Reflective Blog # 6 Podcasting and Social Interaction

I never really understood what podcasting was until this week. I didnt realize it was something as simple as having your voice on the web. This is something that I will be using in my classroom in the near future. I have listed my videos below in case anyone wanted to take a look. The videos are for my students using Microsoft Office Publisher. Some of my students were having trouble with keeping up with the rest of the class when I am teaching new concepts. I think these videos will be beneficial to those students. I was also tired of other students just being lazy and just wanting to ask me how to do something instead of figuring out. This way they have to search for the answer themselves.



If we are to change the education system when it comes to technology, school districts will have to provide mandatory training. I think in order for educators to be more accepting of this training, in think that training times and dates need to be somewhat convenient for teachers. Teachers also need to be given a deadline and consequences of not meeting that deadline. I know that there cannot be training for every single new technology, but teachers can be trained on the most useful ones. Also on some training, the department heads can be trained, and then they would train others within the department.

Teachers also have to be willing to think outside of the box. Learners are changing but teachers are stuck in their old ways that just aren’t working for our digital natives. Teachers need to let go of some of the control that they are so accustomed to in the classroom, and give some of it to technology and the students. Students need to have more accountability when it comes to their own learning.

If I could wave a magic wand the first thing I would change are attitudes. This is what is holding back this needed change. People are set in their ways and don’t want to try anything new, even if it is what is best for students. Also people seem to think that school districts need tons of money for this change, but that is not true. There are countless free Web 2.0 tools that can be used in the classroom. The next thing I would do is have at least 3 computer labs in every school. Scheduling time in a computer is one reason teachers are deterred from using technology in the classroom. I know it can be stressful and aggravating not to be able schedule a computer lab for a class.

Overall we all must work together for this change to be successful. School boards, principals, counselors, teachers, parents, and communities must be willing to put for the effort and time for this much needed change for our future and our students future.