EDUC 422 Blog #2

This week's class was very interesting because I was able to learn more about useful tools in order to use for both my future teaching career, but also today to assist in my preparation for my career. I had not even realized, (even though I primarily use Yahoo as my choice of search engine), that these resources were right at my fingertips! The Yahoo Groups was an essential tool in which we learned for an example can assist in finding lesson plans in the future that have worked for other teachers and are willing to share their successful findings, (especially during the first and most chaotic years of teaching). Another tool that we learned about was the Yahoo Briefcase which will also assist in "making life a little easier" as a teacher. Not only did I learn that this tool creates for better organization, but also a way for the parents of my future students to be able to feel like they have a greater involvement in their child's educational journey throughout my class. Though it was interesting learning about these tools that I will be excited to use in the near future, the most helpful piece of information learned this week was regarding successful web searches. Currently a college student, it was no surprise that I felt this was the most informative piece of information learned this week. (I'm sure it is because I can use this information immediately, as I am in the process of preparing research for a paper in one of my other courses.) Lastly, the Netiquette article that we read and discussed during class brought to my attention that there are many things that I should know when using e-mail. I now know that understanding appropriate conversation within e-mail is just as important as within face-to-face conversation! I had never considered Netiquette, but with everything becoming more technology-based it is necessary.

The article assigned for homework was very interesting. I think that it is a common understanding that technology is important to include within the curriculum because it acts as another resource to further the learning process. The article also mentions the importance of technology as a way of learning through experience. The example mentioned was very interesting because as I recall back to my own childhood my parents were firm believers in my sisters and I spending the majority of our "playtime" outside and very rare were we allowed to watch television. Therefore as young children, (before we were old enough to begin school), we learned from experience and that was through our "outside playtime." Though I have noticed that the children I have babysat spend their "playtime" on the computers in their home. The computer acts as a mode of their own experience through educational games and interaction on the computer. In the end, with technology already playing a major role in their lives, children will most likely expect to use technology within their classroom experience.