Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Journal Entry #5

Scherer, M. (2010). Transforming Education with Technology: A Conversation with Karen Cator. ASCD, 17-21.

Summary
            The article talks with the director of the Office of Educational Technology about the Educational Leadership and the implementation of the educational technology plan and the national vision for schools. It begins with a brief examine of Mooreville Fade School District in Mooresville, North Carolina. It is a district that supplies students with one to one device that are used in various ways throughout the school building and many different curricular areas. There is a focus to use more technology to facilitate communication, engagement, interaction and understanding. Student engagement isn’t focused on the entertainment value, but on the brain activity of the student.
            Providing one on one device also allows for the personalization of learning. It is easier to allow student choice, meeting interests and ensuring that assignments are at appropriate level and allowing for prior experience and language to support learning. Students were using technology to bookmark practice games for math, collaborate with other students on writing and present multimedia presentations about novel themes in small groups.
            Technology can provide more balanced learning opportunities for all students. New technology is necessary to be literate in the 21st century. The Department of Educational Technology provided a three step process for digital literacy. 1. The ability to use information well, 2. Ability to use media and digital technologies to communicate and collaborate effectively and 3. To develop digital citizenship. This process leads to a more personalized, engaging, interesting learning environment.

Reflection

            When technology is widely available teachers can facilitate personalization, participation, interaction and collaboration among people who may be across the world. I am lucky enough to teach in a district where there has never been an issue about the availability of technology. During testing situations, there may be a lack of devices, but we have been able to work around that so that never impeded learning. I never thought of areas around the nation that not only has a lack of devices, but also the access to internet. Access is a basic necessity for all learners. In class we have discussed the feeling of being overwhelmed because of all the tools that we are learning and how to implement them in our classrooms. The mere thought of not having access to implement these tools scares me. Talk about the learning gap and the great divide between the have and have nots. It is amazing to think about the level of technology education that differs between states and among various cities. 

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