Chapter Twelve: Educational Technology/ Overview of a Statewide System

In the video, "State Technical Planning," several different issues are addressed concerning technology in education. In the video, the development of technology and teacher training in the use and teaching of technology is discussed, with particular emphasis on the state of Louisiana. In the video, the importance of teacher training and the use of technology is discussed. Not all teachers are trained in how to use the technology that is available in the classroom. This lack of training is a significant hurdle for technology education because these teachers who do not know how to use the technology are unable to teach with it. Collaboration between K-12 and higher education institutes in teacher training could help in the teaching of technology in the classroom by having a standard and a set of achievable goals for each level that are communicated throughout. Through this type of collaboration, an understanding of what should be taught and used on each level would create an easier transition for the students in developing their own use of technology. It is imperative to obtain legislative, community, and government support toward planning a statewide technology teacher training because it is important for all individuals involved to understand the procedures and what is involved. Through gaining all of this support, the training can be more successful because everyone has an opportunity to voice their opinion about what should be included. Teachers need training in technology, including the use of technology, how to teach the basic functions, and how to use technology to their own advantage in their teaching. Teachers need continuous support in technology training because it is field that is rapidly changing and growing. Technology training is an ongoing process that should be continuously done. A major issue facing teachers is funding for technology and for training. If all schools were given full support, including both financial support and technical support, for technology in the classroom, the classroom environment would look much different. In this perfect world, every child would have full access to a computer, and teachers would be fully capable of instructing students utilizing these tools. Also, every student would be challenged because in this perfect world, the technology would allow for every student's lesson to be individualized based on his or her own learning style, strategy, and ability. I think in this scenario, everyone, students and teachers, would be confidant and competent in their abilities to use the technology that is available.

Chapter Eleven: Educational Technology/Assistive Technologies and Universal Design

In the video, the instructors discuss universal design in education. Universal design in education is the application of technology to make it accessible to all students. The faculty member discusses the importance of accessility of technology for students with disabilities. He then discussed how accomodations can be made to make technology more accessible. A universal design textbook could work with a student with cognitive disabilities by making the information more readily accessible for the student through explaining the information in terms that the student can understand, utilizing pictures and less text with the press of a button. A universal design textbook could be adjusted to meet the needs of the student, which is important for all students, including both students with disabilities as well as students at an advanced level. For students with physical disabilities, such as visually impaired, the universal design textbook can have enlarged text as an option, as well as an option for reading the text aloud to the student. Through the use of universal design, the classroom is far more accessible for all students because it can create a more "individualized" learning experience for the student. In universal design, options allow for different students' needs, such as different reading levels. This is important in a classroom that includes students of different learning styles and levels. I think that universal design in education is beneficial because it meets the needs of those students who would not otherwise be able to participate in the class. For example, students with a lower reading level than that of the textbook would otherwise be forced to struggle in the classroom or become bored and distracted because of the lack of understanding. However, with universal design, teachers are able to have textbooks that are adjustable to the students' level or understanding. I think that universal design would help me in my classroom because it would help allow me to involve all of the students in the lesson. Rather than struggling to help those students who do not quite understand what the textbook is referring to, I would be able to encourage the students who now understand the text because it is at their level.

Chapter Ten: Educational Technology/ Options for Virtual Students

In the video, "Options for Virtual Students," students, parents, and teachers discuss online learning and advantages and disadvantages of the format. The advantages that the students address in the video include ease of use, excellent communication, lack of interruption from classmates, one on one communication with the instructor, more advanced studies and quality of work. If states would offer more opportunitites for online learning, more students would be able to complete the requisite classes for their education, which would enable them to learn more and go further in their studies, even if that means simply graduating high school. Online learning is a format of learning that allows students to learn from a distance but still be connected to the educator and to the rest of the class. With a simple click of the mouse, these distance learning students can be connected. Through adding more online programs, more students would have the opportunity to complete classes that would lead to better jobs and a more educated society in general. However, while online learning does have several advantages, there are disadvantages. Some disadvantages include unfamiliarity with technology as well as lack of peer interaction. While these disadvantages are serious and do pose a concern, there are ways to overcome these disadvantages. Through education, students can overcome their limitation with the technology and become more familiar with using it. Through assigning group work and encouraging discussion among peers through discussion board, chats, etc. that are available through the internet, educators can encourage students to interact with each other. This interaction is important because it can help students to better understand the lessons and develop further interest in class topics.

Chapter Nine: Educational Technology/ Using a Class Webpage for Learning

In the video "Using a Class Webpage for Learning," the instructor uses various webpages and tools to teach French. Technology has an interesting place in the second language classroom. Technology is an important tool that can encourage participation and further learning in students and can be a motivator by simply encouraging the students to learn material through the enjoyment of using the technology. In the video, the instructor uses a Webquest, web page, and email in order to teach French in her high school classroom. The students were assigned a Webquest, researching a French individual in order to create a biography. The students used the internet to research their individual and then typed the biography using French accents. The instructor used a class webpage in order to post the Webquest for the students. All of the sources that the students were to use were to be found from the internet, and the sources that the students were using were in both French and English. The instructor also encouraged the students to email her if the students had problems or questions. On her website, the instructor could have included many different tools and resources that the students could use in the class. Important tools that could be linked to the webpage could be French-English dictionaries and other language tools, culture pages, and music. The students in the video seemed to be encouraged to learn about their topic. The students preferred technology over the use of other activities, such as creating a poster. The students were encouraged to use technology and seem to prefer it, explaining that the technology was much easier to use. Technology can be an excellent tool to help students learn a foreign language and culture. Not only can students listen to the language being spoken, they can actually practice using the language through voice recognition software that helps students learn pronunciation and vocabulary. Also, students can take a virtual tour of the country to learn more about the culture. Through the use of technology, especially the internet, the students are able to research a culture and see how the culture lives.

