Content Standards

Honestly, I think that the idea of integrating technology standards with content standards is a good one. From what I have read, integrating CSO's with technology standards seems to make sense. I think it would be very helpful for the elementary teachers. There is already so much technology being used in the classroom by both the student and the teacher, that it would naturally make perfect sense to go ahead and integrate the two. Our world is quickly moving more and more towards technology...everything seems to be run by computers these days. The more you know about technology, the better off you are in life, whether it be at work or at home, etc. People will automatically have more job opportunities the more they know about and how to use technology. In my opinion, it is a very wise decision to set technology standards within the content standards for the students to meet.

Using Digital Cameras

I really enjoyed reading about the many ways to use a digital camera in the classroom. My first impression at the thought of digital cameras was that not much else can be done than what I have already heard or seen...which honestly isn't much. As I was reading through different articles about it, there was much that had never crossed my mind. I am not the type of person who is easily able to think outside the box, so even more obvious uses were new to me. It was kind of exciting. For example, it probably would have taken me forever to come up with the idea of purchasing a camera for the classroom that the students were able to use for different projects and assignments. With the way I tend to think, I was not surprised with making class newsletters with pictures of my students on them, and other things that involve teachers using the camera. So, the ideas that I read about allowing the students to get involved with the digital camera were probably the most interesting to me. Here are some ways that I personally think would be a great way to integrate the digital camera in the classroom:
1. Allowing the students to create a webpage with pictures from a field trip and their thoughts
2. Take pictures of students and activities for a class newsletter
3. Allow the students in the class to take turns taking pictures around the school to create a student newletter
4. For projects on a certain topic, allow students to take pictures of what they are studying for project
5. Transfer pictures onto computer to make a slideshow of the class and class activities
6. One article mentioned this for younger elementary students: If they class is studying shapes, for example, allow the students to take as many pictures of the shape that is assigned to them
7. Have a career day, and take pictures of all the students in their costumes of what they want to be when they grow up; The photos can be used for a number of different things
8. Photograph community landmarks and have the students create a brochure about your community
9. Creat a seating chart with pictures of each students for a substitute
10. Take pictures of plants or animals in your community and use them to create a field guide of local wildlife

The Learner-Active, Technology-Infused Classroom

The learner-active, technology-infused classroom was very interesting. I liked the ideas a lot. It seems as though these types of learning environments would be very efficient. The articles on this type of classroom were intriguing and new to me. It's true that using the computer is not as difficult as it used to be. To me, it appeared that it was more of a hassel to try to incorporate technology into the classroom; now, I see technology and all the ways it can be used as a very helpful tool to both teachers and students. I like the point that was addressed in the second article we read about parents being viewed as partners in the learning process. It seems like more and more, especially in our age, parents are being taken out of the education process, when really, parents are the most important part of it. In Foundations of Education, I have been learning a lot about the philosophy of Christian education, and it's just nice to see that parents are being recognized as a part of the education process. (That was for free) :) Anyways, the mini-lessons to small groups was one of the most interesting things to me. I think a lot of times, I get stuck in the rut of traditional education so much, that I fail to realize that in today's day and age, there could possibly be more affective ways to teach a class. I really enjoyed reading about the various options to not only include technology in a teaching style, but really using it as a tool to better teach affectively.