Reflection #1

Having my educational technology philosophy down in writing helps me to think more deeply about teaching and learning using technology. It helped me to reflect on how I am using technology in the classroom and realize that I still have a long way to go, in terms of being more of an informator.

In regards to the blogging article, I really liked the example of the students posting their writing to a blog because it gave them a chance to get feedback from people around the world that have a totally different background and view of life than they do. This would be a great way for students to see the other opinions and angles of an isssue. I also liked another teacher's idea of giving the students material to read and letting them freely reflect on it through their blogs. I loved the mention that blogging is a tool that puts students on an equal field because every student, from the shyest to the most outgoing has equal space and time to voice their views. I still think we have a long way to go because there are many teachers who use this medium for assigning writing prompts. Also, it is hard for blogging to truly include free flowing thoughts because of the of the boundaries and limits of the school setting.

In November's article, one of the many areas that caught my attention was the student's belief that if something is on the Internet, it must be true. I believe this is an area where some teachers may be falling short. Students are assigned a project and shuffled off to the library or computer lab without being equipped with the proper knowledge to decipher information. I believe this is an area that I could help with when I become an elementary librarian because it is never too early to teach these skills. This will not only help students create more accurate presentations, it will also improve their critical thinking skills and prepare them to be more informed citizens of the future.