Reflective Post

Photo Credit to @Doug88888

Throughout this course I have created and engaged in activities I did not understand or didn’t know existed, such as, creating a blog, assist in creating a wiki, making a lesson plan, as well as creating a digital story. I feel better equipped for other classes now in regards to using technology, and of course better equipped as a future educator. The syllabus states students would develop an internet based project that uses technology, the WebQuest and the teacher website were two projects I completed that fall under that category. I had never heard of a WebQuest before and was concerned about being able to complete it, of course it wasn’t as tricky as I initially thought and I know now that is something I can recreate in the future.

One of my favorite projects this semester was the Pecha Kucha project. I had never heard of that type of Power Point project, I like that it gets to the point and cuts out the wordiness. I also love baking, and consequently eating so that was great for me choosing the topic of How to Make a Strawberry Pizza. I also liked that in most nights of class in the second half there was an interactive activity, I learn best when I actually do something and I liked being able to take back a new ability I did not have before, for example, learning to read and create QR codes. The day of class I was needing to read a QR code and had no idea how to do that, and appropriately enough I was able to learn how to read QR codes that night. As soon as I got home after class I began scanning every QR code I could find in my apartment, from the one on my Sonic cup, to the one on the box of Cheerios in my pantry.

An activity I enjoyed was learning about educational gaming websites. I really enjoyed learning about freerice.com and geoguessr.com, I shared both with my husband and we spent more time than we probably should have playing them. It’s a good thing you use your brain playing them. I found every project to be thoroughly explained and any questions that I had, in or out of class to be answered in a timely manner and I was brought to understand exactly what was expected of me. I can’t really think of any constructive criticism for this course, the course and how the information was presented worked for me and I feel like I have learned a lot that I will take away with me after this class ends.

Resources:

Coleman, Marie. "Syllabus." EME2040: Intro to Tech for Educators. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2013. <https://edison.instructure.com/courses/795192/assignments/3484436>.

Chapter 11: Engaging Teachers and Students in Learning and Self-Reflection

Photo Credit Chaim Zvi via Flickr

 

 

Focus Question 1: What is performance based assessment for teachers and students?

Students are evaluated on their performance based on many different factors including individual group projects, homework, and teacher observations of the student’s attitudes and behaviors. Performance evaluations of teachers are based on different factors, some of which are participation at teacher education courses, new teacher writing assignments as well as cooperating teacher observations of new teacher attitudes and behaviors.

 

Tech Tool 11.2: Online Survey Building Resources

Online surveys are a great tool for the classroom, they give students a voice they may not have, or give them an outlet to share their thoughts on what they may be uncomfortable sharing or too embarrassed to ask in front of the class. Zoomerang provides prompts and templates by broad themes including business and educational. Zoomerang actually keeps an archive of your past surveys for you to use at a later date. SurveyMonkey after going onto its site is now owned by Zoomerang and the same thing now. Poll Builder is based out of the Center for History and New Media at George Mason University. This site allows both students and teachers to create and use simple polls free of charge. This site doesn’t offer the different prompts and templates that the previous two do but it offers research tools in order to make the polls you make more sound.

 

Summary/Important Points:

There were a few items I didn’t know a lot about until I read through this new, the first being a digital portfolio is a collection of educational materials stored electronically. These portfolios contain what a traditional portfolio would, teaching materials, and etc. but in a digital format.

Democratic schools and classrooms are places where students and teachers are able to make decisions about important educational operations together from the academic curriculum to school climate and rules. I think this is an interesting take on wanting students to be involved in the learning process and having a voice. The definite con in this type of learning environment, which in mentioned in this chapter, is how students can make selfish, uninformed decisions that themselves at the time, including no homework and more social time.

Clicker devices really take learning and classroom interaction to a whole new level. Students use these devices to answer questions instantly. Depending on the model students can answer multiple choice, yes or no, true or false, ranking, numeric and short answer questions. Once everyone in the class has answered a question the responses are immediately posted for everyone to see. This a great way to keep students involved in a lesson and to know for sure that everyone is involved based on how many answers are being submitted.

 

 

Resources:

 

Maloy, R. W., Verock-O'Loughlin, R., Edwards, S. A., & Woolf, B. P. (2007). Problem Solving and Inquiry Learning with Software and Web Tools. Transforming Learning with New Technologies (pp. 174-205). Boston: Pearson

Chaim Zvi via Flickr

"About Poll Builder." ww.gmu.edu. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2013. <http://chnm.gmu.edu/research-and-tools/...>.

