Literacy with ICT

My classroom will integrate a wide range of digital technology devices. It will be BYOD (bring your own device). Technology is now essential to learning today. Technology enables students to access any information they want at the click of a button. We live in exponential and exciting times! We need to exploit our students knowledge of technology. As educators we should guide our students in the responsible use of technology and how to think critically about the sources they find. All my lesson will in some way involve an aspect of technology such as computers, projector, Smart board, etc. Students need to know how to use technology appropriately to be responsible adults.

Vygotsky and technology

Vygotsky's research on childhood development can be applied to children and their use of technology. Vygotsky's theory revolves around the social interaction of children that leads to a greater level of development. I think that the use of social media such as Hotmail, Facebook  twitter, or Google docs can enable students in the classroom to perform at higher levels because of the positive interaction. Students operate best within their zone of proximal development (ZPD), and students can have a higher ZPD when amongst higher cognitively functioning peers. So, I strongly believe social media used responsibly for education can be greatly beneficial.

Experience through Weebly Live Training

The live training on Weebly is extremely helpful for someone who is beginning but wants to look advanced! The support staff shows you how to add your own background images by editing the html code, an advanced strategy. You can definitely expand your initial template immensely. The quick tips and information the video provides in the beginners section allows you to build a quick knowledge base. My e-portfolio is coming along at a rapid pace and has a sharp, professional feel. The videos give your site an advantage over others by providing those little inside details.

Here is the link to awesomeness: http://help.weebly.com/live-training.html

Social Media and the Teenage Brain

Today in Chris Brown's class, Adolescent Development, we watched Nature of Things with David Suzuki. The episode dealt with the nature of the teenage brain, how it develops with interaction with the environment and dispelling myths about the teenager. Teenagers today are the authorities on technology and social media, something that influences business, education, and commerce across the globe. They are at the forefront of a dynamic new field, in which they can interact on the large scale with many friends expressing and sharing ideas, opinions, and information that all aids development. The brain at this stage absorbs the information from the environment so teenagers develop exponentially. Impulsive actions and risk taking are part of teenager development and should be allowed. Teenagers can flourish on-line by simply playing around and building their knowledge through interaction. Students, as a result, should be allowed to explore their potential.

Website construction

So today I have begun full scale construction of my weebly-based site. I have created a word cloud with a collection of words related to ICT and education. The word cloud is now my title picture, it looks great. I have chosen an appropriate design, simple and sharp, to convey myself as a professional. I established a number of pages that include my resume, classroom management plan, my story, an introduction, a blog, and  professional development and experience. The site will continuously be a work in progress as I will contribute to it throughout my career. Below is my site URL:

http://jeremyroberts.weebly.com/index.html

Guest Speakers in Class

Today in ICT class we had to guest speakers from St. James school division. As a class we learned about creative commons and photo sharing. The site, Compfight.com, was an excellent resource for photos. Teachers need access to resources that do not violate legal barriers and sites like this make that possible. Using metaphorical thinking we can connect ideas with photos. Pixlr allows for simple and concise photo editing with some interesting design options. The site truly great, highly recommended. Here is the image I created in class today:

After we accomplished the editing process we shared it on Dropitto.me. I think I will definitely employ this technology in my classroom. 

First Blog Post Ever

Learning the process of establishing a blog was relatively easy. With quick access such as this to share and express ideas and opinions, blogging may be something that I will continue to do, possibly even with my class. I have gone head first into the possibilities of using information and communication technology, started my first blog and website on the same day. Whoa! Actually learned to use three different web page sites: Yola, wikispaces, and weebly. What a good start to a complete new world!