https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/charlene9 en-us Podomatic RSS Generator Wed, 20 Apr 2022 08:25:27 +0000 Copyright 2022 Charlene Halbach First Podcast Episodic false no https://charlene9.podomatic.com/images/default/E-3000.png https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/charlene9 Charlene Halbach EDUC 6665: Technology, Leadership, and a Vision for the Future, Reflective Essay 1 Information Literacy There are many unknowns in our world today, especially what the job market will be like for children presently in school. Dr. Thornburg notes that 80% of the new jobs in the next 20 years haven’t even been identified yet in his video Preparing Studnets for a Changing World. Utilizing the internet and investigating innovating companies allows students to get glimps of what is in the work world today. In the past I have taught a Writing Intensive class to juniors and seniors in high school. During one unit, students chose a community business that they were interested in and set up a visit with the business. During the visit, the students asked questions regarding how writing and language arts skills were used in the work place. The students had fun and received new perspectives on different jobs in the work place. The community businesses helped to show a learning community as they took time to show students their companies and answered student questions about them and how writing and communicating skills were used. As I reflect on my Writing Intensive class, I would have students do more literacy research on the businesses before requesting a visit. Many businesses today have their own internet site that provides company information. I would also have students think of possible suggestions they could make to improve company web sites. After the business visits, I would like to have students share and reflect what they learned. I didn’t do too much of that with them in the past. I would like to ask students what they would do differently or in addition to if they owned the business. Students could also see how and what technology tools are used in businesses today. In the video Preparing Studnets for a Changing World, I agree with Dr. Thornburg’s theory of “Flow.” As teachers, we need to find that level of instruction in which students are not bored because they find the material too easy, nor have anxiety because the material is too hard. The flow area goes back and forth between comfort and challenge to keep students in the ‘flow’ that allows them to keep moving forward. They lose track of time as they work with their new material and skill. Finding this flow would not be as difficult if every child learned the same way. Unfortunately, that is not true. The flow for one student may be completely different for another. That is why it is important to have differientated lessons and choices for students to make regarding what they will be doing. Technology provides more choices and tools for teachers to use in finding every students’ flow zone. Reflective Practice: Since I am not teaching full-time, I have had more time to reflect on my teaching and ways it can be modified to support more student learning. The “paper-trained” mindset is one area that is difficult for me yet. This concept was discussed in week two: Emerging Technologies: New Tools for New Ways of Learning. The concept is to move away from copying everything and having students print off all written assignments. Instead, they could email them or post blogs on the classroom web site. The blogs allow fellow students to read the writings and provide their own comments. Other web sites like fanfaction.net, the Journal Zone, and Groove.net provide peer-to-peer applications for students to share and comment on each others’ work. Reading the writings of other students may also generate new ideas for students, or help them get going with their first draft. As I reflect on my past lessons, I make notes for future changes. Teamwork/Collegiality: I also file new ideas from both students and fellow teachers. While substituting, I have been able to survey a variety of grade levels on their use of technology inside and outside of school. The surveys helped me see how much more students are usin(continued)