My name is Jessica Fuentes. I am a potential assistant teacher candidate attending the California State University of Northridge. I am studying English subject matter for grades K-12. I will graduate in the Spring of 2017, and am aiming to teach English literature to high school students. This blog is dedicated to student teacher related information and education standards.
I grew up in the San Fernando Valley. I am twenty-four years old. In my spare time I enjoy watching films, making creative art and spending time with my family. I am looking for prospective jobs in the teaching field at the moment to begin my career in.
Media technology is a coming of age utility for the teaching world of today. In my experience as a student I have seen technology such as computers, projectors, slideshows and short films used in the classroom. Media comes most to play in middle school and high school, but in my experience as a student it is to be used sparingly. More advanced technology should not be used to distract, but to interact with. My philosophy on technology in the classroom entails sticking to the basics. A slideshow for part of the lecture is okay, but depending too heavily on one screen can be tiring for the students to steadily learn from it. In English classes, I feel that showing performances of plays on the screen is extremely important for students to visualize the text. It is not necessary to show the entire film in class, but taking specific clips that had heavy stage directions can really help aid in comprehension of a text.
Hey Jessica, I too am an aspiring teacher and love what you have to say about media technology! Although it is very useful, I agree that its usage in a classroom setting should be minimal. I love the examples you provided of projectors and slideshows. I am currently a teacher’s assistant at an elementary school and those teachers use projectors so frequently, its crazy. I can’t even imagine how they would function without them, especially with the little kids who don’t pay attention. They need to have the visual of watching the teacher do the exercise before they are able to try it themselves. However, an overload of technological use, as you say, would be detrimental to their learning, especially with the older kids. I like your “sticking to the basics” philosophy. When I’m a teacher, pencil and paper will be all that’s necessary, for the majority of days at least.
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ReplyDeleteHey Jess!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you--though technology is important in the classroom, teachers would be best to use it with discretion. I've seen both my teachers and peers attempt to use technology tools such as PowerPoints in the classroom with little success. Most of the time, FAR too much information is put up on the slides. While the class scrambles to read and write down the information before them, they lose sight of the lecture, not having time to pay attention to the words the teacher is saying or associate it with the information on the board.
I also agree with your philosophy on employing visual technology in the classroom. Using other forms of technology helps reach students who learn in different ways!
Hey Jess!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you--though technology is important in the classroom, teachers would be best to use it with discretion. I've seen both my teachers and peers attempt to use technology tools such as PowerPoints in the classroom with little success. Most of the time, FAR too much information is put up on the slides. While the class scrambles to read and write down the information before them, they lose sight of the lecture, not having time to pay attention to the words the teacher is saying or associate it with the information on the board.
I also agree with your philosophy on employing visual technology in the classroom. Using other forms of technology helps reach students who learn in different ways!