Important reminders in the world of educational technology

 

I'm back! I hate saying that I am just blogging for my classes, but it's true. One of my goals for this school year is to blog on a regular basis for my own personal reflection. So until school starts, I will be blogging for my EDET-Technology to Enhance Literacy class.

I am excited to start a literacy class since I am a 5th grade reading and English teacher. Technology is the future of education, so I want to learn everything I possibly can that will help my students become better readers and writers. I hope to learn about ways to incorporate literacy activities into my classroom using technology. I know that I will have younger students, so I am hoping to find meaningful and engaging activities to promote reading and writing skills for them. I want to learn more ways to use inquiry based learning in a classroom.

For the first week of class, I read several resources that introduced me to the idea of using technology to enhance literacy.  I read portions of Technology to teach literacy: a resource for k-8 teachers and Literacy 2.0: Reading and writing in 21st century classrooms.  In addition, I read several articles about the importance of blogging to enhance reading and writing skills: Student and Teacher Blogging that Succeeds, Learning About Blogs FOR Your Students, and 12 Reasons to Blog with your Students. After reading these resources, I was reminded of several very important thoughts that all 21st educators should remember:

1. In education, innovations are always negatively perceived at first by some. Just because some do not perceive it as a good thing does not mean that we should not be using it. According to the Literacy 2.0: Reading and writing in 21st century classrooms, "... we do know that our profession has a long tradition of viewing any innovation as a negative - at one time, even chalkboards were thought to be a frivolous expense" (2010, p. 7).  Some educators do not like the idea of something new or something different, but don't give up. Lead by example and show other educators how great the new technology is! Educators will soon see the benefits of using innovations in the classroom.

2.  We shouldn't use blogs because we want to use technology in the classroom. We should blogs because we want to create better readers and writers.  Technology is just the tool to help students be successful. I believe that some educators just get caught up with using as much technology as possible in the classroom because they feel like it will automatically benefit students, but they are wrong. Use technology because it is has a function and purpose; don't just use technology because you can. Therefore, we should use blogs because we want to create better readers and writers. Blogging is an effective way to create better readers and writers because students are engaged. Blogging allows for questioning, reflecting, discussing, and collaborating with anyone around the world. That is not possible with just pen and paper. Students can easily read exemplary writing, so they are improving their reading skills. To become better readers, students must write. To become better writers, students must read. Blogging is a highly motivating way to get students reading and writing. Want to read more about the importance of blogging? Check out Blogging in the classroom: why your students should write. 

 

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