The Final - Finally

[Wendy Farkas]

So here I am learning how to put everything in Google - docs, presentations, RSS feeds, email, and chat and I'm afraid I'm going to forget how to use it all! At the same time, I'm learning how to use tumblr and putting all the video, chat, audio, text, quotes, links into one place and make it all look pretty. The essential question I asked in my research has some good answers, but whether I'll be able to put it all to use in my classroom is still the big unknown. I hope my AP will be a little less busy and be willing to support my requests to the powers that be and help me make it all happen. In the meantime, I took Beth's advice and looked at Donor's Choose yesterday. There are several requests for funding that involve technology in the classroom, and they haven't received any pledges. I don't know how successful mine will be, but I guess it doesn't hurt to ask! I'll put it out there and see what happens. I'm also going to put in a grant application to the UFT and see if I can get help from them too. Again, it can't hurt to ask.

So here are the links to the things I've posted on tumblr. I began with the essential question, why bring technology into the classroom? This question has several sub-issues that I have answered by providing some discussions about the pedagogy that both supports the use of technology and also questions its use. The consensus seems to be that using technology invites inquiry and that is the bottom line in learning.

I also thought that I might use this discussion as an entre to my principal and invite her to look at this in the hope that it will result in technology support in my school. There are more than seven links here, so bear with me:

Why Bring Technology into the Classroom This is an introductory discussion of the purposes of technology in the classroom.
My conversation with Writing Project colleague, Aileen Malave Here, Aileen and I discuss our intentions regarding the tools we've learned about in the Writing Project this summer.
Students using technology and collaborating in the learning process. This is a photo of how I envision the "ideal" learning environment.
Confucius had something to say on the matter. Confucious knew technology would be the wave of the future.
Technology = Happiness Students are always happiest in front of a screen, and we have to accommodate this preference.
Bringing 21st Century Learning to Your Classroom YouTube is on the cutting edge again - answering the question, why?
Education Today and Tomorrow This is entertaining as well as shocking!
Voice of America Radio Broadcast Just a simple discussions of some of the tools we've explored this summer.
The Battle Between Web 2.0 and the Classroom Some differing opinions.

Please do your best with the YouTube pieces - once of them loads very slowly. I hope you enjoy it!