"Information." www.zoomerang.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Nov. 2013. <http://info.zoomerang.com>.

 

 

 

 

Journal Post #10

 

Chapter 10: Promoting Success for All Students through Technology

 

Photo Credit to Bart Everson via Flickr

 

Focus Question 3: How does assistive technology support efforts by teachers to reach all learners?

Assistive technology makes learning material more accessible to students by minimizing barriers such as learning disabilities, there are so many technologies available now to students that need a little extra help in order to communicate effectively. A perfect example are hearing aids, hearing aids can help a deaf student be able to hear teachers and themselves giving them the ability to speak and communicate effectively, this technology and other assistive technologies assists teachers in being able to reach all of their students, ones who do have obstacles that could hinder their learning ability and ones that do not.

 Tech Tool 10.1: Extra-Large and Online Calculators

The CC16 Extra-Large calculator by Kikkerland is designed for elementary school students. It does everything a regular sized calculator does; adding, subtracting multiplying, dividing, but its large size makes it easier for young students to use with its easy to read display and larger keys. For it being so large, 7” by 11”, it only weighs a few ounces. There is a website by Jim Martindale that is a calculator online center. There are links on the site to more than 22,000 calculation programs many with teaching modules and online simulations. While visiting the site I found that it is not the easiest to navigate. When you do find the correct website there are many subjects listed, I chose mathematics, then many sub-categories emerge, such as Computer Algorithms, Interval Analysis, Scientific Computing, etc, Computer Engineering/Sci. I then chose computer algorithms and was then brought to several options of computer algorithm calculators. This can be a useful tool for someone that knows exactly what they are looking for, since I did not I found it to be slightly confusing and the bright blue wallpaper made my head hurt.

 Summary/Important Points:

 

I did not know that classroom technology tools are classified by Low Tech, Mid Tech and High Tech. Low tech for a reading note taking assignment would be highlighters and post its. Mid Tech would be recorded books and interactive dictionaries. High tech tools for the assignment would be talking books that are made from the classroom books, interactive books, word by word highlighting software, as well as text to speech software. I was not aware some of these technologies existed, these tools would be a great help in the classroom to help students retain learned information.

There is a tool called an electronic speller that would be great for young readers, students can use the speller to find spellings for the words they speak aloud and check the accuracy if their own spelling without the help of an adult. I really like the idea of these since this can promote confidence and also teach the student to figure things out on their own.

 

Digital tools can greatly assist teachers with trying to teach students or with at home assistance with homework, these digital tools, when used correctly can enrich learning for students.

 

 

Resources:

Bart Everson via Flickr

Martindale, J. (n.d.). Martindale's Calculators On-Line Center. Martindale's Calculators On-Line Center. Retrieved November 1, 2013, from http://www.martindalecenter.com/Calculators.

Maloy, R. W., Verock-O'Loughlin, R., Edwards, S. A., & Woolf, B. P. (2007). Problem Solving and Inquiry Learning with Software and Web Tools. Transforming Learning with New Technologies (pp. 174-205). Boston: Pearson

Journal #9

Chapter Nine: Creating and Sharing Information with Multimedia Technologies

   

Courtesy of FPC FPC FPC via Flickr

Focus Question 3: How can teachers use video resources in their teaching?

Teachers can use video resources in their teaching through instructional videos on how to perform a specific task, or educational videos, such as a Bill Nye the Science Guy video in a science classroom to introduce or explain a new topic a little bit better. YouTube videos can be found on a myriad of topics that can be used to accompany a lesson. Videos can show the students new material visually as some people learn better through visuals.

Tech Tool 9.3: Digital Storytelling and Digital Art Making:

Digital Storytelling’s slogan is “Listen Deeply/Tell Stories”. Digital storytelling refers to ways written text, audio and video imagery can be combined to make story presentations.

Digital Art Making is expressed in a website by the National Gallery of Art. NGAkids Art Zone interactives offer an entertaining and informative introduction to art and art history for children. There are a number of interactive activities in which students of all ages can engage in. one imparticular is creating your own jungle with animals and landscapes of your choice.

