Vision+of+Educational+Technology

In creating my blueprint for a model classroom that would exist in five years; I thought of the Jetsons and their futuristic ideas; gadgets and technologies introduce in the show. In creating and designing a classroom in the next five years, I also realized that some of those technological needs are already being met. According to the Horizon Report of 2008, “…Six emerging technologies or practices that is likely to enter mainstream use in the educational community.” These six technologies comprise of the following: collaborative environments, online communication tools, mobile, cloud computing, smart objectives, and personal web. In preparing for the model classroom of 2015 ideally all six technologies must be implemented. The two areas of technology first targeted and essential in all model classrooms are Collaborative Environments and Online communication Tools. In fact these two areas have become standard in the classroom. (Horizon Report of 2008).
 * Vision of Educational Technology **

In preparing for the future, I see an ergonomic classroom where students and technology interact most efficiently and safely and not confined. Tables, chairs, laptops, and students can move within the classroom or any other facility in the school. In creating the collaborative environment, wireless technology would be essential for students and teachers to communicate and collaborate using Web 2.0 technology. The Web 2.0 is especially favorable in education because it is free and it offers the most popular means of web-based collection such as blogging, wikis, etc. Blogs provide personal freedom of expression and a collaborative environment where students can give and receive feedback. Some of the more popular blogging tools are: Blogger (www.blogger.com), Class Blogmeister (http:classblogmeister.com), and Gaggle blogs (www.gaggle.net). “Teachers can use wikis for students to collaborate on a document by writing, editing, and revising it in their own classes, across a grade, school, or district, or even outside those traditional boundaries” (Solomon & Schrum, 2007). For safety measures, Districts set up Wikis on their own servers or teachers can use district approved sites. Most popular wikis, Wikispaces (www.wikispaces.com) and Peanut butter Wiki (www.pbwiki.com). Google Docs (http://docs.google.com) is great collaboration option.

The second favorite and now standard form of technology is Online Communication Tools. Online Communication should include synchronous and asynchronous tools. “Synchronous tools enable real-time communications and collaboration,” whereas, “Asynchronous tools enable communication and collaboration over a period of time.” (Ashley, 2003) Some of the most popular online tools are below:
 * Web conferencing
 * Skype video – http://www.skype.com/getconnected/
 * Voice Thread – http://voicethread.com
 * White boarding
 * SMART Board
 * ActiveBoard
 * eBeam
 * Video conferencing
 * Upstream
 * Goggle Docs
 * CHATS
 * AOL Instant Messenger
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Yahoo Messenger
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">ChattersOnline.com
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Online call

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">In creating a model classroom, mobile devices are increasing in popularity because of its flexibility and mobility. Typically, people think of cell phones but mobile devices includes IPods, portable DVD players, PDAs, laptops, etc. Many districts are more tolerant of cell phones especially when used as an education device. Mobile phones can be used to poll a class of students and then have them text their answers. Mobile phone allows students to use voice recording. They would call in and record their answers; the message is then uploaded to a blog. Small districts or rural districts may not have internet access and phones would provide the internet access. IPods are used being used in the classroom in presenting oral book reports, skits recreating a time in history. Incidentally, ESL students use it to practice their English in the classroom.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">“What is cloud computing? It is the process of taking the services and tasks performed by our computers and bringing them to the web.” (Nations) This allows us to access software applications, hardware, data, and computer process power on the web instead of loading software in your computer or school server. Listed below are examples of free cloud computing services available below:
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">http://www.groups.edna.edu.au/ (free open web service for collaboration)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">hhtp://delicious.com/ (bookmarking service)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">www.mindomo.com (mind mapping tool for brainstorming)
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">http://www.google.com/google-d-s/tour1.html Google docs for calendars, document sharing, photo sharing
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">www.facebook.com Keeping up with friends and family

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Smart objects an emerging technology of the future classroom, are devices that assist us in our everyday needs. In the library, smart objects are used for tracking collection and checking in and out of materials. In the cafeteria, smart cards are used to monitor a child’s lunch account. Smart board also comes into play in the arena of technology.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Since the launching of the World Wide Web, now closing in on two decades ago, there have been quite a bit of websites added daily by many users and the number is staggering. So imagine sifting through many websites and/or web pages in search of information and taking much of one’s valuable time. Well, there are some publishing tools that can be very helpful to a user and make it easier to navigate the web which could be tailored to your own interest and thus personalizing the web. Some of these tools allow for such things as tagging, updating, aggregating and keeping track of content. These tools are also available for free and ideal toolsets for research and learning.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; line-height: 200%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Ideally I feel that our campus has reached the five year goal of the Horizon Report 2008 projected for schools. Currently my campus, Kriewald Road Elementary has four desktop workstations for each classroom (First through Fifth grade) and each Teacher has their own workstation, interactive white board, software, and printer shared among classrooms. Currently our district is working on mounting our LCD projectors to the ceiling and the wireless network was extended to our new wing which has the hardware mounted to the ceiling. In addition, all of our Teachers from Kinder to Fifth grade have their own laptops and our school news/announcements are being broadcasted live via TV with the help from our students. Our Library has five student stations, 1 black and white laser network printer, 1 ceiling mounted project, and a large projector screen. We have a library computer lab for the sole purpose of research. Our second lab is a computer literacy/rotation lab that is supported by a certified teacher with a Masters in Technology. And recently a third lab was updated with our A+ software, which is an online learning system that tutors students in math, science, reading, and language arts. A+ lab provides placement assessment, individualized instruction, and is aligned to national and state standards. Technology leaders are appointed at each grade level to provide support in the area of technology and our Technology leaders are supported by our Campus Instructional Technologist (CIT). I say ideally that we have reached our goal because on paper we have the latest technology on our campus and in our district. In reality, technology is not being utilized or integrated throughout the curriculum. Our teachers do not know how to implement or use technology in the classroom. The recession mandated cutbacks throughout the district and campuses were affected. Last year our Campus Instructional Technologist supported two campuses instead of one. Thus she is not able to “provide coaching or assistance in incorporating the Technology Applications TEKS into the core content lessons” (Southwest ISD Technology Department, 2009). Unfortunately this year additional cutbacks were made and campuses no longer have the luxury of a Campus Instructional Technologist.



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