Part III

21st century schools discusses the importance of technology in schools, as well as the different ways to utilize technology effectively in the classroom. Part III discusses the ways to be effective in your uses of technology in the classroom. The section contains a rubric for educators to follow when creating technology enhanced assignments.
This has been one of the biggest issues for me this year. I have a very limited amount of technology in my classroom.  When I do create an assignment where I use the community laptop cart of the borrowed projector, I try to figure out if I am using my technology effectively. There are a variety of things I have to consider. I have to look at whether I am using technology for ease of production or if my students are actually getting a better learning experience. Having the rubric on page 114 allows this process of self evaluation to run much more smoothly.
Another huge area of concern for me is the idea that not all my students have access to the internet at home. It is hard to believe the amount of students that go home and have no way to access the internet. My school district has gone to an online grading system. Essentially all teachers in both middle and high schools have their grade books online. Students can log in online and see what they have received on their assignments and what their class grades are. After viewing the video about students without internet I decided to print out and give my students weekly progress reports. This limits the unfairness in terms of who can and who cannot see their grades online.
Overall, the book discusses a variety of tools, reasons, and ways to use technology EFFECTIVELY in the classroom.

Blog #2

Part 2 of  Leading 21st Century Schools goes over the vast variety of web 2.0 tools and how to use the effectively in the classroom. Some of the tools include Google docs, wikis, podcasts, virtual field trips, blogs, and web quests. The chapters went over the different ways these tools can be utilized in all the different content areas. I especially liked the way Schrum and Levin discussed the use of Web quests with social studies. I remember making a web quest when I was in Edlt 115 way back in my freshman year of college. I remember thinking that this was a pointless activity. Now that I look at how much technology has been integrated into the schools. I realize that my professor was simply trying to prepare us for what was soon to come. I have tried to use web quests in my classroom, but with the limited technology I have it is difficult.

As I was reading about all these amazing and innovative ways of getting information across to our youth I began to think. Schools are constantly changing and the ways of instructing students have to adapt and morph to go along with what is current and most beneficial to the students’ learning processes.

I began to think that this may mean that in the future a very different method of schooling is in store altogether. It seems like the idea and utilization of online learning has become more and more prominent. I wonder if the traditional school schema is on its way out and more online and distance based learning is on its way in. I have noticed that it is required for all high school students in Las Cruces to complete an Advanced Placement, Dual Credit, or Online class in order to graduate. I think that this push toward online learning is a great way to get students to try something different. However, I am not sure how I feel about a completely online high school. I realize that the implementation of online high schools is something that may or may not be in the distant future, but I remember when the idea of video conferencing was also in the distant future. 

It seems like everyday there is some new form of technology being introduced to society. Everywhere you look people are connected in some way. Because I work at a high school, I get to see the effects of technology on our youth daily. Every hallway is crowded with students walking with their heads lowered and their eyes focused on their cell phones. Cell phones and technology have become an integral part of today's young peoples' daily lives. Students feel lost if they don't have their phone. They need the constant connection and stimulation technology provides.
21st Century Learners talks about how the need for technology in the classroom is so great. I have noticed a bit of a  disconnect between the schools and this idea. In every school I have taught there is a very strict no cell phone or iPod policy. The teachers take away cell phones and ipods if they are seen. I think this is sending mixed messages to the students. we are trying to use technology in the classroom, but at the same time we are treating it like it is something that must be hidden and only used in secret or behind the teachers back. I am not sure how to solve this problem because we don't want student texting during class, but I do feel like there must be a better way to make this connection.