECIFIC! Phrase this in a personal and positive way ("what I will do is . . ." rather than "what I won't do is . . .").
The intent is to keep moving forward with using Google Docs while I am at home. With the students who are familiar with Google Docs I can continue giving them similar activities where they proofread paragraphs and I can add other features of Google Docs. I would ask them to proofread the paragraph but use a different font and color for their answers. For the second group, I would explain their mistakes to them and have them redo the assignment. Maybe with a little more support they will be able to complete the activity correctly. For the last group, I would break down the directions into smaller chunks to hopefully identify their errors and weaknesses. Once identified, I would guide them through the activity. I would provide the support they need to help them learn from the activity. I would also set up a time with my co-teacher where these students can post their questions regarding the completion of their activity.
Reflect on what you plan to do to address the equity and ethics issues when applying technologies. You may share with us about what you have been doing by addressing these aspects and what you will change after learning in this module.
In regards to the prompt of addressing the equity and ethics issues when applying technologies, I researched these issues in a previous class. I read about how the Digital Divide has a negative impact on those who do not have technology or access to technology when they enroll in college and ultimately join the workforce. I was surprised to read that many areas do not have the access to technology or it is very limited or slow. People who live in certain regions or people that have a lower socioeconomic status do not have access to technology. Some people that have access to it still might not use it because they do not know how; they are not digitally literate. There are two steps that need to be taken in order to solve this technology inequality issue. The first step involves providing the access to technology. Without access, everything else is pointless. Many of us have students who are unable to do computer-based homework because they don’t have a computer at home. The following are ways we can assist these students.
Offer after school programs where students have access to computers or netbooks.
Work with the local library to have scheduled times during the evening and weekends where students have access to computers.
Find out if there are any learning centers in the area where students can go. If so, provide information to the students and their families about the learning centers.
Ask local businesses and corporations if they would like to donate any computers to the school.
Work with companies that sell computers and other types of technology to see if they would give a group discount to students and their families.
Create alternative homework assignments that can be completed without the use of a computer if necessary.
Currently, I provide students with an alternative homework assignment that can be completed without the use of a computer. Many of the online programs we have allow us to print the homework as well as completing it online. I also encourage students to use the local library that has free access to computers and the internet. Finally, I offer to stay in for lunch and recess if students need access to a computer. I would like to work with local businesses and corporations to see if they would be willing to donate computers, smartphones, or tablets to the school. I would also check with cell phone companies to work out a way to buy phones that people trade in when they upgrade. Many people want to upgrade to the latest and greatest phone, and there is nothing wrong with their old phone. I have an old smartphone that works perfectly well. My kids at home use it to play games. I am sure there are families out there that have phones sitting around the house that work perfectly well, but they just upgraded to the newest phone. This could be an inexpensive way to help provide access to technology. The second step to close the Digital Divide involves training people how to use the technology. Once people have access to technology, they need to be trained how to use it. Teachers can play a huge role in educating their students how to use technology. Besides the kids, adults need to learn how to use the technology as well. The following are ways to help people learn how to use technology.
The community and the schools can work together to help train community members how to use the technology.
The schools can work with the local library to have training sessions made available to community members.
Community members who have technology training can work with the schools to train other community members.
Local businesses and corporations could provide the training.
Local universities and colleges could offer technology training at a discount for community members.
As the need for technology continues to grow, the lack of technology becomes a bigger problem for those who don’t have it. The Digital Divide is a major inequality in society. As educators we must explore ways to help close the Digital Divide. Not just because it will increase student performance, but because of the effect it will have after school and on the community. With the help of the community, agencies, and government leaders, we need to ensure that all cultures and all levels of society have access to technology and the proper training. By working together, we can close the Digital Divide, help improve the quality of life in the places we live and work in, and restore equality to society.
On a side note, a friend of mine lost his battle with cancer this week. He has been living in the United States for a long time, but grew up in Scotland. He has many friends both here and in Scotland. I wanted to create a wiki or a website where people from all over could add to it by posting pictures or text messages as well as audio or video recordings. Even though I was advised by some of his friends to hold off for now, I still would like to do this project sometime down the road. If anyone knows of a better way to do that than using wikispaces or Google Sites, please let me know.
Describe a technology experience you had this week.
1. Description. Briefly describe your experiences (class activities, reading assignment, your school or job experiences). Do this in a descriptive rather than a judgmental way (merely record events without editorializing or agreeing or disagreeing). Make connections.
Currently I am on a paternity leave. While home I still want to stay connected with what is going on in my classroom and with my students. Last week I created a Google Docs assignment at home and shared it with my students at school. Each student had to make their own copy of the original assignment so I wouldn't have 23 students all working on the same document. Once they made their own copy they had to proofread a paragraph and correct the misspelled words. Finally, after making the corrections each student would "turn in" their assignment by sharing their document with me.
