Good Video Games Good Learning, by: James Paul Gee

I read the article Good Video Games Good Learning, by James Paul Gee. I agree with the article of how it explained that video games are learning machines. I feel like video games are beneficial because they keep individuals cognitively thinking by trying to figure out new strategies and techniques. The author expressed when we are playing a video game, we can accomplish our learning goals. I think that is absolutely true. An entire paragraph in the article seemed so accurate that I definitely agreed with what was being said. It said, “Good video games incorporate good learning principles, principles supported by current research in cognitive science (Gee 2003, 2004). Why? If no one could learn these games, no one would buy them, and yet players will not accept easy, dumbed-down, or short games. At a deeper level, however, challenge and learning are a large part of what makes good video games motivating and entertaining. Humans actually enjoy learning, though sometimes in school you would not know it” (Gee, 2005). People need to be challenged to get their brains thinking outside of the box. 

 I do think video games can be a problem in the classroom if they are not educational and are violent. Certain video games need to be blocked so students can be engaged in the classroom instead of playing them. I think if teachers provide educational video games where students can play them one-on-one with other peers, then that would be a great learning experience. Students can have fun and learn new things through a video game in class. As I stated before, video games can be valuable to our learning development.

Gee, James Paul. “Learning by Design: Good Video Games as Learning Machines.” E-Learning 2.1 (2005): 5. Print.

The Role of the School and Classroom Community in Ed Tech Policy

 
I came across an editorial cartoon picture that showed an educational policy that looked very interesting. It shows a teacher addressing to his students to text their homework to him via cell phone. I found this interesting because when I was in high school teachers made it a substantial point that cell phones are prohibited in class. I feel like technology has evolved since I was in high school (2009); teachers are becoming much more lenient with technological devices such as cell phones, laptops, and iPads in the classroom. It is not that teachers do not care that students use these devices in class, it is because teachers are now trying to incorporate more technology in their classrooms. I think the main purpose of this cartoon is to show that teachers now use cell phones and other electronic devices in their classrooms. This teacher in the cartoon wants his students to use their cell phones to submit their homework. One student looks confused because maybe his teacher is now acknowledging that cell phones are now allowed to be used in the classroom for educational purposes. He may also be confused because technology is such a new and advanced thing that many students do not use a lot in their classes, especially their phones. Some students usually use paper, pencils, and textbooks. Today’s schools are now using Smart Boards and iPads for students to do their schoolwork on. I think the cartoon creator made it clear to show that he or she wants to persuade the viewers who are looking at the cartoon to show how cell phones are important in the classroom. The cartoon creator over exaggerated the boy in the corner by making him have a worried look with enlarged eyes and sweat drops. The other students look like they may know exactly what is going on by showing the back of their heads. They all have the word “ping” written by their cell phones as if they submitted their homework immediately without hesitation or confusion. The teacher looks happy by showing how he is looking down at his phone and giving a nice message on his phone with a smiley face. It even shows how he is typing a lot on his phone by showing the word “click”. I really enjoyed this cartoon. I think it benefits everyone in the long run such as students and teachers. Teachers can now text their students and students can reply back on their cell phones. I think the only thing that should have been provided in the cartoon is maybe a reaction from the other students rather than just seeing the back of their heads.

After finding this cartoon, I found an article that coincided with this cartoon picture. Meg Ormiston stated, “Regardless of your school’s cell phone policy, the reality in most schools is that students have phones in their pockets, purses, or hoodies. Why not get these tools out in plain sight and use them for good and not evil” (2013)? She makes a great point and so does this cartoon. Why should teachers let their students use their cell phones in class? Meg made another excellent point. She said, “Cell phones are different from a computer lab filled with computers or a cart of net books because the cell phone is personal technology. Most students have invested a great deal of time learning about the features of the cell phone, how to navigate and the limitations of the phone. The other reason to really rethink the cell phone debate is because learning on the cell phone can extend beyond the walls of the school or the confines of a class period” (2013). I have to agree with what she said. Students understand how to use their own phones when it comes to navigating certain things. Many schools may not be able to afford laptops, net books, or iPads for each individual student. That is why students can use their own “smart” phones to explore the same material that is provided in laptops, net books, and iPads. “This is a new time in education and with dwindling budgets, so we need to rethink possibilities, stretching every dollar. These mini computers are walking through the doors each day, let’s put them to work” (Ormiston, 2013).

