Interactivity #3

I found putting together this inventory with my group to be both rewarding and a challenge. I discovered that finding ten or more different technologies which differed from the rest of my group to be difficult because there are not that different many technologies to choose from. Most of them were interactive which somehow modeled how to perform some sort of task such as graphing, performing arithmetic, and modeling mathematical ideas using graphics. I wanted to avoid finding technologies which were too similar because I found the idea of this interactivity to be to find various different technologies which perform different tasks.

            Granted, my group mates and I ended up being successful at researching technologies which would benefit a mathematics classroom. I believe that the final inventory is complete and well organized because each technology has been placed under a category which well describes its basic idea and usage. Although this inventory is thorough and varied, I do not believe I will be using many of these technologies in my classroom because many of them do not appear to be efficient and I believe there are other more effective technologies in the list which make use of the less effective technologies and use them in a more well-organized and overall better way. For example, the software “Maple” takes the graphing technologies of the “line graph tool” and makes use of them in a more improved useful way. Now, for a less technologically savvy teacher, some of the simpler programs may be more effective because they will be more likely to understand how they work and how to use them effectively in the classroom; especially if they are a seasoned teacher.

In combination, the technologies listed can be effective tools and should be used in any classroom.

Security Breach

I have noticed that the growth technology is running rampant within out schools. Thinking back to when I was in high school, ranging from 7 to 3 years ago, there was a higher number of computers being used to facilitate learning. In my high school, and middle school for that matter, each student was provided a laptop to be used for the purposes of integrating technology in the classroom, providing us with another resource for doing research; especially for those students who may not have a computer to use at home, and making access to school resources a little bit easier. I loved the laptop provided to me, even though it was a Mac which I cannot say is my favorite type of laptop. I loved it so much that I, like many other students in the school, would try to do anything to bypass securities that were integrated into the system.

We were not allow to access any social networking websites, game websites, or any other website that would not be deemed "school appropriate" while under the school's wireless network. Although we were students who, for the most part, were fairly amateur with hacking and security bypassing skills, we found a way to crack the system within I believe to be the first month of receiving the laptop. Now there is of course a point to my narrative. Although integrating computer technology into students learning can be very beneficial, students will look for anyway to take advantage of the technology and make it more entertaining and distracting. Kudos to the school officials for their noble attempt at making the laptops "school friendly". They had the right idea, but they failed to take into account that teenagers of the 21st century are tech-savvy and are diligent at getting what they want.

Past, Present, and Future

In light of the most recent assignment we have completed, I felt this video was relevant because of its relations to the topic. We looked through a brief history of technology in education and I believe this beautifully made video allowed for us to understand more deeply the amount of development that has gone into technologies, especially in the ways they are associated with education. This cartoon shows us this sort of development in an entertaining way which gives the audience the impression that technology in schools can be useful and provides students with much needed interactivity. The video ends with "How are you going to shape the classroom of tomorrow?" which I believe tells us that everyone has the capabilities to make a difference in schooling as long as they are willing to put in the time and effort, as many have done before us.

Interactivity #2

        The change from teaching students mathematics individually to collaborative lecturing, using a chalkboard in front of an entire class, allows for more students to be taught resulting in a larger number of successful pupils.

 Picture cited from:  

       Graham, Lesley. Weblog Entry. Homemade Grits. Blogspot. 20 August 2009. Web.

                  12 February 2012.

http://homemadegrits.blogspot.com/2009/08/current-obsession-school-house-design.html