Using the Internet as a tool within the classroom can be a balancing act. Using it too much can detract students from learning, whereas too little might leave students yawning. However, for one teacher, using the Internet in the classroom is as easy as the ABC's.
According to her website, Trails Optional, Jennifer Deyenburg has taught for ten years in Alberta and Scotland, and has recently completed her Masters in Education with a specialization in Information Technology Leadership at the University of Lethbridge. Although she has the credientials that go along with a technology guru, Jennifer also has a wealth of experience within the classroom as well.
During her video interview Jennifer explains a number of different ways in which she incorporates the Internet into her classroom. I agree with Jennifer's point that the Internet can act as a gateway to learning opportunities outside of the classroom. I think that this feature is what makes education so unique from any other time in history. Resources, such as people and information, can be accessed by teachers and students through the use of technology, which can enrich and enhance learning and classroom experiences. However, Jennifer also mentions that the Internet acts as a two-way system. Information and ideas can also be shared by students and teachers, which allows for collaboration to take place. This notion can also be applied to how students interact with her blog.
Jennifer mentions how some of her students already have ideas about what they will be doing that year, because of what she has posted in her blog. Jennifer puts the information out there and "brings the classroom to the students" before she even meets them. By doing this, students can see what she has to say and bring questions and comments into the real-world classroom. Typically, ideas about teachers takes place between peers or kin, but the Internet adds another dimension to the teacher-student relationship. I think using a blog is a great way to mentally prepare students for the year ahead, and provide background information. This can be particularly useful when starting at a new school, because it could ease some of the tensions students have about the unknown. In addition to her own blog, Jennifer also discusses class blogs.
The use of blogs within the classroom provides students with opportunities to become part of an online community. Through blogs, students can share their ideas in an atmosphere where they don't have all the eyes in the class looking at them. Jennifer mentions how her use of blogs has evolved over the course of her teaching career. I think this will be the case for me as well. As new software and technology is developed so will my understanding and use of blogs. However, as Jennifer notes, protecting student privacy is essential. For instance, using only first names, not mentioning the town, and keeping sibling or friend names private are some of the guidelines Jennifer used with her class. I like how she said she developed these with her students as well, and is something I hope to do when I use blogs. Involving parents with the blogs is another great way to opening a channel of dialogue, and keeping them informed about what is going on in the classroom.
Video conferencing is another tool that Jennifer uses in her classroom. She recalls a time when her and her class stayed up at night to video conference with people from around the world during the Olympics. I think that this a great example of how the Internet can enrich student learning and provide students with memorable school experiences.
After watching this video I hope that one day my repertoire will be as rich as hers. Her use of the Internet within the classroom seems almost seamless. She has so many great strategies that will only continue to grow the more she continues to learn. This video also sparked some ideas for me, and provided me with examples of possible avenues to explore. The Internet is a valuable resource within the classroom, and plays an important role within the realm of education.
References
Fig. 1. ebook3.jpg. Retrieved on July 10, 2013. From http://aceonlineschools.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/ebook3.jpg.
Significant Comments:
http://justinbechthold.wordpress.com/2013/07/10/technology-a-communication-tool-in-the-21st-century-classroom/#comments
http://summerschoolsalmon.weebly.com/1/post/2013/07/topic-4-even-more-communication.html#comments
According to her website, Trails Optional, Jennifer Deyenburg has taught for ten years in Alberta and Scotland, and has recently completed her Masters in Education with a specialization in Information Technology Leadership at the University of Lethbridge. Although she has the credientials that go along with a technology guru, Jennifer also has a wealth of experience within the classroom as well.
During her video interview Jennifer explains a number of different ways in which she incorporates the Internet into her classroom. I agree with Jennifer's point that the Internet can act as a gateway to learning opportunities outside of the classroom. I think that this feature is what makes education so unique from any other time in history. Resources, such as people and information, can be accessed by teachers and students through the use of technology, which can enrich and enhance learning and classroom experiences. However, Jennifer also mentions that the Internet acts as a two-way system. Information and ideas can also be shared by students and teachers, which allows for collaboration to take place. This notion can also be applied to how students interact with her blog.
Jennifer mentions how some of her students already have ideas about what they will be doing that year, because of what she has posted in her blog. Jennifer puts the information out there and "brings the classroom to the students" before she even meets them. By doing this, students can see what she has to say and bring questions and comments into the real-world classroom. Typically, ideas about teachers takes place between peers or kin, but the Internet adds another dimension to the teacher-student relationship. I think using a blog is a great way to mentally prepare students for the year ahead, and provide background information. This can be particularly useful when starting at a new school, because it could ease some of the tensions students have about the unknown. In addition to her own blog, Jennifer also discusses class blogs.
The use of blogs within the classroom provides students with opportunities to become part of an online community. Through blogs, students can share their ideas in an atmosphere where they don't have all the eyes in the class looking at them. Jennifer mentions how her use of blogs has evolved over the course of her teaching career. I think this will be the case for me as well. As new software and technology is developed so will my understanding and use of blogs. However, as Jennifer notes, protecting student privacy is essential. For instance, using only first names, not mentioning the town, and keeping sibling or friend names private are some of the guidelines Jennifer used with her class. I like how she said she developed these with her students as well, and is something I hope to do when I use blogs. Involving parents with the blogs is another great way to opening a channel of dialogue, and keeping them informed about what is going on in the classroom.
Video conferencing is another tool that Jennifer uses in her classroom. She recalls a time when her and her class stayed up at night to video conference with people from around the world during the Olympics. I think that this a great example of how the Internet can enrich student learning and provide students with memorable school experiences.
After watching this video I hope that one day my repertoire will be as rich as hers. Her use of the Internet within the classroom seems almost seamless. She has so many great strategies that will only continue to grow the more she continues to learn. This video also sparked some ideas for me, and provided me with examples of possible avenues to explore. The Internet is a valuable resource within the classroom, and plays an important role within the realm of education.
References
Fig. 1. ebook3.jpg. Retrieved on July 10, 2013. From http://aceonlineschools.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/ebook3.jpg.
Significant Comments:
http://justinbechthold.wordpress.com/2013/07/10/technology-a-communication-tool-in-the-21st-century-classroom/#comments
http://summerschoolsalmon.weebly.com/1/post/2013/07/topic-4-even-more-communication.html#comments
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