Blog Post #9

First Graders in Ms. Cassidy's Class

Kathy Cassidy is a First Grade teacher. She uses technology in the classroom that is so integrated into her classroom plan that it is so natural. The students are very involved and connected in her room, and they enjoy learning using this method. The students get to use resources such as blogs, Skype, Wiki, electronic games, SMARTboards, and webpages. The students seemed excited and proud of their blogs because, not only were they able to do it, but they were able to see the different things that others like, family, and friends, posted in response to their various accomplishments.

The students have an excuse to get on the computer, and they are doing productive work. It made it fun for the students because the experience did not end in the classroom, but was extended to the household setting as well. This kind of reminds me of the Randy Pausch lecture. He said there are many things that we learn while attempting to accomplish something else. In the same token, these kids getting on the computer and writing and doing all that they do, enables them to be better at grammar and writing skills, without the tedious approach.

In my future classroom, I definitely hope to use the SMARTboard and blogs in order to get the children motivated to learn. There might be an issue with some student's parents wanting to do more for their child in order for the project to look better, and so I may implement little incentives for the children to be happy and content with their personal progress, rather than relying on the sole help of their parents. The benefits of this approach is endless because when kids have a drive to learn, and they do not even feel the burden of it, the progress and possibilities are endless.