IWB Chapter 1

     I am starting to write this blog post before I read about Interactive White Boards. I am really excited to learn about IWBs and want to take a moment to write out what I hope to learn from reading this first chapter. I hope to learn different uses for the IWB in a classroom and how to work them. I hope to learn how this can benefit my future students and if IWBs truly keep children more engaged than not using them. I am really intrigued by IWBs because I never saw one used during my time throughout school. I come from a very wealthy part of Tennessee and never saw one used, which is puzzling to me. Maybe it was just the timing and maybe if I went back to my high school today they would have them.
    I think anytime you introduced this new type of technology into classrooms there is going to be some sort of skepticism from people. Although, that is why it is important for teachers to be trained in using and navigating IWBs. Like the chapter said, this will help when something goes wrong and the teacher's confidence in using the IWBs might go down and students might get frustrated. If we have the training then we will know how to fix the problem. It is also important that teachers use this board for more than a projector. If I got anything from this chapter it is the fact that IWBs are meant for INTERACTION.

    Students need to have the interaction with the white board to really reap any benefits from having it in the classroom. This interaction includes: highlighting, coloring, importing pictures, shared reading, etc. The list goes on and on of possibilities of use in the classroom. All of these things get children interactive in their learning process and makes learning fun. It makes them excited to come to school or go to a certain class.
     As someone who is looking into teaching in an urban/multicultural area, that might not have IWBs, it is important to note that not having IWBs in your classroom is not a "end all be all" sort of thing. It just means that we will have to work a little harder to get our children involved in the classroom.

Midterm Post

After the midterm I feel a lot more confident in my technological skills. Since the beginning of class I have really learned a lot about technology. I really like that the things that I have learned are practical things to use in my future classroom. They are made to be easily accessible to teachers, which is awesome! Overall, I am really excited about where I am in the class and the future!

Wiki-Walk Through

    I really enjoyed doing this activity because, as a future elementary teacher, I still struggle with all of the different ways that I can use technology in the classroom. I know that wikis are a useful tool, but what purpose can they serve an eight year old? I know that wikis are important but will they really be an extra source that my students will benefit from in the future?
   After using this wiki-walk through I can successfully say that I will try to use wikis in my elementary aged classroom. I really benefitted from the specific examples that they gave us throughout the walk through. It was nice that they broke it down into different age levels and then different subjects. With them doing this it was able to give me real and tangible things that I can think about doing in my future classroom.
    The only problem that I can see running into, for myself, is computer and internet access. I am hoping to work in an urban setting as a teacher and unfortunately there just are not enough, if any, computers in the classroom to make the use of a wiki a priority. I can see how all of these different uses of technology can be put on the back-burner because of all of the different things that teachers have to worry about these days. As much as I love the use of wikis in the classroom, I just do not know how practical it will be in my future classroom. I guess something like this will be a wait and see sort of thing. If I can use it then that will be great, but if I can not then I will have to think of something else to use.
   Overall, this website was very informative and helpful. If I ever do end up using a wiki in my classroom I will definitely refer to this website for helpful tips.