Reflection on Technology in the Classroom

Since we began this class in January I have learned a lot about technology and ways it can be used in the classroom. One thing that really stands out in my mind that I will use is the classroom website. Having a website is a wonderful communication tool between teachers, students, and parents. I will definitely use the website I created and continue to update it once I get a class of my own. Portaportal is also a great tool. I love that you are able to find good educational websites and save them for your future use and also let others have access to them as well.


I believe that living in the digital generation gives us a great advantage in learning. Now it seems that the answers to our questions are literally only a click away. I think that technology is a more effective way of learning as opposed to the traditional way. In my opinion students are more interested in what you are teaching if technology is incorporated. For example, an online video can easily be used to get your lesson across, or maybe an interactive game that ties into the lesson. The world we live in is so advanced that kids of the digital generation would get bored with traditional learning. I personally don't know why we wouldn't use technology to teach. In my opinion, using technology is a much more effective way to help students understand and apply what they know and an easier way to research what they don't know.
-Jessica

Importance of Creativity

Relating to the importance of creativity, I watched "Do Schools Kill Creativity?" by Sir Ken Robinson (Do Schools Kill Creativity?).  Sir Ken Robinson says, "All kids have tremendous talents..." I couldn't agree with this statement more! It is so important that as teachers we see the light, the creativity, and the talent in each and every child that we teach. As a teacher a child looks up to you, and it is not a question of "if" you will affect a child's life, but "how" will you affect their life. In Sir Ken Robinson's expert opinion creativity in education is just as important as literacy and it just be treated with the same status.

I thoroughly enjoyed this video! Sir Ken Robinson makes lots of fantastic points. He is trying to make people understand that children do not have to be perfect to be talented.  In this video, he gives examples of children using their creativity. He says, "Kids will take a chance; and if they don't know, they'll have a go." I thought this was a cute quote because it's so true. Kids are innocent, and if they don't understand or know the answer to something then they will try anyways because (unlike adults) they are not scared to be wrong. That's the awesome thing about kids! They are so full of life and have wonderful imaginations. Often times teachers, parents, and others try to paint the picture of a perfect student (so to speak) when sometimes we should take a step back and let the child do some painting of their own. As I said before the video is called "Do Schools Kill Creativity?". I believe this title is appropriate for the topic. Schools are so focused on test scores and grades that they forget the other side of learning completely! When kids are young they are not scared of being wrong, and if you aren't scared of it then you will be able to give rise to creative ideas. However, once students turn into adults they lose the capacity to accept being wrong. In other words people are terrified of being wrong. "All children are born artists, the problem is to remain an artist as we grow up" stated Sir Ken Robinson.