So, this is my first time ever setting up a Blog, and I was a little hesitant at first but realized quickly that it was quite simple. I would say my background using technology is limited to the basics. High School is when I first became familiar with the Internet and began using it a s a resource to collect information. As I went on to college, using technology became a little more important, in that communicating with professors and students was crucial, especially for group projects, where getting together is almost always impossible. Today, using Smartphones and social networking keeps the information at your fingertips at all times, the latest news, emails and the web. Although I am cautious about social networking sites like Facebook, I do find other sites such as LinkedIn to be very useful in networking for my job as well as connecting with previous classmates and professors. In today's economy it is always useful to have a strong network which you can rely on to generate more business. I'm hoping that this class can help me broaden my knowledge of technology and open my mind up to new ways of using this tool.
One great way of using technology as a tool was demonstrated in the article "Four Takes on Technology". There were some interesting ways that technology was used to not only better the students but the teachers as well. In Students Teaching Teachers by Hsueh-Hua Chuang and Ann Thompson, they describe how the students take the GenYES course to learn valuable skills which they turn around and mentor their teachers. The students create a video embedded power point project, which allows the students to gather the research from various places, analyze it and produce a new useful tool to teach others. This is a great tool and one that I relate to very well. Being an artist, it is very useful to quickly watch a YouTube video which demonstrates a technique in minutes and can be applied immediately. As a visual person, it is much easier for me to see the step by step process of a technique instead of reading about it.
I have made it through my first blog and am excited to learn new ways to improve my technology background. I'm hoping this class can not only improve my skills but help me understand how to use technology as a tool for more future students.
-Emilia
Emilia, I also have created my first blog ever for this class. I did not know how simple it was to create. I am pretty sure this class will open my eyes to new ways to use technology to my advantage in the classroom as well. I may even open a personal blog for myself after seeing how easy it is. I may be a little more well versed in technology but not much! Welcome to Cohort 3 hope its the best Cohort of all!
ReplyDeleteEmilia, nice first blog! It is funny how this was a first blog for a quite few people. I guess if we became teachers tomorrow, we would be seeking the help of our students - similiar to the GenYES course. I think my mother (also a teacher) would benefit from a program like that! I think with your concentration in art you will benefit greatly from this course since you rely so much on visual learning. I am just starting to do a pointillism painting...we will see how it goes!
ReplyDeleteWhen people ask what I do, I always say that i am in the business of "learning". As a teacher, the first stance you must take is that of a learner. Not only should you seek to learn everyday, but also understand what it is to be a learner for your students' sake. With technology, i am not really teaching you but assisting you in learning how to use technology in your specific contexts based on your individual comfort and concern levels.
ReplyDeleteEmilia, I think it is really great that you pointed to YouTube as a good stop for quick, visual tutorials. In recent years, I have found myself turning to YouTube and other online video sources to learn skills I wouldn't have otherwise learned, especially when I'm trying to repair and maintain my bicycle! I think online video tutorials have potential to be a great resource that encourage more independent or "DIY" learning styles, and would be curious to see how it may be integrated as a more legitimate learning tool in school curricula.
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