One-to-one Laptop Programs

     I believe that one-to-one laptop programs are very beneficial.  I recently had the privilege of working with a program like this.  The technology department that I work with developed a charter school in which each student was given a MacBook.  I was very impressed with the projects that the students were able to create and the options that the teachers had in assessing students.  I believe that computer literacy is a very important skill in today's world and a one-to-one program is a great way to accomplish this.  This can also benefit families that may not have access to computers.  If their child is given a computer to take home, computer literacy would increase across the community, not just within the school.  Funding a huge factor here. I believe this is great idea but if a school does not have the funding to make this happen, it is obviously unreasonable.  Many schools in Ohio are struggling with finances and cannot afford a program like this.  If finances are not an issue, this is a great idea.

Online Conference Review

     I watched a presentation called The Classroom Teacher As a 21st Century Instructional Leader given by Dr. Tim Tyson.  This presentation was intended to encourage a grassroots movement led by American teachers.  Tyson claimed that the problem with American education is much deeper than just the classroom.  American students do not see the connection between what they are doing in the classroom today and having a better life tomorrow.  To correct this, teachers need to become leaders, not just in the classroom, but in the community as well.  Teachers need to lead by emphasizing to students what is important about life in this country, not just about school subjects.  It is also important for teachers to hold the media and politicians accountable and provide relevant information to the public if none is being given.  Many of the ideas given by Tyson were modeled after the Finnish education system.  Finland has skyrocketed to top two in the world in math and science after being in the middle of the pack a short time ago. It is up to teachers to change American culture and convince everyone that the future is worth investing in.

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Podcast

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Chapter One Reflection

I hope to be able to integrate technology into every single class period that I teach.  Today's students are very media-centered and almost require some sort of digital interaction to learn effectively.  Students communicate using many different forms of media so why not bring education into these areas? By bringing education into the student's world instead of forcing students to come into the world of education, we become much more effective teachers.  Hopefully my classroom will have some sort of interactive system, like a SmartBoard, that I can use to interest my students. If not, I will just be forced to find another creative way to interest my students.