Saturday, September 3, 2016

My EME 2040 blog


My Digital Blog Post # A - Chapter 1



I am impressed with the Technology-Based Teaching Tool; Using the computer, tablets, and laptops, teachers can reach out to students over a wide range of learning styles.  Students can work in groups using laptops or tablets, and others can work, with the teachers in learning groups.  Teachers can use “intelligent tutoring systems," “speech-to-text”, “text-to speech” software, and “handwriting recognition programs.  There is a wide variety of digital technology on the market that that can assist students in their learning process to succeed.  Students have choices as to which tools best help them to understand the subjects.  This technology rich-teaching method is an attractive way of teaching; it is fun, engaging and creative.  As a Montessori teacher, I will reserve the above technology based teaching method for elementary schools. Neurological research confirms Montessori's observation that different developmental issues are primary at different ages.  In preschool children's, sensory and motor skills, and the neural regions most related to them, are paramount.  If the above research is true, then, using computers and other digital technologies during the first six years while children are in the formative period, in my opinion; can be harmful to a child's natural development.  In the first six years, children need to learn their way, naturally into the new real world.  They need to learn about their bodies, their communities and nature; and they need hands-on experience, at the time their brains are absorbing and adjusting as to how the natural world works.  I think that computing and cyberspace method can confuse children's ability to separate real from animation.  

I enjoy the idea of using Technology-Based Textbooks in a primary classroom.  The teacher can find a large variety of reading materials on the internet, for every subject on the curriculum.    Teachers can use simulations, visualizations, stories, poems, audio, video and math manipulative software to reach access a large variety of different learning styles and keep the students interested in learning.  Again, this is great for elementary students, in my opinion, but not for primary students.  Mark Powell a Montessori elementary teacher has all kinds of fun projects for elementary students, using technology, which I would introduce to my class, if I was an elementary teacher.  Check out his blog “Technology and Montessori". 

Lastly, the Technology-Based Learning Environment, according to the text book, has many of benefits, such as serving as an extension of the classroom; in that students can effectively use technology to do their homework. They can use online tutors, discussion boards and blogs that follow the classroom discussions.  That is all great if children budget their time to do homework, and leave time to socialize with each other.  I feel sad when I see children or even adults having their meals in restaurants or hanging out together in public places, and not talking to each other.  It seems that the iPad, or iPhone gets all the attention.  The technology age is a good thing and a bad thing at the same time, because people are tending to not socialize enough to stay grounded.  

     The 21st Century teaching method can be very effective, because it uses a variety of technologies to illustrate the information.  Students become much more engaged in the subjects at hands; furthermore, they are in control of how they assimilate the information.  The technology based teaching style, also encourages creativity, collaboration and critical thinking skills, which, is a plus in today's world.



Tablet in the classroom




Resources


Malandra, Cortneylyn Steffens. "Tablets in the Classroom." YouTube.  YouTube, 17 Oct. 2013. Web. 03 Sept. 2016.

Powell, Mark. "Technology and Montessori." RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Sept. 
2016.


Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.


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