Blog Post #7

After watching Using iMovie and the Alabama Virtual Library in Kindergarten, I learned that more and more Kindergarten teachers are using technology within their class. It's unbelievable to hear that they are doing some of the same things we as college students are doing for EDM 310. The difference is they seem to enjoy it more ha ha. Elizabeth and Michelle were telling Dr. Strange how their students can use iMovie to make book trailers, and how they love making the project their own. Michelle also mentioned how the kindergartners learn so fast that sometimes the teachers has to refresh herself about the program. That's amazing! The teachers also mentioned how the students enjoy editing their projects even when they've submitted the project.

They also brought up Alabama Virtual Learning. Alabama Virtual Learning is free to anyone in the state of Alabama. You can get your AVL card at any public library or you can log on any library's campus. Elizabeth mentioned how AVL is a great way to get students to research, and that the students actually enjoyed researching things.

In We All Become Teachers, Michelle passionately talks about technology and project based learning. She says technology in the classrooms has changed learning. Now, it's teachers teaching students and students teaching teachers. Teachers are getting students to teach them things. Everybody is a learner. Michelle shared a story about one of the students actually teaching her how to do a project and how the student was very proud about that. She says students are eager to show what they know and their work. I also learned about an app called Padlet that Michelle highly recommends to be used in classrooms. 

This video discusses what Chicago Public School officials think about iPads in the Classroom. Most believe there are benefits to having iPads in the classroom. An education director believes that the iPad is an excuse to really look at teaching and learning. One teacher thinks the iPad is effective because it takes students on a virtual field trip. She also likes that it user friendly for the students. Another benefit mentioned is how the iPads are portable and how students can really manipulate things on the iPad. Lastly, teachers seem to believe that having iPads in the classroom keep the students much more engaged. So I learned that easy access, manipulation and creation are the benefits of having iPads in the classrooms according to these teachers.


Top 10 Reasons to Use Technology in Education

1) Students love using technology
This keeps students more engaged in classroom.

2) Engages 4 components of learning; active engagement, participation in groups, feedback and connection

3) Profession Development
This allows students to learn and use other skill sets.

4) Makes life easier for teachers

5) Improves test scores
Students can work at their own pace.

6) Helps students with low attention span
Students with ADD or ADHD can be helped with different methods and activities to keep them interested.

7) Learn from experts
Students as well as teachers can learn from the smartest and best teachers in the world.

8) Encourages homework
This is the flipped classroom approach.

9) Saves money
Teachers don't have to spend more money to get things for their classroom.

10) Removes obstacles