Comments on: Why do I get a computer? http://www.thethinkingstick.com/why-do-i-get-a-computer/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=why-do-i-get-a-computer Educator Consultant Author Mon, 13 Feb 2012 00:34:39 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: A New School Year Begins! http://www.thethinkingstick.com/why-do-i-get-a-computer/#comment-5176 A New School Year Begins! Sun, 08 Aug 2010 14:33:34 +0000 http://www.thethinkingstick.com/?p=1210#comment-5176 [...] Yes…..if the technology is a distraction it needs to be put away. Same goes for teaching! But when used appropriately it opens up opportunities to teaching and learning that only this generation has ever had access to. If we feel we cannot teach without a computer, and the Interent, why do we feel our kids can learn without it? [...] [...] Yes…..if the technology is a distraction it needs to be put away. Same goes for teaching! But when used appropriately it opens up opportunities to teaching and learning that only this generation has ever had access to. If we feel we cannot teach without a computer, and the Interent, why do we feel our kids can learn without it? [...]

]]> By: Jordan http://www.thethinkingstick.com/why-do-i-get-a-computer/#comment-5175 Jordan Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:13:35 +0000 http://www.thethinkingstick.com/?p=1210#comment-5175 kids should have computers because computers could help kids from having to carry their books around with out having to acctually carry each individual bok. i mean what if their is one kid with dypraxia that has a disability and has problems carrying their books, and if we could just print out our work then our work would be even more neat. We could have everything organized for the teacher. kids should have computers because computers could help kids from having to carry their books around with out having to acctually carry each individual bok. i mean what if their is one kid with dypraxia that has a disability and has problems carrying their books, and if we could just print out our work then our work would be even more neat. We could have everything organized for the teacher.

]]> By: Kristen Hartranft http://www.thethinkingstick.com/why-do-i-get-a-computer/#comment-5174 Kristen Hartranft Mon, 11 Jan 2010 00:08:27 +0000 http://www.thethinkingstick.com/?p=1210#comment-5174 You bring up a very interesting point! This is the third laptop computer my district has provided me and before that, we had desktops. If the administration believes it benefits our teaching so much, why wouldn't it benefit the students? Even if we were given the computer just for managerial purposes, wouldn't this also benefit our students? Think of all the paper we could save just providing our students with computers to do their writing. Add folders and drop boxes for the students, and you've eliminated all paper and added the benefit of spell checker, a thesaurus and grammar check. You bring up a very interesting point! This is the third laptop computer my district has provided me and before that, we had desktops. If the administration believes it benefits our teaching so much, why wouldn’t it benefit the students? Even if we were given the computer just for managerial purposes, wouldn’t this also benefit our students? Think of all the paper we could save just providing our students with computers to do their writing. Add folders and drop boxes for the students, and you’ve eliminated all paper and added the benefit of spell checker, a thesaurus and grammar check.

]]> By: Kathleen http://www.thethinkingstick.com/why-do-i-get-a-computer/#comment-5173 Kathleen Fri, 08 Jan 2010 14:57:51 +0000 http://www.thethinkingstick.com/?p=1210#comment-5173 I feel that your arguement breaks into two parts. The first part reflects teacher professionalism and the second student achievement. Teacher professionalism extends beyong technology use. If you took computers away from the teachers misusing them, those teachers would continue to act unprofession. They would just find other avenues. This is an administrative issue. In regards to student achievement, computers aid teachers in differet ways. First, they allow teachers to perform tasks differently. Through the use of electronic gradebooks, e-mail communication, online lesson plan research and word programs to create graphic organizers (worksheets, recording sheets and so forth), time is freed up. With this time, they can create higher quality lesson plans. Secondly, they create a new way to deliver information. By coupling the computer with a projector, authentic materials can be displayed using powerpoints, streaming vieos, pictures, virtual field trips, etc. In my experience, teachers who misuse or don't use technology are not advancing their pedegogy and have issues greater than facebook. I feel that your arguement breaks into two parts. The first part reflects teacher professionalism and the second student achievement. Teacher professionalism extends beyong technology use. If you took computers away from the teachers misusing them, those teachers would continue to act unprofession. They would just find other avenues. This is an administrative issue. In regards to student achievement, computers aid teachers in differet ways. First, they allow teachers to perform tasks differently. Through the use of electronic gradebooks, e-mail communication, online lesson plan research and word programs to create graphic organizers (worksheets, recording sheets and so forth), time is freed up. With this time, they can create higher quality lesson plans. Secondly, they create a new way to deliver information. By coupling the computer with a projector, authentic materials can be displayed using powerpoints, streaming vieos, pictures, virtual field trips, etc. In my experience, teachers who misuse or don’t use technology are not advancing their pedegogy and have issues greater than facebook.