 Summary/Important Points:

The multimedia technologies that I found to be most interesting were multimodal learning which happens when teachers combine spoken words with visuals or written text with audio or to utilize simulations and models. An example of this can be using a PowerPoint to assist a lesson.

Graphic design is the process of arranging type and images to visually communicate information. This to me reminds me of a Pecha Kucha presentation that relies more on visuals than text.

Alphabet books are made by students to teach spelling patterns, letter sounds, vocabulary words, and reading skills. With the use of a digital camera alphabet books can be illustrated with photos. These can be used for children learning to read and write. By creating their own alphabet books they are forced to think of a word that starts with a specific letter and associate the letter with the item.

Technology is a definite asset in the classroom and can assist teachers in their lessons through audio and imagery.

 Resources:

Maloy, R. W., Verock-O'Loughlin, R., Edwards, S. A., & Woolf, B. P. (2007). Problem Solving and Inquiry Learning with Software and Web Tools. Transforming Learning with New Technologies (pp. 174-205). Boston: Pearson

FPC FPC FPC via Flickr

http://www.nga.gov/content/ngaweb/education/kids.html

Journal Post #8

Chapter Eight: Communicating and Networking with Websites, Blogs, Wikis, and More

 

 

 

 

Dan Zen via Flickr

 

 

 

                                           

Focus Question 2: How can teachers use email or instant messaging to foster information exchanges with and among students?

Email and instant messaging can be a great tool both teachers and students. Email is great for when students have homework or projects they are completing out of class and realize they don’t understand something. They can simply email the teacher their specific question and the teacher can respond back. Instant messaging among students can be great for the same reason, students can give their feedback to each other as well as answer questions before asking a teacher.

 

Tech Tool 8.2: Posting and Publishing with Digital Image Scanners

Scanners are pretty amazing and I have personally used them many times to make my life a lot easier. Whenever you need a copy of something, like a driver license, or birth certificate for official reasons, you can just scan the copy and not have to have the original with you. Digital scanners are even more amazing and can be brought into the classroom. Anything you have that was written down manually can be scanned and uploaded to a computer so you can share with the class a list of books, titles, questions for a test, an itinerary, or even a hand drawing. So you can upload printed or drawn information to a teacher website or a blog. Teachers can also use digital scanners to add visual images, like a hand drawing, to handouts, notes or learning resources for students.

 

Summary/Important Points

As someone that doesn’t know a lot about wikis, I’m interested in learning about them. A wiki is defined as a website or blogspace that is collaboratively edited and maintained by a group of people. The first wiki that I frequently use is Wikipedia. If you want to know the gist about something, you go there. The information is normally pretty accurate but you have to be careful though because anyone can submit the information that it added. The website is maintained, it might just take a little while for the inaccurate information to be caught and removed, which would be terrible if you used the false information for a homework purpose. I of course also use the class eme2040 wiki, it’s convenient since all of the info is added by the teacher, and so if I’m ever unsure of an assignment, I can almost always answer my own question by reading something on there.

Teacher blogs, I think are a great idea. Three ways teachers use blogs are for student learning, specific information about an assignment topic can be posted for students to read. Student/Family communication, parents can access this and see what their child is learning in their class. Professional networking is another way teachers’ use blogs, they can see what other teachers are doing and showing their students and can spread ideas amongst each other.

Blogs, wikis and websites are all great assets to teachers by giving students places to find information on their own.

Resources

Maloy, R. W., Verock-O'Loughlin, R., Edwards, S. A., & Woolf, B. P. (2007). Problem Solving and Inquiry Learning with Software and Web Tools. Transforming Learning with New Technologies (pp. 174-205). Boston: Pearson.

Dan Zen via Flickr

 

Journal Post #7

Chapter Seven: Problem Solving and Inquiry Learning with Software and Web Tools

 

                                  Wayan Vota via Flickr

Focus Question 6: What are intelligent tutoring systems and how can students and teachers use them successfully?

Intelligent tutoring systems are an instructional tool, they present topics and track a student’s performance and correct answers and the teaching approach can be adjusted by the teacher, based on the student’s needs.

