Blog #1: How Technology Changes the Method

In regards to technology, the world is increasingly changing. Our children's generation is experiencing technologies in a way that we would not have even imagined when we were growing up. This poses many reflections, ideas, and problems. One of the most important aspects of technology to consider is how to integrate it into the classroom. Gone were the days when teachers could just take away a problem-causing phone and eradicate the issue of technological distractions. It is all around us, and we need to incorporate it into our teaching methods if we wish to keep the interest of our students' ever-curious and active minds.

Three important factors to consider when attempting to progress learning are: (1) medium-approach, (2) method-way of instruction, and (3) message-what needs to be learned. Through the uses of technology, learning is accomplished (the method) in a variety of ways. Some of those ways include presentations, discussion, gaming, discovery, and much more. Of these, I found that using SmartBoards for more than teacher presentations is becoming a useful technique for interactive student engagement. For example, eMINTS is educating teachers on how to channel students' curiosity into the classroom, so children are motivated to dig for information and implicitly learn. In Hartville Elementary School, eMINTS demonstrated how to use something they called "graffiti walls". In this experience, students split up into groups to discuss a topic, and then came up with either a word or phrase, or drew a picture on the graffiti wall (SmartBoard) to represent what they brainstormed together. This causes the students to actually apply themselves to produce an answer to a question, instead of waiting for the teacher to present all the answers to them. Therefore, the learning will endure longer than the lesson. 

Another good use of technology in the classroom is with infographics. Rebecca Alber wrote a blog about how to ask students questions that will trigger effective thought processes and raise class involvement. She specifically stated five questions that will enhance thinking. Although her blog made sense, it was not until an infographic was created based on her questions that the idea was solidified in my mind. My lightbulb moment with the infographic made me ponder how useful the same idea would in a classroom full of younger students. If they can picture a graphic organizer, or infographic, while recalling the information taught audibly, there is more opportunity for retention of the material. 

In both of these examples, technology is used to change the method in which concepts are taught and remembered. The first example, of the school in Hartville, illustrates the power of discussion and cooperative learning. The second example displays a presentation technique. Each method provides new ways to keep students engaged in the learning process by including what they are enticed by most--technology. 

Resources:

• eMINTS Website--http://www.emints.org
• Graffiti Walls Video--https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5sfuo3ojr4
• 5 Powerful Questions--http://www.edutopia.org/blog/five-powerful-questions-teachers-ask-students-rebecca-alber
• 5 Simple Questions Infographic--http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2013/11/the-5-questions-teachers-should-ask.html