Distance Education
After exploring the virtual school web sites, I discovered some of the pros of having virtual schools. One pro is that there are no set class times, so students can have the freedom to choose when to complete their assignments and readings; basically work at one’s own pace. Another pro is that there seems to be more and more reputable and accredited programs, so the availability is a pro for distance education options. Distance education programs also allow students to be in their own learning environment that works the best for them individually. Sometimes school settings are very difficult learning environments for students, so this self-directed learning environment could be an important pro. With distance education programs, students do not have to leave their home, which is a pro when considering bad weather conditions and other problems that get in the way of traveling. Lastly, students can complete their online course as long as they have a computer, which is a pro because this means that the course(s) can be taken almost anywhere, which is very flexible.
Along with the pros to distance learning, there are also cons. Some of the cons that I found are that, for one, there are no teachers available face-to-face. If a student’s learning style requires personalized attention from teachers, this could be very difficult for them. Another con is that distance education requires new skills and technology, so if somebody is not computer-savy and/or unwilling to learn new technology, then this may not be the best option for their education. With distance education, there is no social interaction except through emails and chats, which can be considered a con for many people. Distance education can also be troubling for those who are procrastinators, or those who need an extra push to get their work done, because this form of education is very self-directed. Lastly, there is not much support available for students and they are expected to find their own resources, which can be very daunting to some.
In order to determine the readiness of students to participate in distance delivery, students would need to be computer-savy or willing to learn. They would need to have a good understanding of technology and computers and would need to be aware of the pros and cons. In order for students to be read to participate in this form of education, they would need to be self-directed and proactive. I think that distance education would be very tough for young students in elementary school, because social interaction is very important at this age, as well as guided instruction from teachers.
In order to be able to teach in a virtual school, I would need to have some teaching experience. I would also need to have experience with computers and technology. I think that to teach in a virtual school, I would need to have a lot of time, because I think that this career could be time consuming and frustrating at times, considering technological difficulties that can arise. If I were to teach in a virtual school, I would want to have a lot of knowledge about computers, because if not, I think I would feel incredibly frustrated when something goes wrong with my computer.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Emerging Technologies Assignment
Emerging Technologies Project
T&L 445:03
Kristen Eirich
November 14, 2007
Gruenewald
Eirich 1
Emerging Technologies Project
The first emerging technology that I am reviewing is the use of mobile phone cameras in the classroom. These mobile phones are basically cellular phones with the camera capability. With mobile phone cameras, students can transmit the pictures and take them anywhere. These camera phones can allow students to collect evidence and scientific data, visually express ideas, identify things and people, and a multitude of other things that pertain to learning.
This technology could impact my teaching and preparation in both negative and positive ways. Camera phones could positively affect my teaching because they could be a way to effectively teach material, while allowing the students to have some fun and use their creativity while still learning. On the negative side, camera phones could create a lot of distraction in the classroom. These camera phones could be used by the students in very inappropriate ways, and could easily distract students from the material being taught. In order for students to get the full benefits of using camera phones in class, there would need to be very strict rules when using them, and very severe consequences if they are misused. Camera phones could impact how my future students learn by allowing a more visual take on learning. They could also impact their interaction and engagement in the classroom by comparing pictures, sharing different ideas represented through pictures, and basically approach learning through pictorial evidence that can be fun and interesting for students.
The next technology that I am reviewing is instant messaging in the classroom. Instant messaging is a tool that supports informal communication, and has been sought as a no-no in schools, because it has been thought of as distracting and useless. Like mobile phones cameras, instant messaging could be misused and abused by students. However, there are many ways that instant messaging can be very beneficial to teachers and students alike.
First, instant messaging can be very beneficial to hearing impaired students. This group of students benefit from instant messaging because it allows them to communicate in real time and use instant messaging as a tool to facilitate communication with their teachers without the help from a interpreter. This can lead to more engagement and interaction in the classroom. Instant messaging can also impact my teaching and preparation by creating easier ways to assess hearing impaired students and where they are in their learning development. Students with disabilities can be challenging for teachers because it can be hard to assess their learning. For students without disabilities, instant messaging could be useful for online discussions about topics pertaining to the classroom, and could also allow students to get automated feedback from assignments By using instant messaging in the classroom, teachers and students could have an easier time communicating and learning.
