Musical Stairs!!

Designing New Learning Environments to Support 21st Century Skills

This is an article that I truly enjoyed. The only thing I didn't like was the length of the article. I am more of an interactive learner. Maybe the style learner I am made me like this article even more because it pushes the idea of using technology in the classroom as an interactive source. I believe that the author is right on point when he expresses the idea that it is not technology in the classroom but rather using 21st century skills in the classroom. When our parents were younger it was just "technology" but now technology has become our everyday life. We are surrounded by it. We use technology everyday, so why not use it in the classroom? Why not enhance the skills we already have and use those skills to develop further academically?

The Tech Commandments

I wasn't a huge fan of this reading. I actually thought it was kind of boring. To me, at least, it pointed out over and over facts that I already knew. Maybe this is because I grew up with computers and am constantly communicating through various technologies. The article might be more beneficial for an older generation to read because I feel as though it relates to them better than my own generation. My age group, for the most part, is open to different technologies and individuals in my class have been exposed to various uses of technologies in the classroom. Fellow students of mine have seen the benefits of technology in the classroom and I am sure that they have observed through their own personal use of technology the benefits it can bring to the classroom. But of course, just like with everything in life, training and practice is a must so that we may become fluent in these new forms of communication.

Blame Our Young?

I really liked this article because I could relate easily to it. Do I enjoy school? Not really. This article makes a lot of sense. If you like something, your going to enjoy learning about it and taking part in acitvities that revolve around that thing that you are interested in more than something that you don't enjoy. For example, I have taken 8 years of Spanish classes. Can I speak Spanish? Nope. I can basically say: Hello, how are you? and thats about it. Meanwhile, I have taken 1 semester of American Sign Language and I am almost fluent. I was so interested in learning ASL that I was constantly practicing and looking up new words to learn so that I can say more complex sentences. I had and still do have a passion for ASL and I am constantly practicing it, using it, and teaching it to others. So if we could find a way to channel our students passions into the classroom, then they will enjoy learning more and they will WANT to take part in the learning process.

Wiki Wisdom: Lessons for Educators

To be honest, when I heard that I had to make an wikispace and blog for class I wasn't very happy about it. I wasn't happy not because I am against technology but rather because I don't like joining multiple websites and putting my name all over the internet but I didn't really have a choice but to join these sites. However, despite my resistance, I do realize the benefits of having these sites and its only my first day using them. The other day I actually mentioned to my dad that he should have a wikispace for his business. He is constantly having to hand create templates and such for his employees as well as reexplaining things. I suggested to him that perhaps create a template and upload it to your wikispace and make it available to his employees as well as post "how tos" for his employees to access. I think  most people are a bit apprehensive to these new sites until they realize their benefits and see how much easier they can make their lives.