Blog post #2- Handheld Devices

     Handheld devices are becoming more and more popular with the general public and are now solidly making their way into mainstream educational settings.  These devices come in several different forms; iPods, smart phones, and iPads or tablets. I read an interesting article about the use of handheld wireless computers (the author uses this term to refer to all forms of these handheld devices) in an educational setting, and am going to share the key points with you.  The author, Hani Morgan, discusses the advantages and disadvantages to the widespread use of these devices in schools.  

Advantages

• It is imperative that students are taught to become digitally literate.  Hani (2010) says that "allowing students to develop skills to access and learn from the increasing number of digital literacies through handheld computers is one way to accomplish this goal" (p. 140).
• The lower cost of these devices can more readily allow each child to have access. 
• They can allow teachers and students to increase communication and sharing of documents and therefore enhance the quality of written work (Hani, 2010).
• The use of these devices promotes "green" technology that can save tremendous amounts of paper.

Disadvantages

• Handheld wireless computers have potential for abuse- cheating and cyber-bullying, specifically.
• Children can be exposed to advertisements and inappropriate content, if proper precautions aren't taken.

Longevity

• Unlike other types of technology in which enthusiasm can often wane over time, Hani says that research is showing that "motivation to use handheld computers increased with time" (p. 141).
• When schools are able to provide or support each child having one of these devices, computing with them and using them in lessons will become routine.  

     There are so many ways that a librarian could use these devices- I get excited just thinking of them!  Here are a few of the things I hope to implement:

-I plan to have a training video available for new students who enroll after all of my library trainings have been done.  It can show them how to check books in and out, examples of good library behavior, what special programs are available and how they work, etc.  They could view it after scanning a QR code in the library with any of the available devices.
-I could also have students and teachers use video to share their favorite books or to share their review of a recently read book.   I would love to show one each week on the video announcements, but also have them available to view in the library when a student needs a recommendation for what to read next.

-I would love to have older students create audio recording of picture books that younger students could listen to on iPods.    

I could go on and on about this topic.  I believe these devices are the way of the future in education and also in library services.  The possibilities are endless!

References

Morgan, H. (2010). Using handheld wireless technologies in school: Advantageous or disadvantageous? Childhood Education, 87(2), 139-142. Retrieved from http://libproxy.library.unt.edu:2055/docview/845517114?accountid=7113

Blog post #1: Technology strengths and weaknesses

       The International Society for Technology in Education’s NETS for teachers are a resource that all teachers should know about and have access to.  The ISTE (2012) wrote the NETS to be, “…the standards for evaluating the skills and knowledge educators need to teach, work, and learn in an increasingly connected global and digital society” (“Digital age teaching” section).  Any teacher who follows these standards will have the most engaged, creative, tech-savvy classroom full of students in her school! 

         My strongest technology strengths, in relation to the NETS, would be “model digital citizenship and responsibility” and “engage in professional growth and leadership” (ISTE second page, parts 4 and 5).  I like to think of myself as a good digital citizen, and try to teach and model those things to my students.  Through technology initiatives in my district and on my campus, as well as the work I am doing in my Master’s program, I feel I am engaging in professional growth daily.  My position as a Language Acquisition Specialist puts me in a position of leadership and modeling for the teachers on my campus, which has been an experience of growth for me. 

         My weakest NETS technology areas would be those related to facilitating, designing and modeling digital age lessons and experiences for students.  I have been out of the classroom for seven years now, and feel a bit out of touch when it comes to some of the newer technology and how it relates to the daily classroom experience. 

         I think I am lucky that my strengths and weaknesses compliment each other.  I feel I can use my strengths to help mitigate my weaknesses.  As I grow professionally and model what I learn for teachers, I will be more prepared and able to translate that to creating lessons and classroom use.  The key is finding opportunities to practice the things that I learn, I will have to seek them out and make them happen. 

         Learning about technology isn’t something I worry about.  The nature of my professional life as well as my student life will give me opportunities to keep abreast of the latest and greatest available in the technological world.  The part that I will have to learn about is the application of these things into the real-life classroom.  That is the part that I feel I need the most help with.  I will have to purposely seek out opportunities to practice these things and see how they fit in- or even lead- daily instruction.

References

ISTE (2012). NETS- Advancing digital age teaching.  Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/standards/nets-for-teachers

ISTE (2008). ISTE NETS-T: Advancing digital age teaching.  Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/docs/pdfs/nets-t-standards.pdf?sfvrsn=2

Tracy 's Class Project links