Chapter 1
Chapter one is about the integration of
technology into classrooms. Chapter one talks a lot about the ACOT or The Apple
Classrooms of Tomorrow Project. This was started in 1985 where Apple computers
began showing how having technology in the classroom will change the way
teachers teach and how children will learn. ACOT staff went into a few schools
trying to show how technology was basically going to change our lives. ACOT was showing how technology in the
classroom would aid in learning, not replace any other tool of curriculum.
This was a great idea or start off point for
integrating computers into the classroom. I do use technology everyday. I do
daily routines like going over the calendar and playing educational games.
Teachers are at a greater advantage today than in 1985 because so many people
have created good educational websites that can be used and are easy to use. In
my classroom I have a bunch of technology I don’t know how to use because no
one really has the time to teach me and I don’t have hours of time to just play
around and learn it. It ends up being kind of wasted because we have people who
come in for an hour and say here do this, this, and this, but they don’t really
show us. I have some technology background but the technology they use in the
schools seems to be pretty non-user friendly. I just want to use it as an aid
in teaching and if it takes me forty-five minutes to figure out how to turn it
on and it only takes me two seconds to open the book at this point I’ll just open
the book. Which is sad because technology has so many different aspects that
can be useful.
First let me say I am glad I was not alone! I read all of Chapter 1 before I realized I was reading the wrong book. :) With that being said, it was certainly a good read..
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, the ACOT program was a great way to begin integrating technology into the classroom. I was really surprised that the materials included more than just computers (cameras, video recorders, etc). I had never considered allowing students to create videos as part of lesson plan until I read this chapter. Would you ever consider using video production in an elementary education classroom & if so, how?
-Nicki
Definitely! Probably not in a 1st grade setting unless the cameras were waterproof and wrapped in a rubber case so they would not crash and die when they are dropped every few minutes. If I was a 3rd, 4th, or 5th grade teacher I would have my students do this all of the time. Especially because I was a video producer before I was a teacher. I would actually be able to help them when they have the technical problems. I am certainly not hesitant of the camera or putting the material on the computer and editing in it. I got to take a video class in High School and loved it! I learned so much and wasn't needing toothpicks to keep my eyes open in class.
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