Fun with Flickr

I just finished watching the videos about Photo Sharing and Flickr. As could be predicted, as soon as I was done learning about Flickr, I went into exploration mode. I have been playing with Flickr for a little while now and I see potential this type of service could have as a teacher. In every classroom, there are students who need visual aids (like pictures) to help them understand something. I now realize how easy it will be to find the appropriate photo using Photo Sharing sites like Flickr. It is so very useful to be able to search the photo database by tags in order to find specific photos. Another potential use these websites have is to help find pictures for use in projects. As a student, I (and in the future, my students) will be able to use pictures from Photo Sharing website in my projects (as long as they are not copyrighted).

My Aha! Moment ... RSS Readers!!!

OMG … I can not believe I did not know about RSS before now! I’ve been seeing the little orange icon here and there, but I never paid much attention to it. I will be setting up my Google Reader page today and from now on I’ll be using my time on the web efficiently. I think having my favourite websites come to me is an amazing idea and I agree with the video announcer: “It will be addictive” but so much fun!!!

Importance of Technology in the Classroom

After having watched the “Pay Attention” video, I realize I very rarely encounter the useful use of technology in the classroom. When I was in grade school, the only technology being used was videos. I still remember the level of excitement getting elevated when the teacher would wheel that monstrous television and VCR into class. This memory proves that students crave technology in the classroom; even if it is very rudimentary!

Even at the university level, professors seldom use technology of any kind. I am a very visual learner (or at least I thought I was until I did the Memletic Style Quiz … Ha!); therefore, I need some visual support. For this reason, I enjoy lectures supported with PowerPoint or even slides. Nevertheless, I now realize that there are so many other ways to present a lecture visually involving technology.

I have to agree with the video’s main point: It is important to ENGAGE students! I feel technology is not the only way to accomplish this; but it is definitely one very real way to. Podcasts, Cell Phones, Computers and Smart Boards are just a few ways to get students actively involved in learning. When you’re having fun, you don’t even realize you are learning; and most students have fun with technology!

As a future teacher, I see the potential that involving technology in my classroom will have. As a result I am eager to begin engaging my students!