Journal #2

To be honest, after reading the article about whether or not students should be able to use the internet while testing, I am torn between both view points. I can see where each side is coming from and both sides make valid points.

I agree with James Cash in that tests that require you to memorize facts, dates, figures, and such could "lack any assessment of students' ability to effectively criticize a treaty or judge the quality of a historical document." Yes, I believe that a lot of the time we force our students to memorize things and stress them out with information overload for the general purpose of being able to know your facts. As a student, I remember clearly those endless nights of stress because I had to memorize vocabulary and theories. As Ann Michealsen says it, "students should no longer be required to regurgitate facts and figures...instead emphasis should be on their ability to sit through and analyze information." I believe that they are arguing that we should step outside the box and enter into a time where we can utilize our resources to it's full advantage.

I also agree with Jeffrey Starr when he says that internet during testing can "create an irresistible temptation to students to merely look for the answers rather than coming up with the answers on their own." I know that when I take an online test and I have the internet and my textbook readily available, I use all of these resources to my advantage. I quickly find the right answer then move on. Do I retain the information I on the test as I look it up online? No. It's simply an easy way to get a quick answer. In this new technological age, I see most of our youth become reliant on their devices. Keishia Ceasar-Jones mentions that, "there has to be a foundation of knowledge...many students depend on technology instead of leveraging it to elevate their game." I agree with her in that we tend to use technology because of it's convenience and efficiency, which is something I appreciate about it. However, I don't think we should allow it to consume the consumers.

I believe that we should be able to teach our students the foundations of learning and test taking first. Allow them to critically think as they are studying and learning the material rather than during a test. Give the students the opportunity to engage in technology based projects during the school year so that they can be more active in their education. When it comes to test days, develop a set of questions that pertain to the technological project that they did earlier in the school year. This way students will be able to recall the research they did on the internet and apply this knowledge to their tests, rather than using the internet while taking the test. I am not completely against technology in the classroom, however I would like to be able to regulate it's usage and not solely rely on it as a tool for teaching.

Cash, J., & Starr, J. (2013). Should students use the internet while taking tests? Learning & Leading with Technology (40)5, 6-7. Retrieved from http://www.learningandleading-digital.com/learning_leading/201302?pg=5#pg8

Project #3

This Powtoon presentation tool was really fun to use! It allows students to be creative and they are able to think "outside the box!" It's almost like creating a very detailed and fun powerpoint presentation. Only downside is that it is very time consuming to make. Other than that, I think it is a very useful presentation tool for students of all ages. Enjoy!

Journal #1

The use of technology for education purposes has been an up and coming topic for teachers, students, and parents. There has been a debate as to whether the use of technology is beneficial in the classrooms or if it's detrimental. Personally, I could see both the pros and cons of educational technology; it depends on how it is utilized in the classroom. 

I have noticed a new trend of steering away from traditional ways of teaching and moving towards more advanced and innovative methods. Researchers have found that there have been positive benefits when students were given math activity simulations (Boss, 2011). In particular, the use of technology assisted with creativity, research skills, and higher-order thinking (Boss, 2011). Working with grade school students, I have noticed that a majority of the second and third graders' math homework is available only online using math programs and sites. At first it surprised me that teachers were using these methods in elementary schools but then I had to take a step back and realize that this is a different generation. Nowadays computers, tablets, and other resources are more readily available for students. And in turn, students are very knowledgable about technology more so than ever. 

I believe that technology should be used as a way to enhance a student's learning but it shouldn't be the basis of their learning. Technology can be a great tool for a student to demonstrate their creative thinking and a way that they may illustrate their understanding of a topic.  However, I believe that we shouldn't solely rely on technology to teach the kids and instead still use traditional ways of teaching. Although I am not necessarily too keen on the idea of social media usage in the classroom, but I am becoming more open to the idea of the use of educational technology as another method of teaching if used for the right purposes. 

Source: Boss, S. (2011). Technology integration: A short history. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/technology-integration-history