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Wow! My eyes have been opened to a whole new world where technology and Bloom’s taxonomy have aligned due to the evolution of education. As an educator, it is important to reach aspects of Bloom’s taxonomy in the classroom. Also, as an educator, it is important to make sure your students are achieving this through the use of technology integration, particulary if we want to say they are “21st century learners”. I can see many pros in using some of these apps to reach the higher levels of the taxonomy. For instance, many students have fun when creating something on an app, most of the apps or web tools are free and accessible for teachers, and the ability to share information is easy. Of course there are some cons as well. Such as access to these apps. Schools must have the available resources (iPads, chromebooks, laptops, etc.). Also, even more important, teachers need TIME to play around with the tools and practice with them for themselves. Overcoming these obstacles can be done though if there is a well-developed, well-thought out plan involved in the process of integrating technology in the classroom. This plan is not just for our students, but for our teachers as well. Finally, after I took sometime to look up prices for my budgeting matrix, I learned very quickly how costly technology is. However, it is my belief that Google Chromebooks are an example of how companies are trying to bring technology into the classroom at a low cost. I know I spent double on my iPad than I did on my Chromebook and I use the latter one everyday.
Brittany,
ReplyDeleteI agree that it is important for teachers to play the games before assigning them to students. As I found out this year it is also important that teachers are sure that the application that is being used is accessible on the student computers. Our school has different security for students than for teachers so I have to have a student sign on the a computer the day or two before to check that when they are signed on to the computer they can still access everything needed for my activities.
Thanks for sharing, Brittany. I also found it very interesting how Bloom's Taxonomy and technology align. I mentioned in my post about how great it is there are so many different technology tools out there for us to use, but you bring up a good point about how sometimes there can be too much. It's great that there are so many options, but we need to learn how to use these tools before using them in the classroom, which is time consuming. I interviewed and observed a technology integrator at a middle school last week and she mentioned this as well. She tries her best to introduce new apps and tools to the teachers, but they will often come to her with questions about new tools they found themselves. If she has the time she'll sit down and try to learn the new tool so she can help the teachers with it, but often it is last minute help she is asked about and unfortunately she's not familiar with all of the tools out there.
ReplyDeleteThe massive amount of apps out there is overwhelming. I agree, it is so difficult to keep up. Once you finally figure one out a newer and seemingly better app becomes available! Technology changes so quickly, so I think our goal is to first focus on the technology we know and have available before we start integrating a multitude of apps and programs into our curriculums. We need to focus on the programs and tools that are going to build our students skills rather than something new and flashy. I also think we need to understand what our students are using in their personal lives so that we make a connection between school and life. All the apps and programs are great for scaffolding and differentiation but can be distracting when focusing on the main concepts and skills we are teaching our students.
ReplyDeleteNice post, Brittany! The iPad vs. Chromebook debate is surely a popular one! :) I like how you emphasized the need for so-called "sandbox" time for teachers...when they can play around with new tools and figure out how to use them purposefully in their classroom.
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