Reflections from Week 2

This week was very educational for me. I learned to use Inspiration 9 software to create a digital concept map about Educational Technology. It was very easy to use and I was able to very easily insert pictures that I took with my own camera to help illustrate my points-and yes, I did have permission from the parents to use their childs photo.

I read many articles trying to decide which would be the best for a journal article presentation about educational technology and decided to use an article about e-reading. I wanted an e-reader for Christmas so I researched many different types before I chose the model that I ordered. I also bought my daughter one for Christmas-she is in sixth grade. I was not sure if her teachers would allow her to carry it around and read from it during free time but it has not been an issue. It was interesting to read research behind effectively using them in the classroom. Many schools now use laptops instead of textbooks for the older kids but I can see where an e-reading device instead of a textbook for things like literature would be a big advantage because you are able to highlight and add notes right on the page so it becomes more interactive than a textbook that you cannot mark on.

Through all of this research I was able to come up with my own definition of what Educational Technology is. I would define Educational Technology as the following: The effective integration of technology that enhances and teaching and learning by supporting but not replacing the teacher at all grade levels and in all subject areas. I use technology in my classroom each and every day but there are still some teachers that have not warmed up to the use of technology.

It was also interesting reading about Digital Natives and Digital Immigrants. My students are definitely Digital Natives. It is hard to find a child now that does not have a computer or some sort of gaming device in their house. I started thinking about my own house. We have a computer, a laptop, two cell phones, two e-readers, two nintendo ds's, a Flip camcorder, a wii, a v-smile, a v-touch gaming system, a leapster, and two digital cameras. I may be a Digital Immigrant but I think I have adapted fairly well!