Blog Assignment #11

First Graders In Ms. Cassidy's Class and Skype Interview With Ms. Cassidy

The video Little Kids...Big Potential was wonderful! The video takes us inside Ms. Cassidy's first grade classroom and gives us a look at all of the ways in which Ms. Cassidy's young students are utilizing technology in their education. I was so pleasantly surprised by how much these first graders are able to understand and use technology to learn. They are really having fun with it and they seem very engaged which is extremely important. All of the children in Ms. Cassidy's class also seem so well behaved and mature. I'm sure that the daily experience of using and sharing computers and the Nintendo DS is helping with that.

In the Skype interview between Dr. Strange and Ms. Cassidy, she describes her classroom a little more in depth for us. She discusses the way that her kids use their class blog to connect to website which they can use in their daily learning and the way that they use their own personal blog. I am glad that Ms. Cassidy addressed the issue of being the teacher of an elementary class which uses the internet and how she "endeavors to protect the identity of her students." That will, of course always be an issue (as it should be) with parents. Parents should be somewhat hesitant to let their children, especially small children, use the internet because it can be a potentially dangerous thing. However, people like Ms. Cassidy are demonstrating that it can also be an extremely valuable tool and when used properly, can open so many doors for students.

Ms. Cassidy also explains how her classroom runs on a rotation of activities. Some students will use the computers, or practice reading with her or with the resource instructor. So each subject (such as reading) is approached in a multitude of ways. That is great because not every child learns the same way.

I plan to teach history/social studies at the middle school or high school level so I will definitely be using technology in my classroom. I can see my class using blogs and various presentation tools to collaborate on projects and papers. I can see how technology can be distracting, but for the most part I think it will be useful.