Week 1

My house is very tech-oriented.  My kids love using their ipads, ipods, DS, and wii.  My husband while being able to design websites (Donorsnap, the company he & his partners design and run) and program computers doesn't know how to sync his ipod or doesn't understand the ipad or my macbook.

I have enjoyed learning new technology although I would consider myself a novice and believe that I have much to learn about the technology I use currently.  I have learned how to use much of the technology and programs through trial and error.  I know how to use Microsoft Office.  I love my ipad and am still learning how to use my macbook (I received it as a hand-me-down from my husband's partner who loves everything new & shiny from Apple.)

I started a blog, really as a private/personal journal for myself.  I have no followers and only have 3 posts over the course of 3 years.  Why did I choose  a blog to do it.  I really thought it would be easy to be able to write wherever I was as long as I had Internet access.  I am sure there is now an app out there better suited for that.  :) 

I am addicted to Facebook and Pinterest.  I love being able to connect with friends and family, near and far with Facebook.  I love "wishing" on Pinterest.  It seems like I find things I wish I could create, make, have and do on Pinterest.  I have only completed a small amount of things that I have pinned of course it is never as much as I intended too.

As I have subbed in classrooms, I have enjoyed using the smart board.  I love seeing how this technology engages students.  I also take note of how teachers use it not only for teaching but for classroom management. Teachers use to take attendance, lunch counts, to keep take of Daily 5, and Math Rounds.  I was to be able to use technology in my classroom as I teach to engage and inspire my students.  I also realize that students need to learn much of this technology to be productive in the world.

I am excited to learn how to use all this technology in teaching Social Studies.  I loved learning Social Studies, next to music class, Social Studies was one of my favorite subjects.  I think back to my high school History teacher.  I was lucky enough to have her all 4 years in high school and I thought she did an incredible job of bring history to life for me.  She not only taught us the important people and dates in history but she taught us about the culture of the time, including music and art. She brought in slides of her trips around the world, she used videos and film to expose to other worlds.  I feel that if she were teaching history today she would have enjoyed using all the technology that is available to us.