Webquests

I find Webquests both fun and useful for effective learning in the classroom.  It allows students to take responsibility for their own learning, without spending time finding key information.  More importantly, Webquests allow for support of the students’ analysis, synthesis, and evaluation.  At the same time, teachers will have time to observe students interactions and own knowledge.  This can lead to appropriate scaffolding, tiering, and UDL lessons throughout the year.  I think Webquests will be especially beneficial for my inclusive students.  I can use my students’ interests to engage them in curriculum and use creativity to create Webquests for my learning units!

PowerPoint

http://learning.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/03/is-powerpoint-in-the-classroom-evil/?_r=0

I found this New York Times article interesting as it starts off saying kids would be better off not going to school, rather than making PowerPoints for projects.  One brief explanation given by the author is that it teaches kids to write about 80 words in 5 slides rather than composing a paper.  As a result, one Assistant Professor commented that PowerPoint is one tool teachers implement to communicate information, and that if it was the one and only means for communication, it would be a problem.  More specifically, she states that if teachers use PowerPoint as well as speeches, eulogies, visual tools, journals, writing, debates, etc, then PowerPoint is not "evil" as the author suggests.  I am glad this professor was chosen to speak about the subject.  As with most things in life, too much of one thing is never good.  Using a broad range technology is another example of best practice in the classroom.

Effects of Technology on Classrooms and Students

http://www2.ed.gov/pubs/EdReformStudies/EdTech/effectsstudents.html

The article, Effects of Technology on Classrooms and Students describes the benefits of students being active learners.  Using technology within the classroom allows students to take an active role while making decisions on how to find, obtain, work, and present information.  While the teacher still sets guidelines for assignments and projects, the classroom becomes more student centered.  Effects of Technology on Classrooms and Students describes students becoming more motive and developing higher self-esteem.  Students become challenged to demonstrate what they have learned rather than pressure to perform well on exams.    Teachers also claim that students are able to complete more complex tasks and collaborate with the support of technology in the classroom.  The single downfall this article mentions is that students may have a tendency to spend too much time changing graphics, fonts, colors, design, etc.  However, I feel if students want to stress specific points, these technicalities may be necessary. 

Web 2.0 and Social Media

I think the web (2.0) is critical to education in the classroom.  The web allows for new experiences that can be more interesting for children in the tech-savvy world they are growing up in. Web 2.0 can provide learning tools, games, videos, and more to support children’s learning.  On the other hand, I am rather inexperienced with how social media can also be used for learning.  There are plenty of stigmas existing about cyber bullying and negative aspects of social media when it comes to peer relationships.  While I believe Web 2.0 can be used to learn new information, it is possible that social media can be used as discussion forums for school-related topics to generate a deeper level of thinking.  I believe students would greatly benefit when Web 2.0 and social media are used together.  However, I think students should also be exposed to learning through kinesthetic and tactile activities as well as current technology.