Technology In The Classroom

In my classroom I want to use online tools, such as blogs to connect with the students, their parents, and the community. I feel that this is a great way to interact specifically with the parents and get them involved. They will be able to access their child's grades, progress, activities done in class, and the topics we are studying in class.
In EDU 300 I have learned how to create these resources (i.e. Twitter, G-mail, and Blogs) and use them to communicate with my fellow students, teachers, and other viewers. I am starting to understand how important technology is and the many ways it can enhance learning. I hope to increase my knowledge and confidence through this course in order to keep up with the change in the world and education system.
I remember the day my eight year-old sister started to text, e-mail, and teach me how to work blackboard. Her third grade class was even creating PowerPoint's and checking their missing assignments on the class blog. Its times like these that I feel I am inadequate of being a teacher in the near future, but I know this course will help me and improve my technology skills.

Blogging In Education

What is Web 2.0 and why should teachers know about it?

Web 2.0 provides online tools that allow students to interact, enhance, morph, and create information and then communicate the results to a real audience. Blogs, wikis, photo and video sharing sites are a few of the social interactive components available on the Web. Students and their educators can use these resources to develop a better and more professional learning environment.

What is a Blog and why should every teacher have one?

Blogs are a powerful online tool that expands a learner's experience. They serve several purposes from self-expression to focusing on particular subjects in a classroom. Blogs promote writing, peer editing, and sharing. Students are posting poems, stories, illustrative books, their opinions on necessary events, personal experiences, and school activities. They are a great way for teachers to encourage their students to think on a deeper level and communicate more effectively. The world and technology is changing, it is important that teachers use the new tools to interact with their students and make a difference in their learning.

What are the pedagogical implications of student driven BLOGS in contrast to a teacher-created website?
Student driven Blogs are a productive way for the class to connect and interact with each other. Blogs get the students more involved with the topic, course goals,assignments, and activities. Blogs open a window of opportunity to grow in and outside of the classroom. In contrast teacher-created websites helps the teacher introduce a specific topic for the students to research and report their findings. It allows engagement, exploration, explanation, elaboration, and evaluation, which are key elements in teaching.