Reflection
During the course of my 20% project, I have become more pro-technology. As I have stated many times before, I grew up with the concept of technology but never really applied it to my studies or school. Only until my freshman year of college did I begin to dabble into the world of technology. I’ve learned that there are countless educational based websites and applications that students can use in the classroom. But I still am on the search for an effective tool that truly stimulates and improves the learning capability of children.
Although there are numerous educational programs out there for students, some might not be as successful as others. For this reason, I plan on trying to find programs that are popular with teachers and students and what qualities they contain that make them this way. I want to find which features make each program efficient and maybe highlight those features in my website which can inform teachers what to look for when they are picking websites and applications to their curriculum.
As far as finishing my project goes, I still need to find concrete evidence that supports my claim. I believe that if I were to make a website or flyer to promote technology, the findings need to be positively conclusive so that I can encourage my audience. I also need to find reviews or testimonies from teachers about specific applications of websites that they used in their classroom that were either successful or not. I think this will help other teachers and adults that are weary about the topic to see that technology can be a reality by seeing other educator’s success stories.
Article Summary
The speed at which technology advances means that a broader horizon is present when it comes to choosing what tool to use in the classroom. In the article cited below, a study was done where a second grade class were given portable reading devices to use in the classroom. This was done to see if using the Nook Simple Touch eReader would improve their reading and English/language arts performance. The children were tested at the end of their second grade year by using the Georgia Online Assessment System (OAS) and also on at the end of their third grade year via Criterion Referenced Competency Test (CRCT). Researchers were able to compare the two test scores that were taken in 2013 and 2013 to find significant results. These findings show that there were improvements in the children's reading and English/language arts ability due to the implementation of the Nook eReader.
Union, Craig, Lori Union, and Tim Green. "The Use Of Ereaders In The Classroom And At Home To Help Third-Grade Students Improve Their Reading And English/ Language Arts Standardized Test Scores." Techtrends: Linking Research & Practice To Improve Learning 59.5 (2015): 71-84. Education Research Complete. Web. 13 Nov. 2015.
Rough Draft
How Can Technology Help Your Students Learn?