Teaching Technology in Schools

In the school that I currently work at, many web sites are blocked when accessing the internet. While I agree that what the students are doing should be monitored, I dont think this is the best way to go about it. I agree that facebook or myspace should not be allowed in school because everyone would be on it all day. However, a variety of other web sites like You Tube for example are blocked. As long as the settings are correct for the searches, there should be no issues allowing students to access these sites. You Tube provides video footage of anything you can probably think of, and is very helpful. After watching the video, I agree that we need to do more to keep up with the times and not be content with how class rooms are managed and instructed now. It is tough to keep up at times, as it seems that every year there is something new or potentially can be included in the class room. With good leadership within schools from the Principal down it would be a changing process for everyone. It takes the ability in the teachers though to want to change in order for progress to be successful. 

Interactive Teaching With Ipods

I read an article last week on how elementary and high school teachers in Perth Amboy were using the Ipod Touch in class rooms for educational activities. Apple has introduced a great tool for teachers and students a like. Itunes U was created as a free database where students and teachers could participate in different activities. They then can download the activities to the ipod and begin. Perth Amboy is only one of five school districts in New Jersey who have made the transition to the Ipod. For a student I could only imagine the different in wanting to learn when you throw the text book out the window and instead engage in a touch screen educational activitiy.
The article made now how the program has especially helped those students whose second language is English. Students can take short quizes on the ipod touch, recieving scores and feedback shortly after they are done. Teachers then submit the scores and they are put into a database where the students can track there progress throughout the year. One teacher discussed how it makes it much easier for them to create a database of work and projects they can save for each student on Itunes. While Itunes U is still developing they opportunites are endless with ipods in the classroom. Teachers now can incorporate different learning styles by including ipod use in their classes.