Blog #3
Balancing technology and traditional teaching methods are effective way to teach our students today. I feel students learn in a variety ways so we shouldn’t use just one style or method. One activity may be better suited to technology. For instance, in a high school history class when we are studyingng the harsh labor conditions of the 1900’s, I may have them create a presentation using some Lewis Hines photos of child labor during this time. I think small group activities are good also, were students kind of become teachers themselves as they discuss, share, problem solve and write out their combined thoughts. One could combine technology and writing effectively by having students create and write out interviews with people/situations in history. After they have created a dialogue or script they could present in to the class and have it video taped and then shown as a newscast. I think variety and balance is the key to keeping students interested and inspired. I know within technology there is a lot of room for variety but I still feel there is value in training our students to develop the traditional skills of listening to someone speak for 15 minutes and being able to write coherently about it.
Jerry, Your comments remind me of how we’re still reading books and using pencils even though other things have begun to compete with them. We will always have room in our lives for “real life” even if virtual reality exists. I’m not sure that I accept the notion that the “new” always replaces the “old.”
Technology allows us to rethink our current choices, but maybe also to appreciate them in a different way.
just seeing if I can comment on this blog
I would like to comment on the “Evils” of power point.
I think that ppt can be a very great tool in the lecture scene of a large university. I have had great experiences w/ ppt on that level. I don’t think that I will use it in my elementary classroom, there are definately better ways of teaching that from ppt. However, at a large university like UM or UW when there are 200+ people in the classroom, it is extremely helpful to have a ppt presentation availible for everyone to see, not just the front row of the class looking at what has been writtin on a white board! (and I am a front row seater!)
I would be interested in knowing the link of that article!