Journal 5

LaMaster, Jen. & Stager, Gary S., (2012, February). Point/counterpoint: Should students use their own devices in the classroom?. 39(5), 6-7. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/issues/Point_Counterpoint_Should_Students_Use_Their_Own_Devices_in_the_Classroom.aspx

In this article we have Jen and Gary who are both not seeing eye to eye in the situation of students bringing their own devices to school. Jen argues that many times there are not enough devices for students at the school and if student brought their own device it would give the chance for all students to get a device when the entire class needs to use them. This is a good idea for the fact that many schools do not have enough funds to get the entire school updated with devices and the technology that our world offers us today. They can only provide with few and so if students brought in theres from home then they would be able to participate in class and follow along with the instructor and class. Gary argues that bringing in their own devices is not a good idea for the fact that it would create an issue in inequality for many students. Many times these devices can not be provided at home in which creates and issue at schools within the students. This could create an issue in which students are viewed as different from one another in which should be provented at all schools.
Q. What are the pros?
A. the pros of the students bringing the devices is that they are providing themselves with meeting the needs that is expected of them to use in school. It is not their fault that the school cannot provide them with all of the proper things that they need so that they can learn. They are expected to share but at times it is hard to share and if they were able to bring in their own devices then it would be a plus for many students.
Q. What are the Cons?
A. The reason why there are cons is because many students family cant afford these devices that they are expected to learn how to work on. It would create issues in which many will be viewed as different and possible bullying could eventually happen. This could damage many students and this should be provented becasue all students need to be treated the same. I also feel that this would create a distraction in which their devices would not have restrictions like other devices that the schools provide.

Journal 3

Brown, don. (2012, March/April). Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/issues/Rural_Districts_Bolster_Choices_with_Online_Learning.aspx

In this article it talks about children taking online classes and how it can benefit many students in learning and also by helping them retake classes that they have failed. This is taking place in Oregon in 14 Lane County school districts. This has given the opportunity for many students to take classes online for the fact that many classes are over full with students and their are little teachers to teach them all. They started working with Creswell School District with 1300 students in which they had years of experience with working with online classes. They saw a better outcome in every student that took online classes and their grades began to improve over all. The classes are not all online, the ones that are offered are those classes that are not offered at the school and the students pay 10 percent of the cost. They also provide them with a class period in which they are able to work on this class during school hours. What this will do is keep them on track and actually help them not neglect the class and actually work on it in which helps students improve in their school work. All districts agreed that this would help their students and benefit them with their learning and gives them the chance to take classes that the school cannot offer because of shortage of the staff.
Q. How would this benefit me?
A. This would benefit me by learning about technology and how it is created to teach students that are still in high school. This would also give the school a chance to give more to the students rather than limit them on what is only offered in a classroom setting. This would benefit my learning skills on understanding how students learn better and what works best for them. It will also teach me to be a better teacher each year by learning from my prior experiences as well as learn more from technology and how to improve it each year for the benefit of the students.
Q. How would this benefit the student?
A. this would benefit the students by actually giving them an opportunity to explore how they learn best so that they are prepared for college and can pick classes that they are able to understand and learn the material better at their pace and understanding. This will also help students with retaking classes that they have failed and will give them the ability to choose what they feel would be their best learning experience. The students are learning more rather and they have a choice. With technology they have the ability to learn more than books in the library can offer in which gives them variety and doesn't limit their learning.

Journal 2: The Flock

Ferguson, H. (2010). Join the flock!. Learning and Leading with Technology, 12-15. Retrieved from www.iste.org/Libraries/ ...and.../June_July_2010_Join_the_Flock.sflb.ashx

In this article, it was created to develop your skills with twitter and create a community on this account with others that are joining the flock. Hadley is the creator of the program in which she shows us how to set up an account and create a bio of 140 words and shows us how to add a picture so that everyone can see us and read some information about us so that they can get a little understand of who we are. She also shows us how to follow others on Twitter and read there thoughts and post. This is the beginning of our new community online with Twitter. This is a great opportunity to get to know people and actually have connections with others that are teachers as well and this is a nation wide community.

How will this community benefit me?
It would benefit me because it will help me as a teacher to get an outside opinion on how to improve my ways of being a better teacher. Not only will i be able to communicate with others that are in my state or other states, but i also get to communicate with others around the world. This would be extremely beneficial for me because i get to understand teaching around the world. This is something that couldn't have been done several years ago and now it is here and all should experience it at least once.

Second Article

Clintock Miller, S. (2010). Enhance your twitter experience. Learning and Leading in Technology, 14-17. Retrieved from \http://www.iste.org/Libraries/Leading_and_Learning_Docs/June_July_2010_Join_the_Flock.sflb.ashx
This article expresses how to enhance your twitter experience by using you PLN which is your personal learning network that you have started to create. The article explains how much it has benefited them as well as their classroom in using technology in seventh grade. It goes on to explain how great twitter can be and teaches you how to use twitter to expand conversations rather than ending with a re tweet. this would give many an opportunity to explore the web and develop a better understanding of technology. Many will find it difficult but with patients and a complete set of instructions it can be done.

How will this benefit in my classroom?
Many times in different communities there are times when you have students that have never touched or seen technology that will benefit them with learning. Something that i would do is have technology in my classroom so that it can expand the learning of each student and let them know what is out there in the web. I will also address what is safe and not, so that they get an understanding of safe surfing on the web. This will benefit my class by not limiting the students and their learning. It will also benefit me because i am able to teach my students more and more as technology grows.

Journal 4

Brown, Don, D. B. & Maltese, Ralph, (2011/2012, December/January). Point/counterpoint: Should we let students opt out of face-to-face education?. 39(4), 6-7. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/issues/Point_Counterpoint_Should_We_Let_Students_Opt_Out_of_Face-to-Face_Education.aspx
This article again is by Don Brown in which is about face to face education and if students should get a chance to opt out of this way of teaching. Because technology has come a long way, they have come up with different to teach students rather than in a classroom. Many school districts are now offering the option to take a class online only in which students find it very helpful for them to learn. This give them a chance to explore how they learn best and it also prepares them for future online classes that they may take. The article goes on talking about the importance of face to face education and how it really isn't important and at times inconvenient for those that travel a long way to attend the class. The article argues the fact that students learn more online because they are able to understand each others perspectives. Another thing is they become socialized in which everyone participates and states their understanding of the subject. Compared to a classroom in which many do not participate, students feel that they have more of a voice online and there is no pressure. Ralph argues that face to face interaction is necessary in which many teacher would lose their jobs because they are being replaced by computers. Another argument was stated that in the future, these students will be faced with face to face situations and they need to be ready and understand how to handle these situations properly so that they may get that job and or give people a great impression of them.
Q. Which side would you pick and why?
A. Its hard to lean towards one more than the other. I have to say that i am in the middle of these two arguments. I feel that students are learning more by being online and feel a sense of confidence in which is bring their grades up. Another thing that helps them is that they actually participate more online compared to a classroom. I also agree with Ralph in which students need to experience the face to face interactions from teachers for the fact that many time they will need this experience for their future. As well as teacher will then be replaced with computers and many teachers will lose their jobs because of this and this is something that we do not want.
Q. Would this help students in the future?
A. I feel that the use of technology would help students in the future but they are lacking the face to face interaction and the discipline that one needs in order to get a sense of being professional. Many students will benefit from getting the face to face interaction and many will benefit from using technology. They will get benefits from both in which they will be prepared for the future so i feel that both face to face and online should be offered to an extent.