Week 2

I can say that I feel like I am on information overload.  There is so much technology that has been introduce to me through the readings, the videos, and my classmates blogs.  I feel like I have been missing out on something.  There are days that I feel like I am teaching some of the teachers I work with and then there are days were I feel overwhelmed by all the technology out there that I don't even know about.  I realize that I need to take it one day at a time and one app or technology at a time.  After reading one of my blogs I was excited to add and app to my ipad (Google Drive) but then was even more excited to find that they is an app for Blogger too!  I LOVE my ipad!  I like being able to take it anywhere and now I feel like I will be able to do my school work anywhere I can go.

I enjoyed the videos on Glogster and the Project Gutenberg.  I had heard of Glogster from Sandy but I never actually seen it.  I think that it would be fun to have students create one for many different subjects.  One that popped into mind was a project that my oldest son did in fourth grade.  He had to research a Wisconsin County and then create a PowerPoint presentation about that county.  A fourth grader could do the same research and create a Glogster instead.

I am such a book lover and so I could have downloaded a ton of books after looking at Project Gutenberg.  I am always telling my boys that they need to read all sorts of books especially the classics, now we have access to books that otherwise we might have overlooked.

The problem with technology is that I tend to get so wrapped up in it that I loss myself in it.  In chapter 14, I like that it reminded me that we should not use technology for the sake of using technology.  It is important that we know why we are using it.  There are many teachers out there that do not wish to use the technology that is available.  Many teachers I talk to say they don't have time to learn the technology they have in their classrooms, some have learned the basics of the technology.  Technology keeps advancing and I think it is hard for many teachers to keep up with it all.

As I read about the Flipped Classroom, I kept trying to figure away that this would work in a class in lower elementary grades.  I think that it sounds wonderful for students in high school and possibility middle school.  Another concern I have about the Flipped Classroom is that students need to have technology to make it work, what happens if the students do not have access to the technology.  I know as an adult with a job and family, I think that a flipped classroom would benefit me.  Being able to watch lectures on my time and then be able to jump right into a class.  I am intrigued with the Flipped Classroom.  I am interested in learning more.