]]> By: Eileen Lento, Intel http://www.thethinkingstick.com/why-do-i-get-a-computer/#comment-5172 Eileen Lento, Intel Fri, 18 Dec 2009 19:31:49 +0000 http://www.thethinkingstick.com/?p=1210#comment-5172 <span class="topsy_trackback_comment"><span class="topsy_twitter_username"><span class="topsy_trackback_content">Interesting commentary on why computers should and should not be in classrooms [via @teach42]: http://bit.ly/7U1dbO</span></span> Interesting commentary on why computers should and should not be in classrooms [via @teach42]: http://bit.ly/7U1dbO

]]> By: Kyle Moore http://www.thethinkingstick.com/why-do-i-get-a-computer/#comment-5171 Kyle Moore Thu, 17 Dec 2009 19:46:26 +0000 http://www.thethinkingstick.com/?p=1210#comment-5171 <span class="topsy_trackback_comment"><span class="topsy_twitter_username"><span class="topsy_trackback_content">Just Blogged: Why do I get a computer? http://bit.ly/7U1dbO</span></span> Just Blogged: Why do I get a computer? http://bit.ly/7U1dbO

]]> By: Michelle Judd http://www.thethinkingstick.com/why-do-i-get-a-computer/#comment-5170 Michelle Judd Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:27:21 +0000 http://www.thethinkingstick.com/?p=1210#comment-5170 Interesting post! I've been hearing from years about how my neices and nephews are submitting homework via the Interenet so I always assumed charting and reviewing, and posting was a part of the teacher's need. ; -) Can do it at work versus doing later at home? It's been interesting to see the tools like document cameras, and smart boards, projectors, dvds, etc., being used in conjunction in some schools, so dependance on the teacher's integration of technology into the classroom may have higher impact on impact on learning than others, maybe the PE teacher, who doesn't integrate it? Good questions. Will stay tuned to see what results you uncover. ; -) Interesting post! I’ve been hearing from years about how my neices and nephews are submitting homework via the Interenet so I always assumed charting and reviewing, and posting was a part of the teacher’s need. ; -) Can do it at work versus doing later at home? It’s been interesting to see the tools like document cameras, and smart boards, projectors, dvds, etc., being used in conjunction in some schools, so dependance on the teacher’s integration of technology into the classroom may have higher impact on impact on learning than others, maybe the PE teacher, who doesn’t integrate it? Good questions. Will stay tuned to see what results you uncover. ; -)

]]> By: Steve Dembo http://www.thethinkingstick.com/why-do-i-get-a-computer/#comment-5169 Steve Dembo Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:42:32 +0000 http://www.thethinkingstick.com/?p=1210#comment-5169 <span class="topsy_trackback_comment"><span class="topsy_twitter_username"><span class="topsy_trackback_content">I still haven't figured out a good response to "Why do I get a computer?" http://bit.ly/7U1dbO Too many thoughts bouncing around.</span></span> I still haven't figured out a good response to "Why do I get a computer?" http://bit.ly/7U1dbO Too many thoughts bouncing around.

]]> By: Jim Chrisitan http://www.thethinkingstick.com/why-do-i-get-a-computer/#comment-5168 Jim Chrisitan Thu, 17 Dec 2009 13:11:57 +0000 http://www.thethinkingstick.com/?p=1210#comment-5168 Since taking over the IT Manager position at our Primary school campus three years ago, I've shared an office with out PE teacher, who is now a very good friend. I put one of the lowest spec eMac computers on his desk, and then later, replaced it with a low-spec Mac Mini - oh, how I watched him suffer. The amount of data he has to sort through and organise, such as after school activities, tournaments, reports, etc, is pretty immense, and I now find myself clamoring to kit him out with a higher-spec iMac as he's one of the people helping to pioneer digital initiatives in the school. He now has an HD video camera (as do many other teachers now) which he uses to record students doing gymnastics, edits them in iMovie, and plays the videos back to the students and parents to help with their reflection on the assessment. Teachers using the tech like that (from people you would least expect) can really help pioneer initiatives throughout the entire school, once others can see the potential and context. Of course, now my servers are struggling to keep up with the amount of video on them, but that's another story... Since taking over the IT Manager position at our Primary school campus three years ago, I’ve shared an office with out PE teacher, who is now a very good friend. I put one of the lowest spec eMac computers on his desk, and then later, replaced it with a low-spec Mac Mini – oh, how I watched him suffer. The amount of data he has to sort through and organise, such as after school activities, tournaments, reports, etc, is pretty immense, and I now find myself clamoring to kit him out with a higher-spec iMac as he’s one of the people helping to pioneer digital initiatives in the school. He now has an HD video camera (as do many other teachers now) which he uses to record students doing gymnastics, edits them in iMovie, and plays the videos back to the students and parents to help with their reflection on the assessment.

Teachers using the tech like that (from people you would least expect) can really help pioneer initiatives throughout the entire school, once others can see the potential and context.

Of course, now my servers are struggling to keep up with the amount of video on them, but that’s another story…

]]> By: Adrienne Michetti http://www.thethinkingstick.com/why-do-i-get-a-computer/#comment-5167 Adrienne Michetti Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:21:23 +0000 http://www.thethinkingstick.com/?p=1210#comment-5167 <span class="topsy_trackback_comment"><span class="topsy_twitter_username"><span class="topsy_trackback_content">From my Reader: Why do I get a computer? http://bit.ly/7EIdk0</span></span> From my Reader: Why do I get a computer? http://bit.ly/7EIdk0

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