Review of a Technology Integration Rubric

Below is a copy of a rubric that could be used to grade the technology integration in a classroom. Just by looking at it quickly the main point of integrating technology into the classroom should be to make sure they can be used appropriately and adequately in accordance with the pre-set goals of the classroom. It is really important that the technology that teachers use does not distract from what they are trying to teach, and each classroom needs to approach this differently, not just based on the subject, but also based on the unique group of students in each different class. There should be no deviation because of technology, all it should do is help speed up, or aid a lesson that a teacher is teaching, and there will always be times when it is better to not use technology. 

Too young for technology?

New technology causes concern about effect on childhood development

The link above explores the dangers of young children getting technology addicted. Psychologists have been debating whether small children can actually get addicted to technology and whether it is harmful to their development. One of the technology experts that they interviewed says that his kids won't be having a phone until they're 21. While I find that age to be a little extreme, I do understand and agree with the idea. I only got my first iPhone when I was 15, and they had already been out for a long time. I have seen the dependency that children have on them, and how parents use iPads and tablets as an escape from having to deal with their kids for some time. I definitely think that is harmful to the kids and I don't think allowing kids to mindlessly sit and watch videos or play video games can be very good for their psyche. I do think that technology can be used in ways to help with a child's development, the problem is just when they are exposed to screens for too much of their time.

It's All About Change

Learning to Change Changing to Learn

The video linked above talks about the upcoming technology boom that is needed in education, just like is happening everywhere else in a student's life. "Technology is not really a choice," resonated with me because it really shows that at the rate that the world is expanding technologically, it is necessary for teachers to start including all of these new types of technology into their classrooms. This video also describes how technology is helping students reach outside just the small space of their classroom which is one of the reasons I love modern technology in classrooms. Students can get connected with people they never would have even known existed, and can learn about them and what their life is like, which will help them develop compassion and a strong sense of a global community. They can reach out past their city limits and make friends in different states, and even different countries and connect through education and see how the world can be so different, yet everyone is still the same.

The Future of Quizzes

Vizia

The website linked above is a very cool site, and I believe that it is the future of quizzes. What it does is it plays a video and you can insert questions at any point of the video that the students have to answer as the video is paused. This is a really great interactive way to test what students know, either to get a feel for it before moving into a new topic or even gaging where students lie as the topic is being taught. The quizzes are very easy to take, and the best part is that it's all digital! No more wasting paper for small quizzes that will be thrown away soon anyway. Plus you'll always have the results to go back and look at.