Using Technology to Amplify Instruction

1) Considering the slide, I am definitely a visitor. Most of the sites listed I have either never heard of or have used them in limited capabilities. The only sites I am familiar with are the more popular sites such as Skype, YouTube, Flickr, Email, Wiki, and Google Docs. Everything is a complete blur! I used technology very lightly. I really only use the computer for academic purposes or for listening to music. I secretly would like to be a tech wiz, however.

2) I could use UStream to show students content-related videos about the lesson and as an easy way to share educational videos. I can use Screencast-o-matic to perhaps screen share with students who are having difficulty viewing or completing an assignment. This way, I can easily show the students (and their parents,) how to navigate through an assignment. It’s like having a personal tutor; the best part is, it is recorded so the student can review as much as he’d like to! I like the idea of Slideshare because it is a great way to share a multimedia presentation through a general online community. This would be effective because the student could take the day’s lesson with them, whereas before, students were limited to just experiencing the slideshow in the classroom.  

3) I have used the site “Good Reads” before for another assignment, and I must say, I enjoyed using it as a resource. I wanted to learn what other titles might be related to Lorraine Hansberry’s “A Raisin in the Sun,” and used this site to provide recommendations. Not only does “Good Reads” gives the user recommendations, it also has useful and powerful attributes such as trivia, quotes, and quizzes. In this aspect, it can benefit both the student and the teacher in the sense that the student can get more information on the book he reads, and the teacher benefits by allowing the student creative control over their learning. Reader Two is new to me. I’ve never heard of it or used it academically. Although, in exploring the site, I’ve realized how beneficial this can be to students and extending learning beyond the classroom. For instance, this website makes it easier for readers all across the world to connect through books. As such, students learn to build and engage in online communities; a place where they can comment and discus happenings of the book. Also, similar to “Good Reads,” “Reader Two,” also recommends books based on a specific book or genre. I find this website to be useful in today’s digital classroom. In terms of multi-media presentations, I endorse Prezi. I’ve toyed with Prezi in the past and like the easiness and seamlessness associated with creating a presentation. It is very user-friendly and easy to navigate. I think students would enjoy using Prezi as fun interactive way to create presentations. It is similar to PowerPoint in terms of creating a multimedia presentation, but differs in the sense that it offers cutting edge by allowing users to creative presentations on a virtual canvas.

4) What I noticed most is that most of the top pieces of technology that is being uses, are mainstream, popular forms of social media. Sites such as Twitter, YouTube, Google, and PowerPoint, are all sources that teachers and students are likely to be familiar with. In this sense, teachers and students can interact together and engage in new ways.

5) When choosing to integrate technology, I need to consider how my students will benefit from that particular piece of technology. I need to first think about what level of higher order thinking I want my students to think on, and then choose an appropriate form of technology. Teachers should always know the learning objective and then choose appropriate forms of technology that will supplement that learning.

6) Based on my explorations today, I think I will continue to explore ways that students can become actively a part of online communities in an academic manner. The truth is, there are so many resources that teachers can use to help students become more active and interested in learning that for me, it can appear overwhelming at times. I assume I will have to just take it one day at a time and connect each assignment with an appropriate technology-based mode of instruction.