Reflection: Understanding the Impact of Technology on Education, Work, and Society

Final blog posting for Walden University course: Understanding the Impact of Technology on Education, Work, and Society

This course has helped me to broaden my understanding of technology because it forced me to create, for the first time, a blog and a podcast, and participate in the creation of a wiki. These were things that I was familiar with but had never used.

This course has helped me to take a step back and see that many of my students are multi-tasking, using technology, and learning differently than I. With this understanding came the realization that I as an educator must change the way I present the content set in our curriculum and do so in a way that my students can relate to and to can take ownership of. I do many varied activities in my classroom from interdisciplinary lessons, to cooperative learning, to web quests and research. This course showed me that I can not only look at the different ways a child learns but I must create completely student centered, student lead lessons which incorporate the technology my students are familiar with and the 21st century skills needed for them to succeed. Not and easy task and one that will take time and a great bit of creativity on my part.

Two goals that I have set for myself along with the revamping of my lessons are:
1. I have spoken to the IT person and the school where I work and I have asked him to download Audacity to a set of computers in our library computer lab. I plan to use this program to have my students create podcast that they can download
2. I plan to get more familiar with the use of wikis and incorporate them into my lessons.

Podcast Survey: The Use of Technology by High School Students

Hello,
I created my first Podcast in the form of a survey which you can hear if you go to the following site:

http://baur.podbean.com/

Enjoy my first ever attempt at podcasting.
Ciao

21 st Century Skills

The Partnership for 21st Century Skills is an organization that incorporates education leaders, business leaders and policy makers working together to outline the skills needed for our students to be successful in the ever changing workforce. The companies involved in this organization are diverse and range from the Walt Disney Company to the Ford Company.

Many of the "essential" skills listed by this organization are the core subjects that have been traditionally taught in schools things like: math, science, world languages, art etc. Along with the traditional core subjects are skills such as global awareness, civic literacy etc.

I think having an organization that works as a bridge from school life to career life is a great thing. I truly think that combining technology and interdisciplinary learning to our lesson plans is a must. Our students need to be more globally aware, be able to work with others, learn to be critical thinkers and, be self motivated. Out of all these my concern is the motivation which I feel comes from within.

How do you motivate a high school student?

Here is the web site for The Partnership for 21st Century Skills:

http://www.21stcenturyskills.org/index.php

Ciao

Walden University: How I want to use this blog

I teach Italian 3 & 4 and Spanish 1.

Since this is my first experience with blogging I wanted this blog to be a place where I could post the activities and strategies that I use in class and get feedback, examples, and strategies from other teachers. I have a school web page where I can post homework assignments so I felt that I would use this as a place to share and receive ideas from other educators or anyone who has an idea regarding world language. I can see where teachers can use blogs as a place to post student work and have students post discussions in a way students feel is fun. Once I get more familiar with blogging and understand the teacher controls that are available to protect students from inappropriate posts I think I will start a classroom blog. I shared with my students that I created a blog for the first time and they were very excited. Anything that can get a classroom filled with high school students excited about writing is worth a try.
Ciao

La Musica

To all Italian music lovers in Connecticut and the surrounding states here's a quick note: Tiziano Ferro and the AMAZING Laura Pausini are coming to the MGM Grand Theater at Foxwoods Casino. Ferro will be there on Sunday September 20, 2009 and Pausini will be there Sunday October 25, 2009. The tickets are a little pricey check out the Foxwoods web site for info.

Music plays a big part in my classes. I use it for everything from background music to practicing grammar point to having students create their own Italian songs. Laura Pausini is one Italian singer who has wonderful pronunciation which makes her perfect for students who are learning Italian. The publishing company Edizioni Farinelli actually has a complete study program using Laura Pausini's songs. Although I haven't purchased it yet, it's just a matter of time... I'd love to hear how you are using music in your classes.
Ciao!!