Impact and uses of technology in the traditional elementary classroom
Click on the URL below to access.
https://www.symbaloo.com/mix/ripfeedmix
Throughout this course one of the key focuses has been the impact that technology has had over literacy. I would like to emphasize a quotation for Jay Bolter. He stated that, “Writing technologies are never external agents that invade and occupy the minds of their users. These technologies are natural or naturalized only in the sense that they are constituted by the interaction of physical materials and human practices (Bolter, 2001 10%).” Coming from an elementary teacher’s perspective I have witnessed this attempt to naturalize technology in the classroom on a regular basis. I have seen my fellow staff members regularly argue the advantages and disadvantages of integrating technology into their classrooms. What I believe needs to be discussed by educators, as Bolter might explain it, is how these technologies are naturalized by are own practices, in this case both teacher’s and student’s. Jessie Woodlley-Wilson, CEO of DreamBox Learning, emphasizes the importance of “blended learning”. That is the combination of ‘traditional’ teaching practices and new forms of technology. She states that it is these new forms of technology that support great teachers (Wilson, 2012).
For my Multimedia project I have created a ‘Symbaloo.’ This is a number of photographs, videos and websites that attempts to display how traditional teaching practices can be accompanied by technology. I have tried to follow the upper categories of the SAMR model. That is the different programs that I have recommended try to ‘Modify’ and ‘Redefine’ tasks rather than simply ‘substituting them.’ I have tried to organize these links as best as I can. How technology can redefine each traditional practice is explained below. I have also provided work samples that my students have created using these resources. Furthermore, I have highlighted each traditional practice with a red square and the technology with a blue square. I hope you will find some of these useful.
Traditional Homework >>> The Flipped Classroom using Blendspace
This is a practice I have tried to start using in my classroom on a regular basis. The photo shows a student engulfed in a large number of textbooks as she tirelessly writes whatever her task might be onto paper. Blendspace allows for students to receive instructions at home along with the ability to provide them with differentiated. This, in turn, allows for a more enriching educational experience at home for the student as they are able to learn at their own pace. They are then able to bring in this understanding into the classroom.
The Mind Map >>> Popplet
Mind mapping is a common method for students to collaborate, express and expand ideas onto paper. Popplet gives students an opportunity to further expand their thoughts through visuals such as photos and videos.
Story Retells >>> Adobe Voice
Retelling a story for elementary students is a critical way of showing comprehension skills. It is common practice to have students explain what occurred during the beginning, middle and end of the story as well as the characters, setting, problems and solution. Many students have difficulty simply expressing story retells in written form. Even doing retells verbally on the spot can be stressful. Adobe Voice allows students to retell stories verbally, at their own pace, along with the use of visuals. It can also be used to plan writing pieces.
Chalk Board >>> Explain Everything
A special thank you to Janet Ward for allowing me to use her Erasing the Past documentary. The chalkboard and the white board is a resource that teachers have been using for over a century and still on into today. Although effective, it is basically a one-way device; One party writes and the other party reads. Explain Everything allows for an ‘interactive’ chalkboard (or whiteboard) experience. Students can write, record their voices, add videos, on top of several other attributes to express their thoughts and feelings in ways not possible in the past.
Traditional Quizzes >>> Kahoot
The photo shows the traditional style of quiz. The all but too well known multiple-choice with the fill in the bubbles. Kahoot allows for a much more interactive experience with the students. Along with the capability for them to reflect on their experiences once complete.
The Pencil >>> The Word Processor
The pencil today is still the key tool in which students scribe their thoughts in writing onto paper. The word processor has slowly been taking its place in the classroom. Beck and Featherson preformed a study on how word processors affected the writing ability of students in primary school. They noticed student’s using the word processor did not have to worry about neat handwriting. Instead they were able to take more risks in regards to the quality and quantity of their writing (Beck and Fetherston 2003)
At the beginning of the course we listened to the radio broadcast, “From Papyrus to Cyberspace” by James O’Donnell and James Engell (1999). They mentioned that with every gain in technology there is also a loss. We emphasize human interaction as being lost as technology becomes more prevalent in our society. At the time when they created their board cast I’m not sure that they realized the impact the Internet would have in collaboration. One of the most important aspects about the technologies that I provided is their ability to be shared with anybody in the world at any time. Thanks to technology we have truly made the classroom global.
References:
Beck, N., & Fetherston, T. (01/01/2003). Information technology in childhood education annual: The effects of incorporating a word processor into a year three writing program Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education.
Blending technology and classroom learning: Jessie Woolley-Wilson at TEDxRainier (YouTube) Dec 17, 2012
Bolter, Jay David. (2001). Writing space: Computers, hypertext, and the remediation of print [2nd edition]. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
Erasing the Past (YouTube) by Janet Ward, Nov 3 2015
Explain Everything – Whiteboard, Annotation and a Touch of Awesome (YouTube) by dottotech, Published Mar 22, 2015
Flipped Classroom: Nick Shepherd at TEDxMCPSTeachers (YouTube) Aug, 1 2012 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etQJPG_CY78
O’Donnell, J. & Engel, J. (1999). “From Papyrus to Cyberspace” [radio broadcast episode]. Cambridge, MA: Cambridge Forum
Popplet (YouTube) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxLDsWHsQ1g
Uploaded by Adam Bellow, Mar 29, 2011
Puentedura, R. (2014). SAMR in the Classroom.