2. Impact. Tell what you have learned (or confirm what you had already believed, or how what you have learned differs from what you believed). How do you feel about what you learned?
This assignment had two goals. The first goal was to give the students more experience with Google Docs. The second goal was to have them identify the misspelled words in the paragraph. The students who shared their document with me all did very well identifying the misspelled words. The fact that I was able to see their document meant that they were able to share it with me, and that they met the first goal of gaining more experience with Google Docs. Only about one third of my class was able to follow the directions to copy the assignment, complete it, and share it back with me. Several students made changes to my original document instead of making a copy for themselves. Google Docs allows me to see exactly who those students are. A few students did not complete the assignment. These results show me that my class falls into three main groups: students who have experience with Google Docs, students who havelimited experience with Google Docs, and students who have little to no experience with Google Docs.
I was actually hoping that more students had experience with Google Docs. Even though this is the first year that students are to use Google Docs instead of Microsoft Word, they learned about it last year in their technology class. Fifth grade is the only year that they don’t have a class specifically devoted to technology. In grades K-4 they have had a technology class. It is unfortunate for the students, and the teachers need to incorporate technology into their classroom so they students can gain experience. Hopefully with a few more activities and practice they will remember what they learned last year and become more familiar with Google Docs.
3. Intent. Make a statement about what you intend to do as a result of your learnings and feelings. BE SPECIFIC! Phrase this in a personal and positive way ("what I will do is . . ." rather than "what I won't do is . . .").
The intent is to keep moving forward with using Google Docs while I am at home. With the students who are familiar with Google Docs I can continue giving them similar activities where they proofread paragraphs and I can add other features of Google Docs. I would ask them to proofread the paragraph but use a different font and color for their answers.
For the second group, I would explain their mistakes to them and have them redo the assignment. Maybe with a little more support they will be able to complete the activity correctly.
For the last group, I would break down the directions into smaller chunks to hopefully identify their errors and weaknesses. Once identified, I would guide them through the activity. I would provide the support they need to help them learn from the activity. I would also set up a time with my co-teacher where these students can post their questions regarding the completion of their activity.
Reflect on what you plan to do to address the equity and ethics issues when applying technologies. You may share with us about what you have been doing by addressing these aspects and what you will change after learning in this module.
In regards to the prompt of addressing the equity and ethics issues when applying technologies, I researched these issues in a previous class. I read about how the Digital Divide has a negative impact on those who do not have technology or access to technology when they enroll in college and ultimately join the workforce. I was surprised to read that many areas do not have the access to technology or it is very limited or slow. People who live in certain regions or people that have a lower socioeconomic status do not have access to technology. Some people that have access to it still might not use it because they do not know how; they are not digitally literate. There are two steps that need to be taken in order to solve this technology inequality issue. The first step involves providing the access to technology. Without access, everything else is pointless. Many of us have students who are unable to do computer-based homework because they don’t have a computer at home. The following are ways we can assist these students.
Currently, I provide students with an alternative homework assignment that can be completed without the use of a computer. Many of the online programs we have allow us to print the homework as well as completing it online. I also encourage students to use the local library that has free access to computers and the internet. Finally, I offer to stay in for lunch and recess if students need access to a computer.
I would like to work with local businesses and corporations to see if they would be willing to donate computers, smartphones, or tablets to the school. I would also check with cell phone companies to work out a way to buy phones that people trade in when they upgrade. Many people want to upgrade to the latest and greatest phone, and there is nothing wrong with their old phone. I have an old smartphone that works perfectly well. My kids at home use it to play games. I am sure there are families out there that have phones sitting around the house that work perfectly well, but they just upgraded to the newest phone. This could be an inexpensive way to help provide access to technology.
The second step to close the Digital Divide involves training people how to use the technology. Once people have access to technology, they need to be trained how to use it. Teachers can play a huge role in educating their students how to use technology. Besides the kids, adults need to learn how to use the technology as well. The following are ways to help people learn how to use technology.
- Local universities and colleges could offer technology training at a discount for community members.
As the need for technology continues to grow, the lack of technology becomes a bigger problem for those who don’t have it. The Digital Divide is a major inequality in society. As educators we must explore ways to help close the Digital Divide. Not just because it will increase student performance, but because of the effect it will have after school and on the community. With the help of the community, agencies, and government leaders, we need to ensure that all cultures and all levels of society have access to technology and the proper training. By working together, we can close the Digital Divide, help improve the quality of life in the places we live and work in, and restore equality to society.On a side note, a friend of mine lost his battle with cancer this week. He has been living in the United States for a long time, but grew up in Scotland. He has many friends both here and in Scotland. I wanted to create a wiki or a website where people from all over could add to it by posting pictures or text messages as well as audio or video recordings. Even though I was advised by some of his friends to hold off for now, I still would like to do this project sometime down the road. If anyone knows of a better way to do that than using wikispaces or Google Sites, please let me know.