Week 4

Every week I get more excited about how to integrate technology into the classroom. One of my blogs from my Google Reader popped up with this video last week. I thought it was very interesting to see the kids using the computers in the classroom and hearing actual students' feedback on Twitter in the classroom. This video motivated me to use social technology in the classroom. Before I was a little skeptical, as I wasn't sure social technology could be taken seriously in the classroom or may blur personal and professional lines. However, the teacher in the video made an excellent point: if you do not engage your students in the lesson you might as well be teaching to a wall. I've already found that in my few teaching experiences that students won't learn if the way you present the material is not engaging. Social technology is an easy way to grab the students attention. Twitter is a program they are familiar with, its a program they're favorite TV or music stars use. Plus, it truly is a 21st century literacy. English teaching is about literacy and that has now expanded to include technolgy.
While this video clip did not provide specific examples of how to use social technology in the classrom, the blogger attached a link titled "21st Century Literacy" by the NTCE. It has an entire page of "vocabulary" definitions of different technologies that can be used in the classroom. Specifally with Twitter, however, I feel--similar to our Voicethread participation--Twitter could be a good way for students to discuss in small or large groups their thoughts on books we have been reading--which maybe in class they didn't feel comfortable sharing. I considered that by using Twitter--or some of the other internet communications discussed in this week's lecture--it could help place students in a real life situation. In my grammar class, we've been learning about teaching grammar in context and how creating real life situations are important to helping students see the importance of good grammar. If students are writing things to the outside world via the internet, it will help them take a more serious approach or atleast be able to apply subjects taught in the classroom to a real life situation. People tend to be a little bit more careful with grammar or developing their thoughts if they know someone other than their teacher will be reading it.