Prompt #8: When using technology with your students, what are your challenges? Strengths? What could be done to increase your usage of technology in the classroom?
I believe that my students need more exposure to technology in the classroom. Many of them have cellular devices that allow them to play music, browse the Internet, and use applications. On the other hand, some of my students have no access to a computer or Internet at home (and our public library is not open on the weekends). For some of my students, their only access is during school intervention. I've seen some incredible hacking on some computer settings and students bypassing security measures on our sever. Of course I do address the illegality of their actions, but it is fascinating how innovative they can be when given constraints and curiosity. I'd love to give them more time to explore and "create their own learning objectives" but most of the time I am challenged by the varying desires of each student. Some prefer to spend time dawdling on Youtube, watching video after video of the same rap artist or amateur stunt gone wrong. Others are exploring articles on Wikipedia that pique their interests or playing math games online. At the same time, I still feel like this experience is a learning opportunity for them, so I'm at a loss on how to construct a lesson surrounding it. I also feel like the vast potential of information offered by the Internet makes in-classroom teaching more challenging for me. I'm trying to connect concepts to their lives, which are so complicated and interwoven to many different ideas that keep expanding as they get exposed to more information around them. It's no wonder why they struggle to stay focused in class.
As far as the classroom goes, my technology is quite limited. I do use a document camera which is fixed at the front and allows me to keep myself oriented toward students without turning my back. I'd much prefer a tablet that I could use around the classroom (so I could keep moving). I would also use it to get student participation during class--literally bringing the whiteboard to the desk. I sometimes use Powerpoints or Prezis for lessons that are vocabulary intensive (or when I'm dressed up like a ninja for Halloween and remain silent the entire period). I also include Youtube videos when I am able to bridge a learning objective or concept to a clip and build some relevance to their understanding.
have students use their phones for your lessons. They can take videos of themselves explaining a problem, concept, etc. They can take pictures of things on campus or at home exemplifying a concept. This parallel lines. Have them find and take 5 pictures of parallel lines cut by a transversal. They will surprise you with what they create.
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