Chapter 3- week 3 - Software in Education

Julie Gonzales

J. Jamison

Technology in Education-Assignment #3 

October 14, 2014

 

            Software for educators.  So just at the title of this chapter I have begun to think about technology and how it is often outdated before we even get our hands on this. (*insert rabbit trail…)    How do schools compete with this?  How do schools remain relevant in the ever changing world of technology? How do schools fund a process that changes so quickly?  How do educators remain knowledgeable on with technology?  Software is changing so fast that as soon as it is integrated into the classroom, the kids seem to be the experts on the subject and often times teaching the teacher.  There are not enough hours in the day… (**end rabbit trail). 

            I found this chapter to be very basic.  Most of these systems I am aware of and their functions.  Thankfully in our house we have a handful of operating systems.  We have Apple products- IPad, IPods, IPhones.  We also have a home PC with windows 8, and laptops with windows 8.  I have an Android phone. We also have a Kindle fire, and a Samsung tablet.  I list all these items and it makes me laugh as I have not purchased anyone of them, they have all been given to us.  In my home I reject technology more so than I do when I am out in the world.  We have very strict rules with technology in our house and have one day a week that is technology free.  My girls have to ask anytime they are getting on a devise and they are not allowed to have them in their rooms after bed time.  Everything is charged downstairs.  This helps with monitoring things.  

            Note taking software- I have personally never used this- I am wondering if it really would be more helpful than taking notes long-hang or just typing in a Word document.  I would love to use this if it had voice recognition just like when you do a spoken text.  However a lot can get lost in translation and the punctuation never is done correctly so this would drive me nuts. 

            Grade books software…. I would be curious to take a poll and see how many teachers use grade book software solely.  I would be so nervous to be dependent on this software.  I am sure that even though the software would making grading easier and more stream line that I will never be able to not have a written grade book. I am this way now.  I love to take notes in my spiral notebooks- there is something amazing and powerful about a pen and a piece of paper. I am sure that teachers that are younger than me are more comfortable with gradebook software as technology is a part of their whole life and really just the last ten years of my life.

            I love educational software and have found with my own kids that it is a great resource.  PBS kids, RAZ kids, IXL, Math playground…. I could go on and on.  We have loved these websites.  They are fun, and educational at the same time.  There are amazing programs both software and on the Web that can help with all sorts of areas.  Software for learning a new language, for learning how to play an instrument, and even for how to teach something’s.  We live in a time where technology can be a good thing and the amount of information out there is so vast. 

            Again chapter 3 was a bit of a review, I did however appreciate that it gave a more detailed description of different technology/ software applications.  I find myself more and more dependent on technology every day.  In some ways this is good however it also terrifies me also.  I never want to lose touch with a paper and pencil, with the beauty of hands on learning, or the elements where a teacher is actually needed.  People/teacher Lord willing will never be replaced by computers, technology or software.   

             In the article and video by Judy Willis regarding student’s engagement with video games and learning….I am not sure what to think. First I give her mad props for being a neurologist and then based after 15 years of being with her practice she had more questions than answers for her patients.  Which caused her to take her knowledge as a neurologist and put it into practice and get her education endorsement to be a classroom teacher.  WOW- what a gift she was to her students and to us as future educators.  She sheds positive light on video gaming- yet I am still not sure it is a good thing. Too much of anything is bad.  Balance is needed.  I think the thing that I struggle with the most with this generation of students in their need for instant gratification or feedback- as this is skill that has been taught from gaming.  This is concerning because in real life feedback in usually a process.  The chemistry of our children brains are changing even quicker than adults.  It will be interesting to see how this looks in a few years.   

 

Works Cited

 

Shelly, Gary B., Gunter, Glenda A., Gunter, Randolph E. Teachers Discovering Computer Integrating Technology in a Connected World. Seventh ed. Boston: Course Technology, Cengage Learning, 2012. 490. Print.