Tech Tool 7.2: A Math Learning Game-Zoombinis Logical Journey

The Zoombinis’ series was designed to teach critical thinking, problem solving and mathematical learning to elementary school aged students. Zoombinis are thumb-sized creatures with different types of hairstyles, eyewear, and footwear. There are 625 different possible combinations. The Zoombinis have embarked on a long journey to reclaim their ancestral island home. Using trial and error learning, data analysis, logical reasoning and theory building, the children playing the games guide the Zoombinis through a series of obstacles and puzzles that block their journey. While exploring the Zoombini Logical Journey game I think they are a great tool since it is a game that keeps children interested with a plot, of getting the Zoombinis back to their homeland, while the students have to use critical thinking and problem solving, amongst other skills while playing the game.

Summary/ Interesting Points:

I was not aware of the two different main types of software. They are system software, which is responsible for overall functioning and control of a computer. It includes the operating system, network operating system, database managers, and a TP monitor. Application software performs specific functions in specialized ways to produce a variety of services including word processing, databases, spreadsheets, slides and presentations.

Bloom’s taxonomy is associated with the terms higher and lower orders of thinking. This is an educational tool that was first presented in 1956. Bloom and his collaborators were interested in distinguishing a difference between different forms of thinking, from the basic recalling facts (lower order) to comparison and evaluating theories (higher order).

Games make learning more fun. Children are more apt to learn when a game is involved. Skill-learning games use elements of game play to involve students in learning academic material. I liked reading about the Zoombinis math game. I had never heard of it and after some googling I figured out it is quite a popular learning game for students.

 

Sources:

Zoombinis Logical Journey. (n.d.). Children's Educational Software and Computer Games for School Districts, Schools, Teachers, Parents and Students. Retrieved October 9, 2013, from http://www.smartkidssoftware.com/ndlec138.htm

Maloy, R. W., Verock-O'Loughlin, R., Edwards, S. A., & Woolf, B. P. (2007). Problem Solving and Inquiry Learning with Software and Web Tools. Transforming Learning with New Technologies (pp. 174-205). Boston: Pearson.

Wayon Vota via Flickr

 

 

 

Journal Post #6

Chapter Six: Teaching with Educational Websites and Other Online Resources

Photo credit to Michael Coghlan via Flickr

Focus Question 4: What are WebQuests and virtual field trips?

A WebQuest is an online inquiry by students and is designed and created by teachers. In a WebQuest students follow an electronic map while moving from various web resources to gather information and learn about a particular topic.

A virtual field trip takes students all over the world, using video and or pictures, without ever leaving the classroom.

Tech Tool 6.3: An Interactive Online Field Trip: The Cave of Chauvet-Pont-D’Arc

The Cave of Chauvet-Pont-D’Arc is a cave in France that shows some of the earliest cave paintings ever found. When I visited the website I immediately saw tabs detailing when the cave was discovered, how it was authenticated as truly having the oldest cave paintings ever discovered and how those paintings are being preserved today. If someone is just looking to read the facts about the cave then have questions about how it is today, these are great informative tools that can be easily accessed. There is then an area dedicated to research of the cave, it tells you about the research team, their methods, partners and the results they have achieved. What I found interesting was the geographic context tab concerning time and space, which describes what the cave looked like 100 million years ago and there is even a picture you can scroll over to view the image. There are of course different images of the cave all over the site. It seems to me to be very informative and it set up in a way to make finding specific information very easy.

Summary/Points:

Some terms I was not familiar with and found to be interesting were real-time and recorded data websites, they are like virtual field trips in the way that the data sites provide opportunities for students to enter a setting as an observer.

Teachers can organize electronic resources to address the curriculum by building a standards connector web can be a way to help teacher’s access academic material that can be used to teach about topics that are required by the curriculum.

One of my favorite parts of this chapter that I learned about were the virtual field trips. I had never heard of this before, it is a great concept and there are so many resources online that cater to the concept. A perfect example is the one the book provided about the cave in France, Chateau-Pont-d’Arc. It is perfectly labeled with informative information that makes it extremely easy to navigate and learn.

Resources:

Textbook - Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2011). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc. ISBN:10 0-13-159611-X, ISBN:13 978-0-13-159611-5    

The Cave of Chauvet-Pont-d'Arc. (n.d.). Accueil / www.culturecommunication.gouv.fr / Ministère - Ministère de la culture. Retrieved October 2, 2013, from http://www.culture.gouv.fr/culture/arcnat/chauvet

Michael Coghlan via Flickr

Journal Post #5

Chapter Five: Researching and Evaluating Internet Information                                        

 Credit to Vancouver Film School via Flickr

Focus Question 2: What are search engines and how do they work?

