Standard

National Educational Technology Standards (NETS•T)

     Standard 1

1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity

Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments. Teachers:
a. promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness
b. engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources
c. promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students’ conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes
d. model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environments

Technology has become cheaper making it more accessible to students and classrooms.  Students need to know how to use and take advantage of it in their daily lives.  Also, it can be used to enhance lessons and learning.   However, technology is not only a tool for students, it also should be used by teachers to communicate and better develop their craft.  The standard I have choses involves learning, creativity, and innovation both face to face and virtually.  There are many connections to a social studies classroom and I cannot wait to explore them. 

Teddy Bears go Blogging

                This is a great project and a wonderful use of technology.  In its basic form, it is a pen pal assignment.  However, with the use of technology it becomes a lot more.   The capability to allow the students to blog from home and others to see and post their own messages has the potential to open students’ minds.  In addition, having the ability to receive an e-mail copy and have the option to publish or reject the comment keep the project and the students safe.

                This article applies to all classroom and grade levels.  It shows that taking a simple project and adding technology with a little effort can enhance the learning experience.   As the article said, the blog can be used for discussions, uploading pictures and voice recordings.  The options you have with this are endless and it extends the learning outside the classroom to the home. 

                However, one concern would be the availability of technology to each student.  Even though public libraries have these tools available, low income neighborhoods and students with difficult family settings are at a disadvantage.  Also, the teacher needs the knowledge to fix and troubleshoot any problems that arise, or the time is spent fixing the technology and not on reading, writing, and exploring new and different cultures.

Surfing the Blog World

                History Tech is a blog created by Glenn Wiebe, a curriculum specialist for an educational service center in Hutchinson, Kansas.  It is filled with useful information, ideas, links, and tips for a social studies classroom.  The information is current because the blog is updated weekly and has a link to older posts and also focuses on incorporating technology in the classroom.

                The blog is set up into different sections and each section has a different topic.  The topics change each week and seem to be random.  Some interesting topics this week include using digital games in the classroom and include a link to Games for Change, where these games can be found.  This is a great idea and shows how a teacher can use digital games as an educational tool with a positive impact. My favorite is the icivics collection.  Also, there are suggested lessons and questions throughout the blog that could be used in the classroom.

                My favorite part of the blog is the tip of the week.  This section gives the teacher a tip on how to use technology and incorporate it in a social studies class.  Topics include interactive student notebooks and Google searches.

                As a whole, the blog has many useful and thought provoking lessons.  I really liked the tip of the week and how each suggestion had directions and pictures.   It was easy to read and had helpful links to many other sites.