Conversation w/ Outside Teacher

Hi Meagan,
We are currently on school holidays so sorry for the delay ....
Technology big part of my classroom ? - TEchnology is an everyday part of my classroom. In New Zealand the classroom teacher teaches all subjects and has the same children all day long. We have had a rather slow start to blogging this year but it is part of our literacy programme. Children are actively taught search terms etc as part of our library skills programme so they can use these skills to find information in the library and on the internet. We use some interactive maths games (online) for building basic facts speed.
We have a data projector available so do things like our mathematics strategy text all together using a timed power point.
We use our classroom digital camera to record all we are doing and later in the year as these shot skills build we begin some simple movie recordings.


I'd love to have a couple of flip video things so that the children could really easily record their thoughts etc - so easy to use and tiny to take around. I have one of my own that a friend sent from overseas but you can't order them here in NZ!!! Also would like a digital blue USB microscope and we have that on the purchasing schedule for later this year.


Technology is hugely important - it always has been but the types of technology have changed through various periods in history. I think that the children in my class need to know how to create as well as access using technology so they can put forward their thoughts etc - and learning how to create lets them experience how easy it is to put things on the internet that are not necessarily true but created by people to look true.


Technology allows the children to connect more widely than with just their own ideas and those of their local community - it allows us to try on the ideas of others and see if we agree or disagree.


Hope this helps.
Kind regards
Jody Hayes

On 23/04/2009, at 4:15 AM, Meagan Green wrote:





Ok great... I am majoring in Elem. Edu but currently taking a technology course where we engage in podcasts, blogging, etc...so I'm just going to ask a few questions about technology in your school...

Is technology a big part of your classroom? and what types of technology do you use most often with your students?

What types of technology do you think would be beneficial to your classroom that you do not already have?

Do you think technology is important for student's future? Why?

Thanks,
Meagan


Hi Meagan,
Of course. You can email them to me or arrange a time to skype.
Kind regards
Jody
On 16/04/2009, at 5:09 AM, Meagan Green wrote:

> Ms. Hayes,
> I am a student at the University of South Alabama. I am currently enrolled in a technology class. I was wondering if you would be willing to answer some technology/education questions?
>
> Thanks,
> Meagan
>

Jody Hayes
hayes@olol.school.nz
Our Lady of Lourdes School
Palmerston North

Read our class blog at http://classblogmeister.com/blog.php?blogger_id=1638