Final Blog
Well this is it the final blog of the semester. i have learned a lot considering I thought the class was going to be about how to use a ELMO machine, or an overhead projector. When I was in school, even college, that was educational technology. So now I know that microsoft word is more than a word processing program, and that as future teachers we need to really push to get technology into the classroom. The students will be expecting it and it can be very useful. Most of the assignments were helpful but I do wish we could have spent more than a half hour on website design. The website design is something that I really see me using in the future. It is too bad that some of the other assignments that were maybe just to get a grade overshadowed the website design stuff. So now as I study for the final I look back and think that I already showed I understand the technology with the various assignments but now we need to be tested on the theories, and the application of technology in the classroom. Good luck to all, I will see you in the hall.
3825u's Weblog 
May 8, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Most teachers have less and less need for website design using tools such as Dreamweaver due to the newer, free, and more user-friendly tools out there to accomplish many of the same goals. Website design is rather complex and would take quite a number of classes to get comfortable with. I was not willing to sacrifice other topics of perhaps greater importance and relevance to most folks for time spent on web design. Also, unless you have a company who will host your site (which you must pay for), there is no way to “publish” your website. And, more and more districts are making this process so restrictive and difficult, migrating to web-based, template driven tools like Most teachers have less and less need for website design using tools such as Dreamweaver due to the newer, free, and more user-friendly tools out there to accomplish many of the same goals. Website design is rather complex and would take quite a number of classes to get comfortable with. I was not willing to sacrifice other topics of perhaps greater importance and relevance to most folks for time spent on web design. Also, unless you have a company who will host your site (which you must pay for), there is no way to “publish” your website. And, more and more districts are making this process so restrictive and difficult, migrating to web-based, template driven tools like Most teachers have less and less need for website design using tools such as Dreamweaver due to the newer, free, and more user-friendly tools out there to accomplish many of the same goals. Website design is rather complex and would take quite a number of classes to get comfortable with. I was not willing to sacrifice other topics of perhaps greater importance and relevance to most folks for time spent on web design. Also, unless you have a company who will host your site (which you must pay for), there is no way to “publish” your website. And, more and more districts are making this process so restrictive and difficult, migrating to web-based, template driven tools like http://www.myteacherpages.com/. However, I understand your disappointment with not learning more about those skills. I hope my rationale for this change makes some sense to you, though.
Also, I would like to hear more about your impression on some of the assignments that were “just to get a grade”. I am not sure what you are referring to here, but I do value your feedback. Every student is different and every student’s needs are different – one of the big challenges of education. This class, in particular, is difficult due to the technical proficiences that individual students bring with them (from none to quite advanced).
In any event, I hope came away with some new skills, new knowledge, new perspectives and new tools to help you be the most effective teacher possible as well as to further your own professional growth.
May 8, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Wow – not sure what happened to that comment. Forgive the repetitive portions.