Curriculum Exemplar

For my curriculum exemplar I chose using digital camera technology. Remembering the first year I ever taught, I integrated photography into my one of my social studies lessons. We used an old manual camera and, of course, we had to wait many days to get the prints back. Nevertheless, the students loved the process of taking pictures. These days, we can do so much more using digital cameras.

I found the article on the site Education World. http://www.education-world.com/a_tech/tech/tech148.shtml The article goes on to describe the many uses for digital cameras in school. Students can take pictures for a project or other various activities and then publish those pictures on the Web. For example, the article describes an actual lesson where students created a virtual reality movie using digital pictures. This is a great article for educators because it includes two dozen digital camera activites teachers can use in the classroom. In addition, this article supports the idea of the importance of students becoming creators of content.

I found an interesting social studies lesson on the Web that uses digital camera technology called Know Your Community. http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~ucfcasio/combroch.htm

This lesson is a good example of how you might use digital cameras in the classroom. This lesson offers students the opportunity to immerse themselves and learn about the community in which they live. After compiling photographs of various locations and /or landmarks, they then can create a brochure, web page or video about their city. Lastly, the chamber of commerce is contacted and a set of brochures, or video is given to them.

I chose this exemplar because I was struck by the many ways teachers can use digital cameras in their lessons. In addition, there is an ease of use concerning digital cameras. Photographs come out immediately. Pictures can be viewed on screen, Smart Board or e-mailed. It seems that students would be able to easily use and also be engaged while using digital cameras. In addition, from my previous experience, I found that students become more involved with the subject. Students learn to reason and plan what pictures to take and why those pictures are needed. You are also giving them a certain amount of independence and choice.

The lesson Know Your Community hit me on a more personal level. I immediately envisioned doing this lesson with my students because many of my students have never left their neighborhood. Their knowledge of the different areas of Durham is very limited. Sure, they talk about Durham in the classroom; however, they have never physically been to other parts of Durham. In addition, the city of Durham is in the process of revamping its image. A school project like this could "give back" and benefit Durham by bringing positive attention to the city.

Some questions I would raise would be the question of how many digital cameras could a classroom teacher get for his/her class. Ideally it would be great if pairs of students could share a camera. I wonder where a teacher could get multiple cameras for classroom use? In addition, the concern for damage to the camera would be raised.
As an ESL teacher, I work with small groups. However, could I take just a few of those students out into Durham to take pictures? I would think not. I would have to do this project with a classroom teacher. However, each grade level pretty much goes on one or two field trips a year. Choosing to take a tour of Durham would have to be approved.

Blog Reflection

I enjoyed reading the articles on blogging and have to say I agree with many of the points. As stated in the article, Blogging? It's Elementary, My Dear Watson!, students write better when they have a real audience. In The Education Blogosphere: Blogs and Wikis, another point mentioned is that blogging is a great collaboration tool. Ultimately, blogging offers a type of authentic communication where students and teachers can not only share but also respond to each other's blog.

I have to say that I am sold on the idea of using blogs for classroom use. After creating my own blog for the first time ever, I can envision using this technology with my students. Blogspot is so easy to use! It can be implemented at all grade levels. I can't wait to introduce my students to this.
I really like the fact that it is interactive. Blogging breaks down the walls that surrounds classrooms. Students, teachers and parents can log on to view or communicate. The only problems I see would be the existence of digital inequity. Digital inequity seems to be one of the biggest problems surrounding technology in schools. Those students and families that have computers at home can access the classroom blog as apposed to this students and their families who did not have access.

YouTube clip on the importance of using technology in schools

Technology Through My Students' Eyes

As an ESL teacher, I go into various classrooms throughout the day. Thus, I interviewed six third grade students situated in three separate classrooms.

One male and two female were of African American origin. Two male and one female were of Latino origin. (These students have been living in the United States for no less than three years. Their language skills are advanced.)

Interview:

When asked what technology meant to them, all students related technology to the use of computers. Two of the African American students also added watching T.V. and the use of “electronic stuff” as technology equipment that play an important role in their lives. For the three Latino students, the importance of technology is stressed mostly at school, while for the African American students, technology is also emphasized at home. All students mentioned that the only place where they actually use technology in school is during specials, which is the designated time where students go to the computer lab and is taught by the technology teacher. The students expressed that they never use computers or other technology equipment in their regular classroom. They notice that technology exists in their classroom like computers; however, the technology equipment is hardly ever used. When asked what they do on the computer at school, answers varied from writing papers, surfing the Internet and/or playing games. A common game students play during specials is called Hot Wheels. This is a game where students “drive” cars. It appears to have no educational value.

The three African American students have at least one computer and other various technology equipment at home and in their rooms. All three Latino students do not have computers at home. When asked if their parents use technology, the three African American students said that their parents use computers for research, shopping, and various forms of communication. The Latino students’ parents do not use computers at all. When asked when and where they learned how to use computers, the African American students say they learn from their parents and in school whereas the Latino students said they learned about computers only in school during specials.

I noticed that the reaction to technology differed among male and female students. Male students expressed that technology was fun. They mostly talked about playing games. The two Latino boys, when questioned what they wished they had at school or at home in relation to technology, expressed that they wish they had their own computer. The female students did not express much enthusiasm. In fact, the female students seemed indifferent to technology. One female said that she did not like technology because “it is too much work”.

Critique:

I was surprised that the third graders I interviewed did not do more in the classroom related to technology. This supports the idea that schools are lagging behind. Either teachers really do not know how to incorporate technology or they are overwhelmed and do not receive enough support and direction. It also seems as if the responsibility lies on the technology teacher to teach technology during specials. As a result, it appears that classroom teachers are not required to use technology in their lessons. The technology teacher that the children see during specials does not seem to offer students an adequate education in technology. It seems that the children play a lot of games, some not educational. The rest is related to production like publishing a piece of work.

There are obvious differences in access to technology among the American and Latino students. I have performed "home visits" for my English Language Learners (ELLs) for two years now. Most of the Latino families I have visited have next to nothing in their homes. Having a computer at home is truly a luxury. The digital divide is a big issue in the world of technology. The fact that the three Latino students realize the importance of technology; yet, they do not have access to it at home or outside of school is a big problem. In contrast, the American students expressed that the use of computers in their house was a shared family activity. Their parents value the use of computers and the education concerning technology began before the students started school.

The third issue that became apparent is the lack of interest that exists among female students. The female that expressed that technology "is too much work”, conveyed a genuine distaste. My guess is that the delivery of technology to students is not very user friendly. It is more aimed towards males, i.e. the frequently played game called Hot Wheels. There is also a disconnection between the learning and using of technology and how it relates to students’ lives.

It should not be unpredicted that problems like the digital divide and gender issues would arise. However, I was still so surprised that it so obviously existed among the third graders I interviewed. Interviewing only six students is merely skimming the surface, but it has awakened my curiosity concerning other students' experiences with technology in my school.

Testing blog

Just testing!
I understand this blogging thing so much better with this particular site. I was confused when I was trying to use bloglines.
I can see how this can be fun and kind of addictive!