The Technology Future - Discussions on New Technology for the Classroom

Many of you know I am a fan of technology both inside and outside of the classroom.  With technology moving so fast, I do wonder if schools will be keeping up so I want to send this your way.

 My concern is based on engagement.  What I fear is that children will become disconnected from truly engaging if technology used at home is significantly more advanced than that found at school.

I think collaborative learning using technology will help find children's passions more effectively - and more often.

 “We Don’t Need No Stink’n Textbooks” #Beyondthetextbook

So, as I read this, I think there are perhaps a few things that I believe are benefits of using technology that may not have come up in their discussions.  

Particularly, I believe that things that take teachers significant time should be automated.  To me, this means that personal development and better lesson plans will come out of having the extra time.  All I had to ask myself is why a teacher would be manually grading tests or exams any longer (outside of answers that require long answers written out).  I think that everyday quizzes, tests and assignments should be digitally cataloged without needing eyeballs or data entry.

Could teachers be using that grading time for more productive purposes?  

So, without any more drama on my end, I leave you with this.  Technology in the classroom is good and it is important and we all should support innovation that helps schools better engage with children.

Ok, Until next time!
____________________

Twitter.com/believekids

Elementary School Fundraising

Blogs in the Classroom - and now your PTA blog!

There's evidence that blogging is good.  Good for students and education.  Basically, writing and reading provides the foundation for education (read The educated blogger: Using weblogs to promote literacy in the classroom).

Now that we've agree that blogging is good for students and teachers, let's determine if blogging is good for your PTA. 

I personally believe that writing is a way to reinforce ideas - your ideas.  The process of writing clarifies and organizes as you write them.  By explaining clearly on a blog, what you really do is allow yourself an opportunity to see any problems, pitfalls or issues with what you are explaining.  The flipside is that fun and exciting things may come to light that you may not have even thought about.

I believe a PTA blog should be used to clearly illustrate goals and achievements and explain special events.  Blogs are the best 'home base' for your PTA photos and videos as well.  Take your blog posts to a new level by linking to them from Twitter and Facebook and even more rewarding will be linking to your PTA blog articles directly from the school newsletter or school website!

As long as you are thinking through what you are posting being sensitive to some very basic common sense rules, you'll be posting quality stuff in no time!

Ok, until next time!

P.S. you can check out a few of the blogs I run below.  The Fundraising PLN blog is a bit snazzy for typical use, however, the Believe school fundraising blog below is a completely free blog as is this one you are reading now. Truth be told, this Blogger blog is far easier to use than Wordpress and integrates seamlessly into your Google account.

_________

www.BelieveKids.com
www.Twitter.com/BelieveKids
www.Facebook.com/BelieveKids
www.BelieveKids.com/Blog/
www.BelieveFundraising.Wordpress.com