Questions...Questions...Questions

Questioning is one of my most favorite parts of teaching. I love to ask questions of my students just to get them thinking. Sometimes I don't care if they get the right answer or not, I just want them to think. I think a lot of the students in my class don't think for themselves, their parents do their thinking. I want to develop independent thinkers, people who own their thoughts and are confident in their answers.

Out of the Questioning toolkit, I probably tend to ask essential, clarification, and strategic questions. Essential questions to go with character building, getting students to think about their actions and words and how they conduct themselves. Clarification questions to develop understanding and strategic questions to build independent thinking. I think the strategic questions and the subsidiary questions would allow for higher order thinking. I love asking students types of Higher Order Thinking questions as they are not used to these. Many of my students are so used to going back in the text and having the answer right there for them. So when I ask them to evaluate, discuss, explain, I often get blank stares. I also tend to ask questions back to my students if they ask me questions to keep them thinking and develop their confidence in their own thinking.

I think all the question types would compliment technology integration in one way or another depending on its use. For example, telling questions are questions that can be answered through research and planning questions can be used when developing a power point or brochure.

I think questioning, in the right manner, can really challenge our students in many different ways and will really help them continue to develop into independent thinkers.

Half-way Point

We have reached the half way mark for this class! I am excited about what we are doing and looking for ways in which I can apply some of this information to my class. One of the significant learning experiences I have had was reading peoples' responses to one of my discussion questions this week to go along with my power point. I asked them to share one specific way they have used the Internet in their class. Anna replied with an awesome activity that I was able to take and use in my class (with a little modification of course). I love how teaching is one profession where we can share ideas and use other peoples' things, with out them getting upset! Why re-invent the wheel!

I would love to get my hands on some of the awesome pieces of software that other schools use and show our teachers what is out there. In addition to software, and maybe something more easily accessible, would be to gather a list of great websites and web quests that would go along with what we are teaching. We could take a professional development day and just search the Internet ourselves to come up with ways to integrate technology into our classes. There is SO much out there and often times we don't have the time to find it!

Podcasts and their outcomes

I am not very familiar using Podcasts nor do I even own an Ipod. I have very few friends or acquaintances that I know who use Podcasts, but I do see how they could be affective in the educational setting. The first thought that comes to mind is their use when a sub is needed. You could go as far as to make up a Podcast when you are at home and then it will be shown in your class. Another use I see for them is connecting with other schools. Students could learn from other teachers for something new.

The students love technology. They look out for the latest and greatest. I am a teacher who, unfortunately, doesn't use much technology. So I know whenever I do I get their full attention, because it is something different. I think the students knowledge is highentened to new levels and they are motivated to learn further. When Podcasts are used students are interested in the content and are enjoying what they are learning, hopefully.

Workshop 2

What do you expect the students' cognitive outcomes when the students use technology?

I have mixed feelings concerning this question. I tend to ask myself, is computer use good for the brain? Is it challenging students' thinking? Does it emphasise higher-order thinking? I think there are many times when it will increase students' knowledge on certain topics. I think there are programs, software packages, and websites out there that will challenge the mind. There are things that technology can offer that will expose children to events or pictures that they may never have had the chance to see before.

On the other hand I think that in excess, the computer will eat away at the brain. I think when not monitored and used correctly students will not benefit cognitively from technology use. Finding the right balance is the key

What do you expect are the students' affective outcomes when the students use technology?

Students these days are avid technology users. They love any sort of technology and are intrigued by it. Therefore, the outcome of technology use in the classroom will be motivation in the students and therefore ideally learning should increase. Students will be more attentive when you use technology and more in tune with what the teacher is trying to teach them.