Thursday, January 17, 2013

Journal #1


Focus question:

What constitutes a highly interactive, inquiry based learning environment?

A highly interactive, inquiry based environment can be broken down into several different parts. Highly interactive is defined as “providing educational activities in which students and teachers are not just the consumers of what technology offers, but are active creators, shapers and evaluators of the information and experiences that technology presents. Inquiry –based is defined as something “that teachers prepare, deliver, and assess lessons differently while students think critically and creatively about the learning they do and the technology they use.” So when you look at the definition of each part of the whole it’s easier to understand what constitutes a highly interactive, inquiry-based learning environment. It is an environment in which the teacher not only helps the student to create and utilize new ways to use technology that they’ve been given access too, but they also design lessons in which these technologies are the center and the students are encouraged to think differently about each technology.

Tech Tools:

Ultraportable laptop computers

As a teacher in this day and age we need to come to grips with the fact that technology is something that we will need to utilize to be successful. In chapter one of our text book there is a very helpful tech tool portion about Ultraportable laptop computers. It discusses how useful and almost necessary it is to not only have a computer, but to have a lightweight and portable one at your disposal. This way you are able to have constant access to a digital “filing cabinet”, as they refer to it. I just invested in a new laptop this December and I am very happy with its portability and ability to run multiple programs at a quick pace. The book seemed to think that those two aspects were very important. Those, as well as battery life are said to be paramount. I think that little articles like this are incredibly helpful to future educators and should be appreciated for just what they are- helpful tips based n people who’ve been where we are planning to go.

Source:

Maloy, Robert W., et al. Transforming Learning with New Technologies. N.p.:
     Pearson Education, 2011. Print.

1 comment:

  1. I like that you personalized the Tech Tool - and it sounds like you ended up getting a 'good match' laptop with those qualities in mind, as well. It is important to research hardware and software before investing instead of falling for the 'marketing' techniques alone - though we are all vulnerable sometimes! :) You are missing the summary/conclusion, so you'll want to be sure to get all three elements in there for the future posts.

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