The last technology that I would like to review is the FLY pentop. The FLY pentop is a computer device the size and shape of a pen. The new "pentop computer" works with a special brand of electronic paper that lets students interact with their own drawings. Using the magic-marker sized device, students can write a word in English, then hear the word translated via a special voice synthesizer to Spanish; draw a piano keyboard, then listen to the notes played back to them by tapping the keys with the pen; or make a calculator that performs mathematical operations by touching the pen to a combination of handwritten digits.
The FLY pentop could benefit my teaching and my preparation because this device could help me reach out to the students who struggle through school, because they lack motivation. Al Johnson, a technology director for the Jefferson Parish Schools states, “It has so many applications, and we're providing so much--like calculators and workbooks--that we can condense it into one device..Whenever you can make a child feel like something is special just for them, they want to use it. It's a valuable tool (Murray, 2005).” With that, I think that the pentop could benefit students because it has organization features, as well as learning games available. I think that this device is so new and advanced that it would excite students and create a new eagerness to learn and build organizational habits.
T&L 445:03
Kristen Eirich
November 14, 2007
Gruenewald
Eirich 1
Emerging Technologies Project
The first emerging technology that I am reviewing is the use of mobile phone cameras in the classroom. These mobile phones are basically cellular phones with the camera capability. With mobile phone cameras, students can transmit the pictures and take them anywhere. These camera phones can allow students to collect evidence and scientific data, visually express ideas, identify things and people, and a multitude of other things that pertain to learning.
This technology could impact my teaching and preparation in both negative and positive ways. Camera phones could positively affect my teaching because they could be a way to effectively teach material, while allowing the students to have some fun and use their creativity while still learning. On the negative side, camera phones could create a lot of distraction in the classroom. These camera phones could be used by the students in very inappropriate ways, and could easily distract students from the material being taught. In order for students to get the full benefits of using camera phones in class, there would need to be very strict rules when using them, and very severe consequences if they are misused. Camera phones could impact how my future students learn by allowing a more visual take on learning. They could also impact their interaction and engagement in the classroom by comparing pictures, sharing different ideas represented through pictures, and basically approach learning through pictorial evidence that can be fun and interesting for students.
The next technology that I am reviewing is instant messaging in the classroom. Instant messaging is a tool that supports informal communication, and has been sought as a no-no in schools, because it has been thought of as distracting and useless. Like mobile phones cameras, instant messaging could be misused and abused by students. However, there are many ways that instant messaging can be very beneficial to teachers and students alike.
First, instant messaging can be very beneficial to hearing impaired students. This group of students benefit from instant messaging because it allows them to communicate in real time and use instant messaging as a tool to facilitate communication with their teachers without the help from a interpreter. This can lead to more engagement and interaction in the classroom. Instant messaging can also impact my teaching and preparation by creating easier ways to assess hearing impaired students and where they are in their learning development. Students with disabilities can be challenging for teachers because it can be hard to assess their learning. For students without disabilities, instant messaging could be useful for online discussions about topics pertaining to the classroom, and could also allow students to get automated feedback from assignments By using instant messaging in the classroom, teachers and students could have an easier time communicating and learning.
The last technology that I would like to review is the FLY pentop. The FLY pentop is a computer device the size and shape of a pen. The new "pentop computer" works with a special brand of electronic paper that lets students interact with their own drawings. Using the magic-marker sized device, students can write a word in English, then hear the word translated via a special voice synthesizer to Spanish; draw a piano keyboard, then listen to the notes played back to them by tapping the keys with the pen; or make a calculator that performs mathematical operations by touching the pen to a combination of handwritten digits.
The FLY pentop could benefit my teaching and my preparation because this device could help me reach out to the students who struggle through school, because they lack motivation. Al Johnson, a technology director for the Jefferson Parish Schools states, “It has so many applications, and we're providing so much--like calculators and workbooks--that we can condense it into one device..Whenever you can make a child feel like something is special just for them, they want to use it. It's a valuable tool (Murray, 2005).” With that, I think that the pentop could benefit students because it has organization features, as well as learning games available. I think that this device is so new and advanced that it would excite students and create a new eagerness to learn and build organizational habits.
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