Final Blog

So I guess this it, my last blog for my ICT class.  I survived through all of my assignments and exams and now this is all I have left.  I guess I will use this last blog entry to wrap up the semester of ICT.

We learned all kinds of neat things in ICT.  As I said in the beginning, I went into the course with very little computer skills and knowledge.  I'm still not doing as well as some people but at least I learned some cool things.  We started out with the WordSplash.  Simple enough.  A bunch of words organized artistically on a page.  As simple as that is, it could be very useful in a classroom.  I've seen posters made up of WordSplashes, as well as cover pages of organizers.  Word Splashes can be used for brainstorming, as well as making lists, or even just for jotting down important words.

We also made websites, which can be very useful in a classroom.  Websites can be used for all sorts of things.  Teachers can use websites to stay in contact with students as well as parents.  Homework and class notes can be posted on websites as well as any other videos or materials used in the classroom.  As we learned in class, websites can also be used to make portfolios and organize all of the information an employer might want to look at when hiring a teacher.

Digital stories and photographs could serve as neat projects for students to do in almost any class.   These could be used in math for instance, to demonstrate how to do a math problem.  Students tend to prefer good visuals, especially in the form of videos and photo images, and therefore these things may help in engaging students in the classroom.

On top of those things, we also learned a bit about using SmartBoards, which is pretty much crucial in today's classroom.  The opportunities a SmartBoard allows are almost limitless.  I think the main thing I will remember about using a SmartBoard in my classroom is that it is an interactive learning device, and therefore the students should get opportunities to use it for learning, rather than just using it as an expensive note-giving device. 

When I entered the ICT class, I was pretty skeptical and did not think I would incorporate a lot of internet usage and technology in my classroom.  I thought that it would just offer more distraction to students more than aiding them.  Now I have come to realize, that if done properly, incorporating different types of technology into the classroom can be incredibly useful.  The main thing about it is that it keeps students engaged.  Students, especially high school students, love using devices and programs, and giving them a chance to use it in the classroom puts power in their hands.  Sharing ideas also becomes easier; teachers can help each other out and give each other ideas for projects and assignments. Overall I found my experience in the ICT program to be very rewarding and I hope I don't forget the cool things I learned when I am finally a teacher.