Week 7 Reflection

This section of the textbook addresses new directions and emerging technologies for IDT. For your final post, reflect on how you might apply each of the following in your current or future position in the IDT field:

Distributed or E-Learning Environments

I believe my district is currently serving students in the area of e-learning. Elementary students attend 30 minutes in the computer lab daily to work on computer programs for reading and math (iStation and SuccessMaker). I believe my district should utilize more e-learning for teachers. Instead of having to take the time to attend workshops after school and on the weekends they should offer the workshops online.  This would help teacher who have children that they must find childcare for during these workshops.  I believe teachers would actually attend more workshops if they were available online.   

Reusable Design or Learning Objects

My favorite graphic organizers to use in the classroom are Thinking Maps.  In kindergarten I mostly use Bubble Maps (to describe using adjectives), Double Bubble Maps (to compare/contrast), Circle Maps (to define in context) and Tree Maps (to classify and group). While kindergartners are emerging readers these maps are easy for them to follow and they understand the information listed on them. 

     

     CIRCLE MAP

  

Rich Media

I believe my classroom is very rich in media use.  Our reading and math adoptions have online websites that enrich the programs. We can play quizzes, watch videos, listen to songs to support what we are currently learning.  For daily brain breaks we watch and dance to “Just Dance Kids” videos on YouTube.  I also make interactive Power Points to introduce lessons in Math and Science. The Power Points are also useful for informal assessments. Two examples of Power Points I created this week were “Introducing Living vs. Non-Living” and “Reviewing Sorting Rules.” Students are involved with all our computer media through the use of Easiteach Class Pads. This pad moves around the room and students are able to manipulate the computer through the use of it. This helps get everyone involved and makes lessons more student centered instead of teacher centered. 

Emerging Instructional Technologies/Games

While I do not have much experience in Gaming and Virtual Worlds I know this appeals to many people. In the future I can see Virtual Classrooms being created.  While I would hate to see the actual classrooms disappear because I believe the face-to-face interaction between students/teachers and students/students are extremely important, I think this would be an interesting addition to the actual classrooms.  A possible idea would be to use it after-school for tutoring or homework.