Gamification

I found tonight's class a bit confusing. The topic of gamification was foreign to me. I feel the idea is positive because it creates a way for course content to become more relatable to the current generation of digital native students. Using gamification in the classroom opens new doors and expands the mind of students in a whole new way. In the Cuesta Learning video I was amazed to see young children creating video games on their own. Gamification creates rigorous challenges for students to better use their imaginations when relating to education. The use of creating and paying games in the classroom allows students to see the progress they make and how they have improved from one assignment to another. In addition, being able to share the finished products of their games with peers creates a sense of accomplishment for the students. The students are able to socialize in a whole new way through the games. Although there is the concern that using games in the classroom creates a competitive environment I believe the overall ideals of gamification is positive. 

Gamification and use of technology in the classroom is very beneficial, it makes students excited about school. Technology is motivating youth to have the desire to learn, this was apparent as well when we looked at the video on the students in Singapore. Watching the students and teachers in Singapore discuss how the students were not dreading attending school, made me think know wonder Asian countries are more advanced in technology. Singapore and other areas have embraced technology to make academics more interesting, leading to MOTIVATION! Motivated Students are students who want to learn. 

Have a good night everyone!

Immigrant vs. Native

How does technology fit into the classroom? 

In tonight's class we looked at whether technology really fits into the classroom. Technology is changing at such a fast pace many teachers including myself are at risk of being left behind. I am a digital native. In my lifetime cellphones and the internet have become the norm. I use a computer everyday for work, leisure, and school. Although I am classified as a digital native now, my status may change five years from now because the rapid rate that technology continues to change and evolve, it is difficult to keep up. 

This constant growth of technology makes it very difficult for educators to use technology in the classroom, the students are more advanced than the teachers in much of today's technology. In the Digital Immigrant and Native reading we looked at how to bridge the gap between the two parties, native and immigrant, so that educators can engage students in the academic content while not overwhelming the digitally immigrant teachers. I feel it is important we as educators use technology to provide our students with immediate access to information because students are use to the fast responses they receive from ipads, televisions, the internets, and cellphones. 

Yes, the immediate access to information creates new challenges for educators because it forces teachers to master new technological tools but it can make teaching easier as well. I provides teachers a fast way to keep students interested in course content, it provides new strategies to guide learning, taking stress of teachers. The use of technology in the classroom only requires teachers to ensure the information students are retaining is accurate. Google, AOL, Yahoo, MSN, Wikipedia, ect have made access to information instant but not always correct. I feel that not only is important to use technology to engage our students in academic content in a way that grasps their attention, but to ensure our students are receiving the right information. Technology can provide a huge helping hand to educators despite the digital gap but it does need to be monitored. 


Have a great weekend everyone!! 

First Day on the BLOG

Tonight in class we covered how to use and create our google accounts and personal blogs. The course requirements were explained and all the assignments were given a brief explanation. The class was given an introduction to an interactive media website "Corkboard" where students can communicate with one another instantly online in the classroom. The class worked in pairs and helped each other through the process of creating a blog

   -How to blog
   - Where and why we should use blogs
   - How to set up a blog

I personal found creating the blog a bit challenging. I struggled with locating my gmail account password and was not able to access my account without some troubleshooting. I found myself very confused at some points in the lesson. I felt a little tech-stupid. Although I struggled with setting up my blog overall it was a beneficial lesson. I hope to provide my future students parents with a way to keep up with what my classroom is doing and a blog will be an excellent way to do that.

Lastly, watching the Simpsons clips were very entertaining. It really made me feel bad for my past teachers. I think it is important to incorporate technology into the classroom because students are now more interested in what is happening on Facebook than in their textbooks. When the substitute teacher on the Simpsons used texing and social networking to reach out to the students to engage them in the course content was a cute idea. Watching how technology has changed is amazing and the facts presented such as "China taking all US jobs would still have a labor surplus" and "How students studying technology in school, after their first year everything they have learned is outdated" are shocking statistics. It amazes me how unaware we are as a population.

Hope everyone had a great evening! GO OBAMA!