Blog #4- Integrating Technology in the Classroom

We have spent four weeks practicing how to integrate technology into the classroom. The importance of learning these skills is a given, but is the integration itself at all levels of education? How Young Is Too Young (the reading for week 4) addresses the issue of age limits—what do you think? Is there such a thing as being "too young" for technology? Does technology really interfere with young child socialization?


I believe that integrating technology at all levels of education is extremely important. As time goes by, technology improves and changes. Everywhere your go you use some type of technology. Kids should be exposed to the different types early so they can adapt to basic technologies before they change again. I do not think that there is an age too young to start with using the various types of technology. Children are going to have to learn sometime, why not right away? I am not saying every three year old should have a cell phone. 

Some may argue, however, that if kids start with technology early, they will not have very good socialization skills. I believe this can be true. To prevent this, yet still introduce technology at an early age, limit the time a child is aloud to use the devices. 

Blog #3- Comparing Blogs

Blogging is about writing to an audience. Do you feel like anyone is reading your blogs? For this week I would like you to read at least FOUR other blog entries by fellow classmates and comment on them. Then, I would like you to write in your own blog a few insights about what you read: For example, did it feel good to read what other pre-service teachers were writing? Was this medium helpful? How did you feel about posting the comments? Do you feel like this exchange gives you any insights into running blog exercises  with your own students?

Before this assignment, I had no blog comments so I did not feel that anyone was reading them. Now I have a few comments and seem to keep getting more occasionally. After reading my classmates blogs I started to notice some trends. Almost everyone is pretty new at blogging. Not many people, including myself have blogged before. I feel less of an outsider now so this exercise was pretty helpful. At first I while I was making my comments I was not too sure what to say. After I figured that out, it was cool to be able to use a completely different mean of communication. I  now do feel, when I have a classroom, blogging would be a great way for my students to keep in touch and reflect on weekly or even daily activities. There are unlimited  ways in which blogs could be used.

Blog #2-Constructivism

We just delved into Constructivism—for some of you, this seems intuitive. Still, my guess is that for most of you this was not typical of your K-12 (or even some higher-ed) experiences. What does Constructivism, as you understand it so far, mean to you? Reflect on your past as a student and how you hope to apply this concept (or not apply it, as the case may be) in your career as a teacher. 

Constructivists vs. Objectivist 

Personally, I have not had a class that used the Constructivism method. Mainly all the classes I have had an Objective point of view, that just entailed lectures, note taking, class discussions, etc. As I understand so far, Constructivism is hands-on learning. In class we watched two different videos. Both were two lessons being taught in the classroom. The first was demonstrating Objectivism. While viewing this video, it was hard to get into it and did not seem interesting to say the least. A man was just talking to a class about Egypt. Yet, he did have some good examples, the lecture was still nothing like the next video that look at the Objectivist way of teaching. In this video the guest teacher only instructed for maybe five minutes explaining what the kids would be doing. Then the kids would go on and work in groups to achieve the task. The Teacher gave them a time limit and the kids got to work. When the time was up the teacher then held a class discussion about their thoughts and feelings about the project.

 To me, Constructivism seems like the way to go. Hands on learning requires the children to participate and interact with other students. When it does come to teaching, though, I hope to have the Constructivist point of view. I am going to strive for hands on learning and, Constructivistic or not,  for my students to succeed in the best way possible. Being a Special Education Teacher, I feel Constructivism is the best possible method to me, though, because all-in-all it is personal, hands-on, helpful, and interesting. I believe, if possible, all teachers should try it out!

Blog #1: Thoughts on and Experience with Blogging

I am sure you have all read a blog, but have you written one before? What is your experience with and what are your impressions of blogging? How does it feel to be the person behind the blog?

This is my first official blogging experience. I suppose I have come across various blogs on the internet but I have never actually followed someones blog religiously or had a blog of my own. From the blogs I have had the pleasure of coming across, I have seen some updated daily, weekly, monthly, or just whenever the person had the time. I am excited to have a blog of my own, to write about things I think of and share my thoughts with the world. Although, I have used Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, etc., blogging feels different.Viewers now have to search for my blog in order to see what I need to say instead of just scanning my thoughts as they appear on their news feed. Blogging is still a social network, but it allows for the writer to be creative and personal, do whatever they want with their own words and design a layout that reflects their personality.