Educational Technology and Mobile Learning. 2013. [Cagel Cartoons]. Retrieved from http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2012/12/great-resources-and-tools-for-teaching.html.

Ormiston, Meg. (2013). How to use cell phones as learning tools. TeachHub.com: K-12 News, Lessons & Shared Resources By Teachers, For Teachers. Retrieved April 5, 2013. From http://www.teachhub.com/how-use-cell-phones-learning-tools.

An Interview with an Indiana Teacher- Similarities Between the Indiana State Plan and Eastern Jr./Sr. High School Plan for Technology

I interviewed Jill Howell, a former 7^th grade math teacher who had some information she wanted to share about policies and technology at the school where she taught 7^th grade students. She taught at Eastern Junior/Senior High School in Greentown, Indiana. Eastern Junior/Senior High School has approximately 700 students. The school contains grades 7-12. It is also located in a rural area. She taught for 16 years at Eastern Junior/Senior High School and subbed for 3 years prior to teaching as a math teacher. She retired after the 2011-2012 school year. Even though she is retired, she still had many things to say about policies and how technology was incorporated everyday at her school. 

           

Jill mentioned that her school had a technology plan. Her school had a state plan as well as a local plan. Since Eastern Junior/Senior High School has a technology plan, it has been used since she started teaching. It has made changes and it has become more advanced. Jill stated, “When I started subbing in the early 80’s we had reel to reel projectors, TV’s, and an intercom system. (Kokomo Center Schools) When I started teaching in the mid 90’s we had overhead projectors and TV’s with VHS tapes. As time went on, the first technology add was for communications with the office- phones in the classroom, walkie-talkies, teacher computers (email). We had a grant for Junior High teachers to have 3 student computers in each classroom (≈ 2000). Our school was always very progressive when it came to technology. By 2010 all our English classrooms had ipad carts and in 2013 K-8 all had take home ipads” (written interview, March 10, 2013).

Since technology is ever changing, Eastern Junior/Senior High School used to have technology available throughout the school in other locations, but now technology is provided in many teachers’ classrooms. The Indiana State Policies provide technological aspects of what types of technology can be utilized in classrooms (What Instructional Technologies, 2013). Jill stated how technology used to be throughout the school. She said, “Like we would have so many VCRs or LCD Projectors per building that could be checked out on a daily basis. Over the last 4 years all classrooms have been equipped with Smart Boards (elementary) or Interactive White Boards (Jr high/high school). With the addition of White Boards, laptops for the teachers, ipads/netbooks K-12, and wifi campus wide, there is no need to go elsewhere unless students need the computer lab to print papers” (written interview, March 10, 2013).

As I can see, Eastern Junior/Senior High School has many similarities in their technology plan compared to the Indiana State Plan. Indiana wants to engage students by showing them the benefits of technology. I can see that Indiana wants all of the schools in this state to have technology available to the students. Hopefully in a few years, all schools can have technology available in every classroom in the state of Indiana just like Eastern Junior/Senior High School.

Howell, Jill. (2013, March 10). Written interview.

 

 (2013). What instructional technologies are being used in Indiana schools?. Indiana Department of Education. Retrieved March 20, 2013. From http://www.doe.in.gov/achievement/technologies.

What is the Role of the State Government in Ed Tech Policy?

I read the article on Blackboard called “Indiana Plan for Digital-Age Learning”. The Education Technology Council mentioned, “Students in Indiana’s K-12 schools, under the guidance of excellent teachers, will engage in self-directed, lifelong Digital-Age learning -- as individuals, in learning communities, and with their families-- as they strive for rigorous academic excellence in today’s high-tech, global society” (2007). I agree that many teachers in Indiana need to enforce the importance of technology. Students who start using technology at a young age will be able to thrive in their future endeavors in today’s technological society.

