The first section I chose to discuss was about computer technologies and Web 2.0 tools. Before reading this section in Chapter 2, I did not even know what Web 2.0 tools were. Now, I know that these technologies include, wikis, blogs, social bookmarking, podcasts, photo-sharing websites, virtual worlds and many other highly interactive education based websites. Teachers should be using all of these tools to the best of their advantage because it can really help students learn in positive ways. It also helps students develop the skills to critically analyze data that comes from different resources. I feel that if schools started to use computer technologies in grade school (like they are now) it will really benefit them in their future. For example, since I grew up learning from a textbook and a chalk board, it is a little more difficult to get use to using websites and blogs because I never had experience with it until now.
Second, I enjoyed reading about the different groups of technology users. The Pew Internet and American Life Project (2009) divides Americans into different categories based on how they use technologies and computers. Some categories consist of digital collaborator, ambivalent networker, media mover, roving node, desktop veteran, drifting server and many more. I participated in a quiz online that is called,
"What kind of Tech User Are You?'" Some of the questions asked if you were familiar with who certain internet leaders were, or what "URL" stands for. My results were 6 out of 12 I got correct. I did not think I would be the best at this type of quiz, but I tried. It said I scored better then 48.8% of the public, below 32.6% and the same as 18.7%. Overall, I found this website very interesting because it made me realize that I have so much more to learn about technology.
Third, I read about different teaching philosophies. The philosophy I will be using in my future classroom will be student centered teaching. This method of teaching is progressive, constructive and project- or problem- based teaching. Teachers engage the students with others, ask questions and create puzzles. It is important for teachers to increase their students ability of learning, and I feel that this philosophy will be best for me. Teachers have many responsibilities in a classroom such as taking on the "teacher role", setting learning goals for students, to be motivational and organized. Every teacher will have his or her own method or way of teaching, and as long as they are guiding their students in the right direction as far as learning, then it does not matter what philosophy is chosen.
Resources:
Maloy, R. , O'Loughlin, R., Edwards, S., & Woolf, B. (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education Inc.
Web IQ Quiz. (2014, November 25). Retrieved September 10, 2015.
A Glossary to DEMYSTIFY the jargon of the online world. (2010, August 10). Retrieved September 10, 2015.
