Technology in our classrooms

Integrating technology into the classroom is an important aspect to learning in a time when computers have become the new standard of obtaining information. I can say that I am in the generation of students where technology has started to take over the classroom, and it has always been a learning process. I can remember when I was in first grade learning to type a story that I created, or playing Math Blasters on a small Mac computer. Now, almost every type of class I take has technology as its base for either information or communication.

I think that technologies role in a classroom is very important and will only become more vital as we continue to expand in it. One very import role that it does play is that it connects with a lot of students. Its no secret that many students in elementary through secondary schooling can become turned off to education. I think that it is important to incorporate the subject manner being learned with the students interests, and one interest that is relatively universal to all students is the computer. As stated in the the article there is about 1 computer for every 5 children in the classroom, which gives teachers the opportunity to connect with students while also making learning a fun and exciting experience.

In my studying of Physical Education I believe there are many great opportunities to use technology in the classroom. That may sound slightly "non-physical" I know, but incorporating technology in areas such as tracking food intake, training and actual physical output through other technological devices make physical education very interactive with technology. Journals, or blogs (how ironic) also can be used in physical education classes which promotes further learning and practice of literacy.

By adding more technology in our classrooms learning can be increased as well as interconnecting all areas of subject matter. Technology equals smarter students, and smarter students is the desired goal of all teachers and schools.

Teaching Philosophy

Teaching philosophy is a very important aspect to teaching because it shows the basis of what the teacher is trying to accomplish. My own personal philosophy comes from my many years in school. I have found out that there are two categories of teachers; good ones, and the not so good ones. My philosophy comes mostly from the ones in the later category but its not to say that my ideas on teaching philosophy did not come from the "good ones" as well. I have been in school about 15 years of my life and I feel the right to say which teachers are good and which one aren't. The base of my teaching philosophy includes respect between the teacher and the student, interesting teaching methods that get the students excited about learning and fairness.

I have always found it funny that teachers seem to believe that they can make the rules for the students but don't actually have to follow them their selves. When a teacher assumes a role of "dominance" over the students, it seems to rub the students the wrong way and there becomes friction. I think that it is important to show that the teacher and the student have an equal playing field so that the teacher really can set a good example for his/her students, not just say it.

The next idea that I think is very important in my teaching philosophy is making the subject matter being taught interesting and fun to the students. I have discovered by myself that I excelled in anything that got my interest. It is a natural thing to want to learn more about something we are interested in because it is fun.

Lastly I think it is important to be fair. When I say fair, I mean mainly in judgement. With kids, their is rarely a black and white type of answer. It is important to understand that all students are going through different obstacles at different times and it is my duty to listen and understand.

I can't say that I have been a teacher and using these philosophies really work. What I can say is that these ideals do apply to everyday life and I put them in practice all the time. It works for me and I hope it will as well in the classroom.

Hello, my name is Dustin

I'd first like to start off by saying that this is the first blog that I have ever done. In fact when I heard we got to do a blog for this class I decided to find out what a blog really was. This is what I found from www.merian-webster.com: : "a Web site that contains an online personal journal with reflections, comments, and often hyperlinks provided by the writer;also : the contents of such a site". So, after years of wondering, and being to lazy to just look it up, I know what a blog is.

As the title of my blog states my name is Dustin Blackburn and I am a Junior at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh. My major is Physical Education which is Prek-Secondary and I also have a health minor. I did not decide to be a Physical Education major until my sophomore year after I found out that I really love to teach tennis and I have a great connection with children. A few other corky things you may be interested to know about myself is I am a student athlete playing on, you guessed it, the Men's Tennis Team. I also just recently picked up my guitar and started playing again. I also enjoy reading and the arts, mainly black and white photography.

Some technological skills I obtain are similar to most all of my peers at the University; basic maneuvering around the computer, E-mail, Microsoft Office and all its programs, Photoshop, and most other computer programs. I consider myself a "savvy" person when it comes to computers and I am hoping to increase my knowledge with the Macantosh operating systems. I will say this, I like Windows better just because I have grown up with them, but Mac does a great job of marketing and if I could chose, (money not an issue) I would get a Mac-book. Until Next time...