Chapter Eight: Educational Technology/ Using Technology to Teach Reading

In the video "Using Technology to Teach Reading," many different types of technology are used to teach. In the video, the instructor discusses that there are many different types of technology and activities in order to learn material. In the video, to learn the Civil War unit, the students used the internet to explore the information about the Civil War. The instructor used websites that he first went over in order to ensure that the students were using material that was appropriate and educational. Another instructor discusses using excel to graph information about the Civil War and comparing the war with World War II. The students looked at videos and listened to music to analyze the Civil War, thinking through the issue and develop a better understanding of history. Through the use of the activities and the use of technology, students develop thinking skills and analytical skills that are essential for further learning. The use of technology encourages reading because it forces the student to read and research and encourages the student to learn more. The use of technology in the classroom allows students to have the opportunity to further explore topics that are discussed in class that the student finds interesting. The student develops essential reading skills through the use of technology because the student must be able to read in order to fully utilize the technology that is being used in the classroom. Also, the student must be able to understand what they are reading and analyze the information. This encourages reading comprehension and critical thinking skills. In the video, the instructors discuss the use of various different subjects, such as politics, music, history, etc., to learn about the Civil War. In the unit, the instructors use many different subjects to teach the unit, allowing the students to develop a deeper understanding of the topic. As a teacher in this classroom, one would expect students to develop a deeper understanding of the Civil War, but there is also so much more that the students are learning. In this classroom, the instructor could expect to see students developing critical thinking skills, reading comprehension and writing, analytical skills, and more open ideas that encourage a more open perspective.

Chapter Seven: Educational Technology/ A Dinosaur Webquest

In the video "A Dinosaur Webquest," an instructor discuss webquests. A webquest is an activity in which students learn about a topic using the internet. In the video, the instructor gives the students a webquest on dinosaurs. A webquest allows students to learn information using the internet, which is advantagous because the students are allowed to use the internet to learn about a topic. This allows students to learn more information about a topic as well as learn to use the internet to explore a topic. Webquests have many advantages in education. Students are encouraged to learn more information about the topic that they are researching in a webquest. Webquests are fun and educational, allowing students to learn more advanced information about a topic and become more focused on information that it interesting to them. Webquests are also advantagous because it not only encourages learning about a specific topic, but it also encourages students to research topics on their own. Webquests teach students how to research using the internet and navigate the internet. Students may encounter problems with Webquests, however, if the Webquest is not pre-structured. Students might find information that is inappropriate or too difficult if the teacher does not research the websites prior to giving the students the assignment. Also, if the instructor does not first develop the webquest before giving it to the students, the students might not learn the information that the instructor desired the students to learn. A webquest is a structured learning activity using the internet. This structured learning activity can improve learning because it allows students to learn more than just about the topic. The students are encouraged to learn the technology that they are utilizing on the Webquest as well as how to research. Also, through this structured learning experience, students are able to learn information at their own rate in their own way, but it is still the information that is necessary for the students to learn because it is still structured. The students are encouraged to learn because they are enjoying the experience. If I were to create my own Webquest, I would first consider the topic that I wanted to use carefully. Next, I would consider the students and the appropriateness of the topic and websites that would be used in the quest. Afterwards, I would search for pages that were appropriate for the age level and difficulty level of the students. I would try to create an adventure for my students so that they enjoyed the activity but were able to learn about the topic in a way that they would not be able to do in the traditional classroom format, such as reading from a chapter or listening to a lecture.

Chapter Six: Educational Technology/Virtual Chemistry Lab

In the video "Chemistry Goes Virtual," the instructor discusses the virtual chemistry classroom. There are many advantages to using technology in the chemistry classroom. The virtual chemistry classroom has several advantages over the tradiational non-virtual chemistry classroom; these advantages include allowing students to experiment in a way in which students would not be able to do in the actual chemisry lab. In the virtual chemistry lab, the students are allowed to experiement without the dangerous side-effects. The students in the virtual lab are able to think through experiements and play with different outcomes by mixing and experimenting with the different chemical reactions. The software allows the students to experiment with their own way of thinking. Also, students are encouraged to think for themselves and learn on their own through experimentation. The virtual classroom allows students to participate in activities in which they would not otherwise be able to experience. For example, historical events that occurred within the past are impossible for students to experience. However, with the virtual classroom, students can experience the horrors of World War II or the Russian Revolution without stepping foot outside of the classroom. Also, students can experience dangerous events, such as a volcanic erruption, without being in danger. In the virtual classroom, students can discover how Pompeii was destroyed and actually see it happen. The virtual classroom also allows students to see the wonders of the world without ever stepping foot on an aircraft. One day the students can scale the Great Wall of China and the next day they can dive the Great Barrier Reef and swim with the sharks. I think that the virtual classroom would work best in a situation in which students are not able to actually participate in the experience that the class is discussing, such as a dangerous event or a far off destination. Also, both advanced students and students that need just a little extra help could gain much from the virtual classroom because it would allow students to learn more and at their own pace. Being interactive allows students to develop a deeper understanding of the lesson that is being taught.