Nothing but NETS

Post to your blog about a model strategy you read about and how it could adapted for use in your classroom. Be detailed about what you’d expect students to be doing, and why it would be an efficient way to learn. Explain the relevant NETS*S

2.) Communication and Collaboration

I think that Communication and collaboration (#2 NETS-S) will be very useful in my classroom, especially for the place value lesson that I came up with on taskstream. In my lesson I have children working in pairs, groups and going outdoors to participate in timed races. In these groups they will compare/compute data and present it amongst themselves and to the class.

I think communicating and collaborating with the teacher and peers is important because it gives everyone the chance to hear different ideas and points of view that may have never been thought of. It is also helpful for the teacher because it can show them which direction their class is headed/needs to head.

Higher Order Thinking

I do not think there is one way to get students to think in a "higher" way. I believe this is something that comes from being exposed to many forms of learning. It seems as though students are used to the routine of learning a lesson and then taking a test to see how much of the material they have learned or comprehended. Sometimes giving an exam is effective but there are many other ways to get your students to learn. I think using different forms of learning such as technology, working in cooperative groups, and class discussions is a way to get children to "think differently." Instead of memorizing the parts of a cell for a test, maybe students can discuss which parts perform certain functions.

Technology in the classroom

I think that technology is a great tool to use inside the classroom. Technology provides a new, exciting and interesting way of displaying and providing information. My learning experience has been enhanced tremendously through the use of the internet and different types of software. I have witnessed student's skills improve drastically through the use of different games that are found on the internet. Technology can be a beneficial resource for education.

In my classroom I can definetely see myself using technology to teach lessons, communicate, and improve certain skills. I like the idea of using PowerPoint to present lessons instead of lecturing all the time. I also like the idea of using games and other software to help students sharpen their skills in certain areas. Communication via email is very convenient at times, especially if you are already doing work on a computer.

Although I see technology as an asset to education, I do not think that it should be the main resource of education. In "Technology Reshapes America's Classroom," the article says that eventually the classroom will become virtual and everything will be done on a computer. I think that having the computer serve as your main source of education would stunt the growth of a child's education. If everything is done on a computer, would it still be necessary to teach children how to write? What happens if a child does not have access to a computer at home? I work in an area where many families speak very little English and are not familiar with how a computer functions. What would we do then? There are too many things that can go wrong if technology is our main tool for education.