I actually loved the video! It kind of follows up on a comment I had when we did the Wikipedia blog assignment. I think technology is such a great tool for students in any level of school and if you have a laptop really can be used anywhere, but I also think that it is important for them to know and use books as well. When completing the Wikipedia assignment I said that most students in today’s society wouldn’t know what or how to use a card catalogue or the Dewey decimal system in a library or media center.
I think that the Internet is a very valuable resource but we shouldn’t eliminate books just because using the World Wide Web is easier and more accessible for many students. Incorporating both into projects and class assignments is what I try and do in my classroom. Many of my students don’t understand why we even have a classroom text because some teachers don’t ever have them open it all semester. Furthermore, some of my kids have no idea what a glossary or index is because they are so used to looking up vocabulary on the internet at home. I try and have a healthy balance between technology, resources, and text in my classroom. If we all had 33 computers in every classroom it would be another story, many of my kids don’t have access to computers outside of school so the text is a great base for the work we do on the computer and in class.
Being able to supplement concepts in the book with power points, internet research, simulations using smart boards, and video clips with the projector are a great way to differentiate instruction and make class more interesting and fun. However, the kids can’t take all of these tools home so I don’t think the text should ever be completely eliminated or to the point where kids don’t know how to look up ideas and people in the glossary or index.
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Good job, you got the video posted and playing on your blog. I enjoy reading your thoughts and the latest about your class.
ReplyDeleteCari,
ReplyDeleteSo far I've read one other blog where a classroom teacher has said that he doesn't use the textbook in class that much. With that and the fact that printed materials of all kinds -- newspapers, books, magazines -- are on the decline I was happy to see you make the pitch for striving for a balance continued use of the textbooks as well as the technology. And as you've said it's even more important when students don't have access to computers outside the classroom.