Final Thoughts...........

I have to say that I was completely inpressed with this class. I had taken a computer class before and was expecting to learn Word, Powerpoint, Access, and Excel. This class was a great shift in focus. I absolutely love the Google Tools and plan to use them from here on out. My favorite part about the class was learning Audacity. Please bring in more tools like this! I was amazed at how easy it was and the fact that it is free, nice touch for teacher's in our area. I immediately began thinking about recording some of my son's book so I will not have to miss story time when I work late. Then I thought how great would it be to use in the classroom. You could do lessons or chapters with interesting voices and sound effects. How else would you expect a 2nd or 3rd grader to read the chapter?? .
I liked the fact that we learned other tools like the Reader, but I guess it is student specific because I have not looked at it again.....sorry. I would love to find out more about the Finance, Maps, Images, and Videos in the classroom. A list of safe sites would be really helpful too. My personal favorite right now is Poptropica!
I would love to see the podcasts taken farther. Maybe team up with the elementary school to to a Utube video?? (privacy laws and all)
I guess what I really want to say it that I thoroughly enjoyed this class and would highly recommend it to any future teacher.

One last note.
Smartboards, if we are going to be using them I think we might need a course on how!:-)

The first podcast I listened to was about students being watchers/listeners rather than readers/writers. I enjoyed listening to the explanation of the article by Dr. Strange and the two ladies different opinions. I thought of quite a few things myself as they talked about how they as teachers would use technology. I liked the idea of smartboards in every class and each student having their own computer. I also like the fact that they addressed the fact that technology is moving so fast that Dr. Strange's prediction was surpassed. He felt like CD Rom would take over in classrooms, but as one of the girls pointed out that many teachers don't even use the CD in the back of textbooks. I like the fact that they talked about kids being interactive with the T.V. shows like "Dora the Explorer". We have a lot to compete with when it comes to teaching kids about technology. Hopefully, we will be able to use it for quality education instead of a distraction

"Txting away ur education" really brings to light the truth about cell phones in the classroom. I know people who can not live without their cell phones. I have people tell me all the time that I never answer my phone or texts and I tell them that's right! There is never anything important said during any of the texts I recieve and it's not like it can't wait an hour to reply. I personally am not allowed to have my phone at work or in the classrooms and it doesn't bother me. I also get off the phone if I go into a store and am at the checkout (which a lot of people do not do!). I work at a pharmacy and it's frustrating that people will come in and talk on their cellphones halfway answering important questions then wonder why their prescriptions wrong or not what they want. Hello! it's your health people!! I also tell people that I'm driving and will call them back later. My friends joke that I can't multi-task, well sorry, but my son is in the car and I would much rather talk to him. As far as schools are concerned, when I was in school you just couldn't have them. Period. I think if it is becoming such an issue that parents should ask cell phone companies to put blocks up like they do for AOL. My child's cell phone should be off from 8 a.m. to 3p.m. unless it's a certain number which would be mine. I remember the days when a parent had to contact the front office before interrupting the class to get in touch with their child. I completely agree that children are overstimulated by cell phones and there is no place for them in the classroom.