Assignment 1 Blog

 So I know it's a super lame title, but that was kind of all I could think of.  :S

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My name is Jenna, I am in PS1 at the U of L. This is a picture of me all dressed up to sing with my chorus Southern Accord, when we did a show in Red Deer; and that is my youngest son (I have three).

Today was our first day in Communications and Technology Education (a.k.a. Ed 3508, hence my blog title). It was awesome, seriously. The coolest thing I learned today (so far) was about Google Docs. Did you know you can work on a document with someone across the world (or across the classroom) simultaneously while it is hosted on Google Docs? How cool is that? Your grade tens could work in groups to rewrite Shakespeare into modern, even trendy terms, even when they can't meet up as a group. Or you could have your dad who lives in B.C. edit your paper for you and see the changes he makes as he saves it.

I had no idea technology was so important to use in classrooms today. I graduated from high school eleven years ago and we still used overhead projectors all the time. Now they have Smart boards (and I can't wait to figure those things out!) and create Power Point presentations.

Here are some differences between teaching in the 20th century and the 21st century that I learned today, but probably wouldn't have thought about otherwise:

Did you know that in Alberta, technology in the classroom is a REQUIREMENT? Yep, technology should just be a 'way of doing things' (ITC info). For example, you could use a blog (web log) to keep track of assignments, even have students post their assignments so they work harder because they know anyone can see it after they post it. The blog can also be used like a "filing cabinet", keeping track of their assignments and giving their teachers the ability to assess how far they have come.

Student's need to be able to use technology effectively, because they will need it in their life beyond school. According to my Prof, Dr. Lorraine Beaudin, 35% of the jobs ten years from now, do not even exist yet. The technology students will be using in school, could help them create new jobs after they graduate, or even before!