Google Cultural Institute Reaction and Take Away

Google Cultural Institute is a tool I hadn't known about before today. I think it is a great tool for classrooms because not only does it incorporate the technological exposure that we want our students to receive, but it also has a surplus of information that we can use in hundreds, if not thousands, of lessons. The slideshows and comparing features help us to explore and discuss as a class in an organized fashion, without worrying about insufficient findings or inappropriate pop-ups.

My desire to include this into my lesson is based on the fact that not only is it a great source of information, but it provides students with a virtual "real-life" experience. This website gives teachers the resources to show students the world right in their classrooms. I have observed at schools with some very low income families, whose students had never even been outside of New York. This tool gives us the opportunity to show them what the world looks like, the differences and similarities. We can, through this website, open their eyes to the wonder and enormity of the world.


Take away:

After class today, my take away was my comfortability with digication. I was unsure and nervous about using digication and being required to create an e-portfolio. However, after today, I think I can begin my e-portfolio and create a fun and knowledge filled lesson.

10/8 Class Takeaway

Today in class, we not only saw technological lesson introductions first hand, but we learned about digital citizenship. I personally, had never really thought about digital citizenship. I believe that as teachers, we need to make our students aware of their own digital identity and citizenship, whether that includes bullying, explicit language and/or the type of pictures they share with the digital world. Emphasizing the importance of digital citizenship is my main takeaway from class today and am very happy that it was highlighted.

Class Takeaway

Today's class showed me how to introduce topics that have been and are still being taught in classrooms, in different ways. Using a video gets the students excited and intrigued to learn about the topic. Almost like watching a mini-movie. I am excited to start my own and to create more in the future for my future classroom!

Chapter 1&2

Becoming a 21st century teacher is one of the most crucial goals to have this day in age. Children today are living in what is called an "iGeneration". They, from birth, are constantly around technology. Children see smartphones, laptops and tablets on a daily basis. Parents are downloading games and coloring app's so their children could play. Toys have been somewhat replaced with technological advances. Children are experiencing "digital childhoods" and coming into school already technologically more superior than we were at that age. It is so important for teachers, future and existing, to keep up with technology even as it becomes more and more innovative and create a concrete digital identity.

Using technology in the classroom creates a multitude of opportunities for students to learn in different ways. Teachers can use technology to engage students in ways that haven't been used before.  It helps promote a student-centered way of learning which benefits the students and is ultimately our goal as teachers.

What is your personal learning goal?

Throughout this past year, I've been observing classrooms in different parts of New York City and I've come to realize how different schools are than when I was growing up. Of course society has changed and technology has enhanced, but I never thought about how that would affect the learning environment of students.
My personal learning goal is to learn how to teach in a 21st century classroom, using all the technological materials available in order to provide the students with the best, highest level of learning that there is. By doing this, I believe that students will not only learn and understand better, but they will be more ready for the outside world. Teaching through technology is necessary for students to be enabled to go out into the world and understand the technology around them, even as it advances. I hadn't even realized that, until I was assigned to think about it for this course.