Search engines retrieve information from the internet. A search engine is a software program that use networks of computers to access information about a specific topic from its databases. I use a search engine daily on my iPhone. If it wasn’t for a Google, I would have a lot more questions about various topics/day to day tasks.

Tech Tool 5.1: Photo and Audio Resources on the Web

Flickr is an online photo managing and sharing tool with many instructional options for teachers. Before this class all I knew about Flickr was that it was a database for pictures and that people could add their own to the site. I had no idea the search tools that were available or the creative commons section which makes it incredibly easy for students to find an image for an assignment and not be concerned about copyright infringement. It has become a tool I use not only for school uses but personal as well.

LibriVox offers free audio recordings of published books and other materials. The site’s long term goal is to make all public domain books available free in audio format. Teachers and students could access a book in full or as a chapter a day in audio. This is very remarkable concept. Instead of hauling around heavy books students could just use a tablet to access work and this also would benefit blind students or students that struggle with reading since it is audio.

Summary/Interesting Points:

I didn’t know there were search engines specifically geared towards children. One is called quintura.com, it is a visual search engine for students that features group of keywords in a visual display for navigating search results. These search engines could be used in school and provide students with the information they are looking for as well as the skills to pick out the information that is right for them while not being bombarded with items that could be of inappropriate nature.

A problem with information on the internet is that not everything you find is true. Misinformation is either false, out of date or incomplete information. A type of misinformation is called disinformation which is when knowingly false of malicious information is posted online. Students must learn the importance of making sure they only use reputable websites. A way to figure this out is to use the AAOCC method which consists of checking if the information has accuracy, authority, objectivity, currency and coverage. I feel like these points are so important and I feel I understand them more after using them for the rubric assignment.  

 

Resources:

Transforming Learning with New Technologies

Flickr.com

Vancouver Film School via Flickr

Journal Post #4

                              Chapter Four: Integrating Technology and Creating Change

 

Credit of Massachusetts Education Secretary Matt Malone via Flickr

 

Focus Question #5: How does technology promote educational change?

Technology is constantly changing keeping up with it through education seems necessary. When you integrate technology into the classroom through assignments, instruction or file recording educational change is happening. There are Type I and Type II of technology applications. Type I is automate which means to incorporate technology into your everyday life. For example a teacher that instead of using a pen and paper to calculate grades would now use a calculator. The tools available have changed but the work being done has not. It represents traditional uses of computers in schools with only a focus on instruction as opposed to thinking outside the box with interaction. Type II is Infomate. Infomating is when technology changes an activity by redesigning and refining it. An example of this is a runner whose distance is being tracked by her running shoes and that information is sent to her Ipod. It represents new directions with technology use including interactive software and programs that problem solve. Technology makes learning more exciting and innovative with every new invention that comes along.

Tech Tool 4.1: Online Technology Integration Resources

 This tech tool is geared towards new teachers and to give them tools to master technology integration. Edutopia is an information and inspiration based website with a collection of technology integration resources. National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers (NETS-T) has two different resource types, the first is digital edge learning exchange, which involves videos about tech integration and there are also rubrics you can use to assess how affectively you are integrating technology in your own teaching. NCTE Inbox and NCTE Inbox blog were interesting to me, the inbox is a weekly summary in email form of important stories in the language arts field as well updates on technology related updates and issues. The inbox blog explores different topics of interest to technology using teachers for any specific subject.

Summary/Interesting Points:

There are many ways from taking screenshots of notes taken on a tablet, to online assignments and grading, amongst others that technology is being effectively integrated into the classroom environment. I was interested in the one/two/three time activities. It is a way of structuring students learning environment for teaching purposes. The classroom is split into one/to/three time groups and this splits a classroom into three smaller instead of just one large one. It promotes group work, this wouldn’t be possible with younger age groups if it wasn’t for computers to occupy the groups while the teacher has the chance to work one on one with students who need it. The fact that technology is constantly changing and we need to keep up with it to keep children up to date and interested is a concept to which I am now painfully aware.

Resources:

Transforming Learning with New Technologies

Matt Malone via Flickr

Flickr.com

Journal Post #3

                                                      

                           Chapter Three: Developing Lessons with Technologies

            

                                      Photo Credit: Melanie Holtsman via Flickr

Focus Question 4: How can teachers evaluate and assess their students?

