WELCOME!
Hello everyone! My name is Daujenae Harps and I would like to welcome you to the blog for fundraising technology at Alamitos Intermediate School. This blog was created for the parents of my students to address concerns/issues, provide information and promote fundraising towards implementing technology at our school. The Parent- Teacher Association (PTA) has made numerous contributions via fundraising for our school site and I am dedicated to ensuring the best possible education for your child(ren) as well. As a result of this dedication, I have made this blog as an effort to keep parents involved as we try to provide educational technology in our classrooms.
YOUR CONCERNS
I understand that, as a parent, you must have concerns about different issues surrounding your child's educational environment. The implementing of technology is an ongoing issue in our school districts and various parents have come to me with their concerns. I would like to address these issues in particular:
- Safety: Access to inappropriate websites via internet, interaction with unknown persons through social media (Facebook, Myspace, Twitter), vision impairment, etc.
- Privacy: Information exchange to unknown parties, computer hacking, etc.
- Lack of Knowledge/ Time: Teachers do not know how to use the materials, takes away from learning other subjects taught by using traditional literature/methods, etc.
All of these concerns are valid and will be handled individually. We want to ensure that your child obtains their education in a time efficient manner, each teacher gets excellent training, internet is restricted to approved websites, and they are learning in a safe environment (physically and digitally).
WHY USE TECHNOLOGY?
Technology is a growing phenomenon. It is essential in the way we teach our youth of today! The use of technological devices makes the classroom environment much easier to mange. Some other reasons to use technology in the classroom are:
- Promotes quick thinking strategies, problem solving, and reading comprehension.
- Prepares children for transition into the working world/ career opportunities (Organizations use all kinds of technology).
- Learning is faster and more efficient, motivates young people and promotes self esteem
-Technology is the ultimate carrot for students. It's something they want to master. Learning to use it enhances their self-esteem and makes them excited about coming to school. --Fifth grade teacher
(Effects of Technology on Classrooms and Students, Office of Educational Research and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education)
CLASSROOM WISH LIST
- Kindle (E-books)
These Kindle devices will be used while learning a story/ novel in the classroom via E-Books (electronic books). I will divide the students into groups and provide questions about the characters, plot, underlying messages/ morals, etc. They will use this method of interactive learning to gain independence in reading comprehension by utilizing touch screen functions, wireless internet, and dictionary functions. This device has numerous capabilities to enhance their educational experience.
- Assistive Technology: Dynavox Maestro
The Dynavox Maestro is a device which will aid in the learning and comprehension for children with disabilities. By using this method of learning, it provides a new era of adaptable educational skills in our schools. This device will primarily be used in my classroom with autistic students by encouraging communication through words, actions, and functions which can be applied to every lesson plan.
THANK YOU FOR VISITING!
I would like to thank you for visiting this blog dedicated to Alamitos Intermediate School's technology fundraising. Now that you have been presented with information regarding technology in the classroom, I hope this will encourage you to become more active in your child's educational environment. Please feel free to research any of the topics or devices mentioned and post your questions/ comments for discussion!
Thank you for taking the first step to becoming involved in your child's technological education.
DISCLAIMER: This blog is an assignment for an educational technology course at National University. It is not a real fundraising blog.
References
A Research Project Sponsored by the Office of Educational Research and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education, Conducted by SRI International (n.d.). Effects of Technology on Classrooms and Students . www2.ed.gov. Retrieved March 10, 2012, from http://http://www2.ed.gov/pubs/EdReformStudies/EdTech/effectsstudents.html
Kelly, M. (n.d.). Integrating the Internet: Concerns and Issues. About.com. Retrieved March 10, 2012, from http://http://712educators.about.com/cs/technology/a/integratetech_2.htm
