Welcome Parents to Room C-18’s classroom blog.
I have created this blog so parents and students can stay up to date with things taking place in the classroom. Parents, this blog is a way for you to stay informed on events and news within your students English class. I would love this to be a place where we can all discuss issues, comments, concerns and everything else under the sun. I understand that life gets hectic and not everyone has time to call or come and see the classroom, so I want this to be the next best things to a face to face conversation. I will promise to stay on top of updating the blog so everyone can be well informed.
First off I would like to encourage all parents to become involved with out schools wonderful PTA (Parent-Teacher Association). Currently, our PTA is trying to fundraise to get more technological tools in the classroom ie. Computers, Smart Boards, ELMO’s, etc. We are not asking for your money, but just trying to get more parents involved. I understand many parents have reservation about the ever growing technology being used in the classroom. Many parents see technology as distraction, and allows students to “goof off” but in all actuality technology in the classroom can be a wonderful tool to a great education. Students need to have technology in the classroom because they live in a time where technology is everywhere. By allowing students to become familiar with it in the classroom, it can further their abilities in the future. "Technology such as word processing, spreadsheets, simulations, multimedia, and the Internet have become increasingly essential in many job areas. Students who use these in school have a head start on what to do in the workplace" (Roblyer, M.D., Doering, A.H., 2010, p. 15). Unfortunately, not all students have the opportunity outside of the classroom to use technology and by allowing students to have access to these advances in the classroom they can be monitored to ensure proper use.
I am hoping that with the fundraising efforts our classroom can get a Smart board, and in class computers.
Smart Board: The Smart Board is an interactive whiteboard. This board allows a very interactive lesson plans, that you to write, erase and move objects with a pen provided as well as with you fingers. Through the Smart Board is also a way to use multimedia in the classroom. It allows teachers to use the internet as well as things like powerpoints, word processor, etc. which is a great way to be able to show examples to students much faster. http://www.smartboards.com
In Class Computers: Our students are at an age in which they need to be familiar with computers and the benefits that they serve. In this class we will use the computers to research, create projects, learn how to write resumes, essays and many other components. Sites that are inappropriate will all be blocked and students will not be allowed to access them in any way. By having a set of computers in the classroom, it allows students who do not have easy access to a computer, to have a resources in or after school. We are looking to get Mac computers because they are easy to use and have a lower virus rate.
I am looking forward to this year with you and your students. If you have any questions, comments or concern's please feel free to contact me through e-mail of through this blog. I encourage everyone to become involved with our schools PTA.
**DISCLAIMER*
This blog is an assignment for an educational technology course at National University. It is not a real fundraising blog!!
Roblyer, M.D., Doering, A.H. (2010). Integrating Educational Technology into Teaching, Allyn & Bacon, 2007, Boston.
