Rgrap1's Blog

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rgrap1 — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 19:33:52 +0000

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Blog 2

rgrap1 — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 19:32:24 +0000

Your views on classroom technology use. Drawing on your own experience learning with technology, briefly discuss a classroom situation in which technology was used to help you, the student, learn. Describe the classroom situation, the subject being taught, the other students, the technology/ies (for example, computer/computer software, weblogs, SmartBoard, etc.) being used, and how the technology was integrated within the instruction. Tell us whether you felt this was a good way to integrate technology into the classroom to improve your learning, and your rationale for why you felt it was worthwhile or not. Things to consider: • Classroom description – students, subject, computers, grade level • Technology – description of capabilities as they apply to classroom use • Classroom integration – what the students/teacher did with the technology, what were the benefits of using this technology in the classroom.

My experience with classroom technology was mostly with powerpoint presentations throughout high school. However, I do remember one project in my drama class where we had to make a “movie.” This was a Drama 3 class, and I was a junior. This was an elective and about 15 people were in the class, all juniors and seniors.

Many students did “A day in the life” which chronicled a day in the life of the student. This seemed to be the easiest project which is why students chose it. Some students who owned apple computers were able to go into a movie editing program and edit their movies and use effects. I grew up in a house where new technology was bought only when it was on sale, therefore it was no longer new technology. We had one desktop computer at my house, a gateway, which was slow without many programs besides computer games. I was not used to using any computer besides a desktop. This was a problem for me to record my project because although I had a video camera, I could not edit it.

The purpose of the assignment was for students to develop an understanding of the need for editing in movies and videos. This purpose was lost to me however, because I ended up stopping and starting the tape between takes. The ‘editing’ that was done consisted of a friend of mine fading in and out between scenes. I also was not allowed to use the video camera because apparently at the age of 16 I was not yet old or mature enough to handle such a complicated piece of machinery. My mom ended up recording me in the morning when I woke up, parts of a volleyball game that I played in and sprained my ankle, and wrapping my ankle and going to bed.

I do not think that this project was worthwhile. We did not have any assistance with the technology we were supposed to use, and also when we watched the videos in class, it was basically for pure entertainment for the other students. The teacher graded based on whether or not we did the assignment and whether we used effects. I got a good grade on this assignment, but I did not learn anything or advance my technological knowledge.

I believe that technology should be taught at a young age in order to allow kids to be more able to use technology as adults. Otherwise, as adults, new technology is scary- like blogging.

rgrap1 — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 19:56:21 +0000

My Technobiography
Computers: I remember as a child having toys that were interactive, such as a “mini-computer” type thing that asked me to answer questions by pushing one color of button or another. I thought that it might be magic, not understanding how pushing a button would create a reinforcing “great job” reaction, or a “try again.” My first computer was a Packard-Bell. I remember the Encarta, Kid Pix, and Dino Park Tycoon programs that I used to love to play. I was never allowed on the computer for more than an hour at a time, especially when the computer was hooked up to the internet. The internet was another magical thing. I remember being at school and wondering where all the information came from, and who had written it and put it there. I remember wondering how the computer could hold so much information. With dial-up, the internet was slow, but still very interesting. I was the oldest child in the family so I had to teach my little sister how to use the internet, much to my dismay. This was also the first experience that I had trying to teach my parents how to do something. I had always learned from my parents and now, at the age of ten, I was a wiz at the computer compared to my parents who have always said, “I remember when computers used to take up entire rooms, and all they could do was addition.” I believe my mother to this day still thinks the keyboard is a typewriter and we have had to replace the keyboard many times. As I got older, my interest in technology grew, as did my need to communicate with my peers. AOL instant messaging became popular. I was in 8th grade when I got on AIM, and my parents were even more upset because more time on the internet meant more missed calls. I was also learning to surf the web at this time. A few of my friends no longer had dial-up, but this crazy thing called “DSL” or high-speed internet. Suddenly, pictures and information would load right before my eyes. I convinced my parents to switch to Comcast sometime during my freshman year. I could use the internet anytime I wanted and I loved being on AIM all the time. It wasn’t until freshman year of college that I began to understand the internet as I do now.
Cell Phones: During this time, my family also got a cell phone. We dubbed it “the family cell phone” and it was the old, blue, brick-sized nokia. I can still hear the ringtone. We stuck with a family phone until I started to drive. My family decided I should have my own phone and so then we had two. I was excited that I had a phone and my sister didn’t because I’m just that mean kind of person. She did end up getting a phone way before I ever did, and she did usually have the family phone, but that’s in the past I guess. Now we all have cell phones, even though my mom still can’t use it very well.
Today: Today I like to think that I’m a normal technology user. I recently got a LG ENV Touch cell phone, which is the most high tech phone I’ve ever owned. It is touch screen, as a qwerty keyboard, and has internet capabilities (even though I’m not paying for that feature). Online, I have a facebook, am trying to get rid of a myspace, and now have created a blog which I am writing in now (actually, I’m typing in word because I need spell check). I really don’t like blogging so far, but I’m hoping to get better at it so I won’t hate this class because I was looking forward to becoming more tech-savvy. I also do not use twitter. I don’t care about the new very much, or what celebrities are doing with their lives. Facebook has a status update feature and that is just fine for me. I leave tweeting to the birds. I also don’t like myspace anymore. I actually never really liked it, so I can’t say anymore, but I signed up to see my friends’ pictures, and now it is just too complicated and no one uses it now anyway. I have and use a digital camera, and use and borrow my boyfriend’s technology that he owns, such as his blackberry, radar detector and gps. I can use a computer fairly well, mostly for the programs I have to use for classes, such as word or powerpoint. The things I don’t know, I have help from my tech-savvy boyfriend. Today I don’t think I could survive without my phone, computer, and google.

Digital picture, I am tech savvy

My Technobiography

rgrap1 — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 19:51:40 +0000