After reading that article that coincided with the statement above, I found another article called, “How State Dollars Could Fund Your District’s Next Tech Initiative.” It stated how an Evansville teacher named Brian Bennett has his students use net books. Net books are online textbooks with the same information that a textbook would provide. These net books are provided to the students by their school district, and paid for with state dollars. “In 2009, Indiana education officials decided to let school districts to tap into a $39 million pot of state money — previously reserved for textbooks — to pay for digital curriculum and devices for students” (Stokes, 2012). Not only are these students being able to utilize these technological devices, they are paid for by the state of Indiana. These students are fortunate enough to have the net books to help accomplish their schoolwork. “More than 13,000 Evansville students from Grades 6-12 have a school-owned computer to use this year” (Stokes, 2012). I think it is excellent that many of these students are able to use these devices rather than using pencil and paper. I think net books can make learning enjoyable because they are using hands-on devices to still complete their homework.   

So the question is should every school in Indiana have some sort of device like this? I absolutely believe schools should have these technological devices accessible to them. It is amazing how Indiana can help fund these devices. John Keller, Assistant Superintendent for Technology at the Indiana Department of Education said, “Kids are going to be learning online and with computers. That’s going to characterize their learning in the future, and certainly in many cases, characterizes it now” (2012). I agree with John Keller. Students need to be exposed to these types of devices so they can eventually exemplify how they are tech-savvy individuals. 


 Stokes, K. (2012, May 11). How state dollars could fund your district’s next tech initiative. Retrieved from http://stateimpact.npr.org/indiana/2012/05/11/how-state-dollars-could-fund-your-districts-next-tech-initiative/ 

(2007). Indiana plan for digital-age learning. January 2007, doi: PDF

Understanding the No Child Left Behind Act: Technology Integration

I found an article that expressed how integrating technology should be a part of the No Child Left Behind Act. The No Child Left Behind Act, basically states that students in elementary and secondary schools are required to meet academic standards while taking state-wide tests. Teachers are required to teach specific standards to their students. The students need to effectively accomplish the state standards. If students cannot meet specific standards on state tests, then it falls back on the teachers and the school systems.

As I previously stated, I found an article that showed how technology integration is implemented in the No Child Left Behind Act. The article stated only technology should be provided under No Child Left behind if state grants are proposed to the schools that are willing to use technology. The article mentioned that integration technology should only be designed to meet state academic standards. I agree that academic standards should be met, but I do not think it is the teachers' fault if their students do not pass state-wide tests. I do think students should be tested to see what they know, but it should not be the school systems that have to suffer. Technology would be a great way for students to get a hands-on learning experience. New and past technology would improve students' academic achievement. I agree with the statement about using technology in schools. It said, " Technology is to assist every student in crossing the digital divide by ensuring that every student is
technologically literate by the time the student finishes eighth grade, regardless of the student’s
race, ethnicity, gender, family income, geographic location, or disability."

Article found at: www.learningpt.org/pdfs/qkey3.pdf

All About Denisha!

Hi everyone! I am Denisha. I am studying elementary education. I have a concentration area in psychology and a minor in interpersonal relations. I am uncertain about when I will student teach and graduate (hopefully Spring 2014). I want to teach any grade from kindergarten-third grade when I become a future elementary teacher. I would enjoy teaching in a small school in a small town. Eventually, I want to move to Indianapolis where I can teach at a larger school. I want to have plenty of experience at a small school before moving to a larger school. 

I want to teach about all the basic fundamentals of education and all the different subjects to my future students. I will teach Arithmetic, English, Reading, and Social Studies. I will be excited about teaching English and incorporating technology in my classroom. I believe technology is an important part of teaching and learning for a number of reasons. Students can get a more hands-on and interactive approach when technology is utilized in the classroom. Students can have fun and try something new rather than using paper and pencil. 

I am enrolled in Edtec 470 to increase my knowledge about how technology can be used in the classroom. I was previously enrolled in Edtec 350. I gained a variety of techniques and ideas about how I can incorporate technology with my lessons in my future classroom. I am hoping that I can learn more in this class this semester. I enjoy technology as a student. I want my students to enjoy technology as well. 

Some major goals I want to accomplish in this class are: 

I want to learn more about technology and how I can apply it in my future classroom. I want to create more projects in Edtec 470 like I did in Edtec 350. I want to have a better understanding of the policies of educational technology. Lastly, I want to develop my own personal outlook on technology ethics. I simply want to maintain my growth as a future educator and how I can make technology beneficial for my students in my future classroom.