Educational Technology

This week in class we have reviewed the past of educational technology and how it has evolved over time. Below are some questions that reflect the way that I feel about educational technology and then a basic outline of the path that technology has taken and how we have reached the point where are at this current moment.

Some questions that we were asked to think about this week are:

1. What are some of the hurdles that educational technology faces?
One hurdle that educational technology has faced over time is that because technology changes so fast, it is difficult to keep up with it which in turn makes it harder to use effectively in the classroom. Another hurdle is that some teachers or educators do not believe that the updated technology is useful and they get stuck in their ways. Lastly, schools that are in impoverished conditions may not be able to afford the technology that other schools have. 

2. What can teachers, in general, do about them?

Teachers can be proactive in learning about technology. Often times I see that students are showing teachers new ways of using old technology or how to properly operate newer devices. It should be the teachers responsibility to get specific training on these devices and be able to appropriately use them.

3.What is/will be your own personal way of handling these hurdles when you are teaching?

 As an educator, I hope to be up to date on the technology that I use in my class. I think it is important because students are surrounded by technology these days and they obviously respond to it well. I want to be able to provide an appropriate balance between using technology and not, but also to be able to effectively teach using both styles.

Microsoft vs Google

This week we did assignments that dealt with the differences between Microsoft Word and PowerPoint compared to Google Docs and Slides. The assignments we completed for both were very similar but the way that each document was prepared differed in many ways.

• Now that you've completed similar assignments using Microsoft Word and PowerPoint and Google Doc and Slides what are the pros and cons to each?
• The pros of Microsoft:
• the operating system is more familiar
• the layout is easier to navigate
• it's easier to figure out by yourself
• there are more options for the design and layout of the project
• easy to share via e-mail attachment
• The pros of Google:

• easier to share with peers 
• easier to submit assignments
• easier to see peer edits
• Cons of Microsoft:
• you have to pay for it
• limited space available based on computer space
• Cons of Google:
• offers less accessibility than Microsoft
• more difficult to navigate

• Did you run into any issues?
• When completing the assignments, the most trouble I had was figuring out the google products. I expected them to work in similar ways as Microsoft, but this was not the case.

• Is there one you prefer more than the other and why?
• I prefer to use Microsoft because I am familiar with the operating system and even when they update the software I can still figure it out. Google products seem so foreign to me, however I like that you can edit other people's documents.

• What makes more sense to you to use with your students?
• I think that it makes more sense to use the google products with students because they can see direct comments made by the teacher and by other students. It is also easy to figure out basic functions and once you get the hang of it, it is more convenient. 

Internet Safety

For this week's blog we were asked a series of questions about internet safety. The questions (and answers) are as follows:

• When you are the teacher, what will you consider when you have younger students searching the internet? 

In the future, one thing that I will consider as a teacher is that not everything on the internet is as it seems. There are people, predators, and scammers who may try and take advantage of students who are unaware of the potential dangers. Other things that I would also consider are that there are many websites that contain material that may be inappropriate for younger viewers and that they may not know how to distinguish between information that is credible and that which is not. Also, not all search engines are age appropriate because they may be too difficult for the students to navigate or learn how to use. The internet has so much valuable information that we can gain so much knowledge from and the material is infinite and on your computer you can have all of that at the tips of your fingers. 

• Will you present it as a scary thing or a positive thing?

Overall, I will present the internet as a positive thing, however, when explaining the dangers I will be very cautious to warn my students of the hazards and bad things out there. The internet is very exciting and extremely useful when used correctly. 

• What policies are you aware of that schools have in place to protect students?

The only policies that I have experienced or that I am aware of to protect students are that many websites are blocked- like YouTube and sometimes Wikipedia. The only way to get on to these websites were if the teacher entered a code to override the block. Another policy was that we were required to have internet safety courses and had to past a test and get parental permission before being granted internet access.

• Find and share some solutions or good resources that may help with this topic.

Some solutions are to give the students a list of alternative search engines such as:

• KidRex
• KidzSearch
• Kidtopia 
• for a list of more child friendly websites click here

Another solution is to make sure the children are well educated on the potential dangers and know how to correctly use the internet. This can be achieved by showing them many types of stimulus to get the point across such as videos, articles, and even quiz them on the material.