Standardized testing is both a common and mandatory way to assess a student’s knowledge of the material that had been reviewed. Critics speculate standardized testing only measures a limited amount of knowledge while forcing teachers to teach the test style curriculum. Performance evaluation is another effective form of assessment based on how students can complete a specified task.

 

Tech Tool 3.2: Online Educational Testing Policy

The Fair Test: The National Center for Fair and Open Testing is an online source for teachers to use to keep informed about testing policies. Fair Test maintains information about testing policies including misuse of test scores, gender bias in standardized testing, disputes over testing errors amongst others.

 Chapter Summary Points

-I found it mind boggling but at the same time believable that it is estimated that over 100 million standardized tests are given to K-12 students in the U.S. each year.

-Since the No Child Left Behind Act, schools either are considered “highly performing” or “underperforming”, based on the students average test scores. High performing schools that do not show year to year improvement on test scores, which is considered very difficult, are deemed needing improvement. State education officials decided that is a very high bar for most schools to achieve and wanted different performance evaluation criteria determining school success.

-There is a debate on how electronic grading systems do not assess a student best. If a child gets a question wrong and the teacher graded it and could see the student’s misconception, they can address that with further instruction. Using a test assessment to record answers takes away the teacher’s ability to make sure students fully understand material.

Resources

Transforming Learning with New Technologies

Melanie Holtsman via Flickr

 

Journal Post #2

                                                                

            Chapter Two: Transforming learning with unique, powerful technology

                            

                                       Photo Credit: Jeff Peterson from Flickr

 

Focus Question 6: How does technology provide feedback to support technology?

A student’s ideas and curiosities are supported by technology through a want for to learn and to be able to on their own without direction from a teacher. Examples of these technological tools used are email, discussion boards, blogs, instant messaging, amongst others.

Tech Tool 2.1: Web Resources for Visual Learning

A few of the web resources listed that seem useful and interesting are the E-Skeletons Project, it offers 2D and 3D versions of human and non-human primate’s skeletons. Physics Education Technology offers interactive simulations of motion, heat, electricity, light and other forces and properties. The Whale Hunt documents through slideshows nine days in which Eskimos planned and executed a whale hunt.

Chapter Summary Points

-There are many different technologies available to both teachers and students today. The three points of the chapter I found intriguing were that technology has transformed learning through visual learning, information research and retrieval as well as creative self-expression.

-A research project, Teaching Internet Comprehension to Adolescents, has noted that less than 10% of the study’s 7^th graders check the accuracy of information they find online, while 80% don’t read Google search results because they don’t know how to accurately read the information.

-I like the quote and the point that was brought from The How People Learn series, it was found that human learners from infants to adults are “goal directed agents who actively seek information”.

Resources

Transforming Learning with New Technologies

Jeff Peterson via Flickr

 

 

 

Journal Post #1

                                                                                                                                                                                                      Focus Question 3. What constitutes a highly interactive, inquiry based learning environment?

A teacher willing to converse back and forth with students while considering their views, all while integrating technology into the classroom and engaging through computers assists students to grasp and retain the information being taught to them is a foundation for a highly interactive learning based environment.

 

Tech Tool 1.1 Ultra Portable Laptop Computers

Computers are a major tool in teaching from preparing lesson plans to posting grades online, to typing up work to hand out to students. Just these reasons alone make a computer invaluable to a teacher. Most teachers do not solely work at school, work gets brought home with them, making a personal computer necessary. Most schools provide a desktop for teacher use in classrooms but having your own portable computer to take to and from work to home is imperative. Before choosing which laptop to purchase three factors should be considered, battery life, weight and memory. Once decided which qualities are most important for usage the decision will be made easier.

Chapter Summary Points

-          I found it interesting how background, including race, family income and parental education levels all vary the technology and/or internet use of a child.

-          I liked the breakdown of new skills, referred to as 21^st century skills are being emphasized in schools now. 21^st century skills are skills needed to succeed and understand in a highly technological and information based society. These skills are being able to make informed judgments, solve complex problems, think creatively, be able to collaborate and effectively communicate with others and use information in new and innovative ways. All of which are great assets and characteristics to make someone a productive member of society.

-          Digital disconnect between teacher and student is something I would see myself being a part of if I were teaching now. That refers to teachers feeling less confident with technology and not using more than basic integration in the classroom in comparison to computer savvy students being able to use systems in and outside of school with ease.