My relationship with technology
I am somewhere in between a computer geek and a regular user. I understand most of the basics of internet and computer use but frequently have to look up things like alt codes and I know how to apply html code but don’t know any off the top of my head. I am comfortable finding and using open source software but am not competent enough to edit or contribute to it. I’ve been using computers since elementary school, both in and out of the classroom. I have used macs and PCs but am more comfortable on a PC and though I don’t care much for microsoft I don’t have the skills to use any other platform efficiently. Blackboard, projectors, powerpoint, and VCRs are about all the technology I’ve had in the class room, with the occasional laser disc.
January 31, 2007 at 5:04 pm
I love it “… between geek and regular user.” Well I hope this class brings more of you over to the geek side.
February 20, 2007 at 2:05 am
I have been very impressed with your knowledge of technology that you have shown in class. I think it is amazing that you are so comfortable with it. This is really an area you shine in. It sounds like one of your most important attributes is that if you don’t know how to do something, you know how to figure it out and what sources you have to access to get help with solving your problem. That is a wonderful skill that is important for all of us to have.
What are open sources?
Have you always been this great with computers or is that something you have developed more recently?
Do you think that you will use a lot of technology in the classroom?
Also, what grade level are you interested in teaching?
February 20, 2007 at 2:53 am
As you might be able to tell from this web log, I didn’t think I was that comfortable with computers until our EDUC Tech class got underway. Some of that was because my roommate is somewhat of a technophile so my image of the average user was somewhat skewed. I really only know one thing about computers, and that is that you can find anything on the internet. That may sound simple, but when you think of the ramifications it’s rather hefty. If I don’t know what something is I check Wikipedia.org and if I need something other than information of if Wikipedia doesn’t have what I need I google it. I guess another important thing is to be able to reword your searches to improve your results.
I have been an avid computer user for years, we’ve had at least one computer and one video game system in the house as long as I can remember so I’m no stranger to technology, but I think I really started getting more into the internet in college because I started getting into music (making and listening) so I started getting more programs and I didn’t want to pay for stuff because I’m cheap so I ended up with open source and freeware. Which brings me to your question: open source is a type of software that users can edit. Normally, you buy software (say Word) from a manufacturer (Microsoft) who has written all of the code that allows the program to function and you pay them for what they have written. With open source, one person starts making a program and releases an unfinished (but still usable) version and everyone who uses it can write code and improve the software and fix bugs.
As for technology in the classroom, I’ll use whatever resources are available to me to the best of my ability. I am interested in grades 4-6 according to my ED School application but really it doesn’t matter to me, I’ll teach whatever grade.
April 3, 2007 at 11:40 pm
What a good explanation of Open Source! I hope Open Source will be used more and more! Now that you have had class for several weeks how do you think you will use technology with your students? Have you seen some good examples yet? Are you looking forward to it? I know you all are learning at lot. I am enjoying reading your blogs!
Best,
Anne
April 10, 2007 at 5:21 am
I too hope Open Source will become used more and more, and that it will become easier and less clumsy soon. A lot of Open Source resources that I have tried tend to lack the polish and interface of corporate software, but that should change as more and more skilled developers contribute.
I am increasingly interested in wikis as a collaboration tool. I think creating wikis is an excellent alternative to traditional projects such as presentations, posters, skits, and speeches due to the availability to all students outside of class to access the projects. Instead of viewing the projects of others as inaccessible and irrelevant, students can engage them at a more personal level so that the research of others is not solely presented to the teacher for a grade and then trashed.
All we see in class is good examples. Currently I am reading Will Richardson’s book “Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms” and he has some great ideas and references a lot of educators using technology (including yourself several times, it was a bit surreal to be reading about someone who commented on my blog). I am quite excited by the possibilities.