Final Reflection

Sorry that my final reflection is a few days late, but I wanted to utilize the entire 7-day trial period before I reflected on Classroom 2.0. This Ning site provides teachers and other education professionals the much needed opportunity to share their experiences with technology integration within ANY classroom. So often, we as teachers are forced to “do more, with less”; an online environment like Classroom2.0 eases that task by saving us trial-and-error time and by pointing us in the direction of the most effective practices. The interactivity offered by Classroom2.0 goes beyond teachers sharing ideas within the realms of a discussion board; the site provides outside links and daily emails to tutorials, actual classroom demonstrations and even webinars that’s available the all of its users. I plan to remain an active member of Classroom2.0 because it is really a good resource to have in my educational toolbox.

3D Game Lab

When I visited Classroom2.0, I saw that a video had recently been added about 3D Game Lab. I have always been sort of skeptical about gaming within instruction and their benefits on student learning; I’m an EOC teacher and as many of you know, we don’t have time for games (literally and figuratively). Of course I recognize the motivational and engagement aspects that gaming offers students, I just haven’t been sold on the quality of content that games cover, especially for mid- and upper-level math. However, I still peruse various supplemental math sites that offer games and/or simulations just to see if any new, useful interactions have emerged. That is why when I viewed the snippet for 3D Game Lab I got a bit excited because one thing that they advertised was curriculum-aligned content that “meets the national standards”.  Seems like my prayers regarding gaming within my class has been answered. Check out the video clip.

Join me at Classroom 2.0

I recently became a member of Classroom 2.0, a Ning space geared towards social media in the classroom. Educators are encouraged to participate in discussions ranging from evaluating Web2.0 tools to social aspects in today’s schools. It is rather refreshing to candidly partake in discussions around the good and bad of technology in school. For instance, I contributed to the reoccurring debate of cell phones in the classroom and how I feel as though they should not be allowed. My reasoning is mainly because students have already linked cell phones as a tool for leisure and socialization; therefore, it will be difficult to get them to dissociate the tool to be used as intended. And because there are so many types of cell phones, it may difficult for the teacher to provide instructions and/or demonstrations on how they are to be used.  Plus, there are several other tools and software that can perform the same (if not more) than the cellular devices.

Whether you agree or disagree with any of the Classroom 2.0 postings, the environment is so welcoming that members feel compelled to state their position. I’ve skimmed through several posts so far there’s so much insight and ideas available.