Chapter 4 Review

This chapter discussed all the many different kinds of technology that is available to schools, although some of it comes at high cost to run it and run it to the best of its ability.  There are very few 'cool schools' like the ones the book discussed in the opening of this chapter.  There are many reasons that it is hard for schools to support the overhead for such advanced technology.  The software may be open and 'free' to use, but the cost to have the internet running to the best of its ability, many computers available for use, leadership to run the programs and problem solve can all contribute to the reason lots of schools do not have high tech programs available besides computers and internet.  

There are many ways for students to use technology that is available to them that I think really is a neat way for them to do projects, journaling, and other things. The internet and technology really helps with digital broadcasting and video.  With web cams and even digital cameras students can now record themselves and place what they record on their own blog, a classroom blog, or a schools broadcasting.  The books says that schools all over are putting in journalism or broadcast courses to experience students in ow to gather information, compile it, and produce it.  Page 89 in the book says, "Today, the process can be egalitarian; ever class can create a news show using podcasts or video that can be saved and heard by other students, parents, and the community at the listeners' convenience.  When I was in middle school we had a technology class that put on the morning news, but not everyone could be involved in the news cast you had to be selected by the teacher.  It was a great experience but was not nearly as available as it is today.  Today, teachers have the tools in their classrooms to upload videos to a blog or audio to a podcast and this allows students to all have access to technology tools.  By allowing students to put together a broadcast or something similar to that and have it published on line is important for students so that they can see their work and show it to other people. 

This chapter in the text provides many useful websites that you can have your students go to and learn about a certain topic, explore themselves and find a topic to blog or journal about, or to be able to learn interactively instead of just through lectures and power points.  By allowing your students access to some of these websites they can communicate with people from other countries or states and gain a better perspective of how life is from other people than just reading about it in a text.  Many students enjoy talking and getting to know new people and with the internet they are allowed to do this with people all over the world.  As a teacher, it is important that I try to connect with teachers in other places so that we can match up the kids in our classrooms and monitor their exchange so that students are not just going out and searching for people in their own.  

This chapter exposes many important resources to teachers that can be very beneficial throughout the course of the school year.  It opened my eyes to the fact that there are plenty of supplemental websites out there that relate to curriculum that I can use to help interact and involve my students with.  The chapter starts by saying on page 78, "This chapter presents concrete examples of ways the new tools are being used or could be used in various subject areas and with learners at all age or grade levels."  The chapter lived up to is purpose with supplying me with many valuable resources to use once I am in the classroom full time.