Google Reader

 We are living in an age where we are neither all digital or all paper in regards to how we communicate.  When I read about technology, I get rather overwhelmed because there is so much out there to absorb and learn.  Although there are many kinds of technology out there to enhance learning and education, I research only the ones that are of the utmost importance to my students and my professional and private life.  I enjoyed reading about Google Reader in Will Richardson's Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms.  This is one of the most interesting technological tool I have come across.  I was captured by the concept of having the news and information being sorted and relevant for my view.  I researched how others were using Google Reader both personally and professionally. I wanted to know if using one email address where all the students have access or individual addresses worked better for elementary students.  I would love to have my students use this tool for their research projects. This will broaden their research beyond Wikipedia.   Here are some ideas from an elementary computer teacher in Philadelphia.

Google Reader

Benefits of Blogging

I have posted some benefits of blogging with elementary students.
Karen Lirenman.  Check out the section on, Why Do We Learn On-line?
This will help with my presentation to parents about the benefits of blogging personally or in school.
We have a school pet frog named Jake.  The have raised him in a terranium since September.  I would like my students to learn how to blog about their care and maintenance of Jake and his home.  It is a learning experience for them and this would be a great way to get the parents involved with their student's school life.

Reading Reflection Ch.3&4

There were some interesting calls for the use of wikis and blogs in the classroom in chapters 3&4 of Richardson's Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms, (2010).  The chapter spoke about the positive use and safety features with these technology tools.  My question is on organization of the wikis and blogs in regards to parental approval.  It is hard to present a tool like this to parents who do not want their children "out there" on the web.  One parent does not allow her daughter anywhere near the internet because of an identity theft nightmare when she was only five.  Any thoughts?  How do we include students on wikis or blogging for which there is no support from the parent?  These tools are not mandatory but more of an enhancement to learning and not necessarily written in the curriculum in which they are required to follow.

Reflection for Chapter 1&2

     One interesting point expressed in chapter 1 of  Richardson's Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms (2010), was the use of technology and its impact on curriculums. This is definitely a transitional time for all involved in the education of our youth.  Revisions of current curriculums are slow to include technology on a grander scale than its used.  I believe we are in a challenging time teaching and learning technology.  As author Richardson (2010), has expressed our students are more advanced in the use of technology than their teachers.  I agree that this technological advancement of our students are more for entertainment, but it is being used nonetheless.  Curriculums have yet to catch up to our students.  For this reason, students have not learned to properly use technology to its full potential educationally.  Most curriculums I have encountered use technology as a backup or support for learning.  The teaching of technology has not been adopted in today's curriculums.  Still, technology is viewed as on the most important 21st century skills.  Today's schools are struggling with curriculums that are constantly taking one step forward and one back at the same time.  Teachers are left to incorporate their understanding of  technology and learning into a teaching session with little or no support from a curriculum.  I do see a shift, but right now schools are caught in the next big transition period in education.  I think we are transitioning from the one room school with one textbook to the 20th century format of today