Inquiry through Technology.

Becoming an educator is a large undertaking and at times presents overwhelming challenges. However, it is nothing compared to what we will face in the classroom. One of the largest challenges educators face is keeping students engaged in the material while completing lessons. It is important to note that the classroom environment is no longer confined by the walls around it. With technological access there is much potential, but also a great deal of struggle. If utilized properly we can create opportunities that are exciting for students, but if we do not, we can easily lose students to the their own personal access to technology - Smart Phones.

In an attempt to create lessons that excite students, educators can find the resources listed in Chapter 7 very useful. I found the unique ways to utilize commonly used sites, such as Google Earth particularly useful. As a Social Studies teacher, I could utilize a tool such as this to create an interdisciplinary lesson, partnered with either a science (Earth Science) or mathematics (Scaling and Geometry) courses. Presenting information to students in this matter allows them to become involved.

In addition, the strategies for utilizing gaming in the classroom was of interest to me.While I am familiar with using gaming as a way to encourage student engagement and practice, I struggled to see the ways in which an educator could include them in a non homework/practice capacity. The idea of discussing the content of gaming was particularly interesting. This changed the purpose of gaming from practice to active learning. Students discussing their accomplishments, what they have done, how they have done it and even questioning its accuracy allows them to consider their learning. Unfortunately, this is not something that I have experienced in a live classroom, but am interested to create opportunities like these for my future students.

Lastly, utilizing the technology available in the classroom in these new and interesting ways will be a great way to engage students in and of itself. Introducing new ideas, even if only visually, creates interest for students. If the same resources are continually utilized, no matter how interesting students will lose interest. By using sites like these, and continuing through our careers with this same drive to find new resources, we can keep our students interested in the material.

Questions:
1. Through utilization of the best gaming programs designed specifically for the classroom are we losing the need for quality educators?
2. What are some effective ways that you have observed the utilization of gaming technology in the classroom, without it being for the purpose of practice or homework?
3. Are their ways that we can include students easily accessed technology - Smart Phones - in the classroom so that we can further their engagement in lessons? Could that be through the use of tasks such as polling, multiple choice questions and gaming?