Tech Class Ch 9...

Looking at other students' blogs, aapparently I skipped a chapter.  My apologies!

Chapter 9 discusses the use of technology in terms of media to use in our classrooms.  Technologies such as text, data, pictures, and videos are just a few of the vast usage of media.  This chapter digs further into more creative as well as useful forms of media that can be integrated in our teaching.  It is important to understand, expose, as well as to be exposed to the variety of media in our teaching and learning.   Throughout my childhood years, I must say I was not privileged enough to have the exposure to different kinds of  media as the students of this generation do.  I believe this will enhance their learning.  Furthermore, if almost every young student is able to have an iPhone, or an apple product of some sort, there is simply no excuse to include media in our lessons as future teachers. 

For example, the use of PowerPoint presentations are not only visually stimulant for the young mind but can incorporate other forms of media in one screen.  Although there are many critiques when it comes to the use of PowerPoint slides, I personally enjoy creating and learning from PowerPoint slide presentations.  I find it useful and easy to put together when I am presenting in class as well as taking notes from in my own classes. I cannot think of one class/professor in my college years that has not used PowerPoint presentations in their lessons.  With this idea in mind, to this day, I wonder whether or not I have been "trained" to learn from PowerPoint presentations or whether my learning style is more adjusted to this visual form of learning.

Another example of a media-like use of technology is seen in the use of video.  Throughout my observations at elementary schools, I have seen many teachers use programs such as "Brain Pop" (videos) in their lessons.  At first, I was skeptical at the fact that the teacher just sits back and relaxes, but I then saw how much the students enjoyed watching the videos-as we all know, maintaining the attention of elementary school students can be a difficult task.  Lastly, I enjoyed how the chapter mentioned how to make videos because it allowed me to reflect back on our "video trailer" assignment.