Blog Post 11

The First Graders in Ms. Cassidy’s Class , were remarkable! The title, Little Kid’s Big Potential, is an accurate assessment to the character of all young children. Children are naturally eager to learn and try new concepts and ideas. They are risk takers without knowing it. They explore new situations with enthusiasm and ease. As was demonstrated in Ms. Cassidy’s first grade classroom, the students were excited to blog everyday and even at home. Ms. Cassidy’s students were comfortable using technology during their learning endeavors in first grade. Her students approach blogs, wikis, videos, and Skype in the classroom to enhance learning with the confidence and skill that some adults do not possess. Ms. Cassidy has done a tremendous job educating her students on proper usages of technology in their classroom. She has addressed safety issues when using the internet. She has also informed students how to be productive learners in their classroom. Furthermore, she has taught her students the appropriate and positive aspects to respond to other student's comments.

I am delighted to see these practices taking place in a first grade classroom. It undoubtedly proves the point, if it is working with first graders, just think how successful it will be for students to build this knowledge base year after year. In addition, Ms. Cassidy’s students were really involved in their learning, and they were having a great time in the process. It is phenomenal to see such great “work” in progress in Ms. Cassidy’s First Grade Classroom.

In the Skype interview with Ms. Cassidy, it fascinated me to hear her remarks on technology in the classroom. The first response that intrigued me was the fact that she has been using technology in the classroom for about 10 years, and that her students have been blogging for about 5 years. WOW! That is amazing to me, because I did not realize that these are not new ideas.

Ms. Cassidy’s point of view on technology is right on the mark! Technology is not going away, it is here to stay. Technology has caused the world to change rapidly, and the rate at which it is changing is sensational. Ms. Cassidy says, teachers who are not utilizing technology in their classroom are handicapping their students and themselves. Therefore, it came as no surprise to me when Ms. Cassidy strongly stated that all teachers should be technologically literate. She also emphasized that teachers who refer to being technologically literate by using word processing and spreadsheets were 20 years behind.

Although some teachers are fearful or challenged by the use of technology, students are quite comfortable with it. Ms. Cassidy states that technology is not strange to them at all. Technology is the world that they live in today. It is also the world that all of us as individuals live in today. This is why it is imperative for teachers to educate students, and to prepare them for a world in technology.

I really like Ms. Cassidy’s thoughts on blogging. She says that one reason she likes blogging is because it gives her students an audience. I believe that this is so important during the writing process. Students were taking pride in their writing, and they were eager to read comments from others pertaining to their work. Blogging is also an ongoing portfolio of the child’s work which will allow the teacher, student, and parent to track the growth and progress of the student.

Blogging is just one example of good technology usage in the classroom. Ms. Cassidy briefly mentioned podcast and Reader’s Theatre. I am interested in learning a great deal more about incorporating these techniques into my classroom. Ms. Cassidy’s students were also accomplished in Skyping and video production which allows them to communicate with Dr. Strange’s EDM 310 students. Reading buddies on Skype is an outstanding additional form of technology in order to communicate and collaborate with anyone throughout the world.

The question presented to Ms. Cassidy was, How do you get started using technology in the classroom? Her recommendation was to develop a PLN. She says Twitter is a wonderful way to build your PLN. She says it will take time, but perseverance is key while creating your PLN. A PLN will help teachers gain knowledge and resources that will allow them to build a foundation in technology in the classroom. She also says to begin in an area of technology that interest you.

I believe that no matter where you begin, the answer is just "begin" making fundamental steps to integrate technology in the classroom.