Assignment #1 Technology Literacy

1) The summary of my current technology knowledge and use is pretty minimal. I read through the Professional Preparation Performance Profile for teachers to get a better understanding of what I need to work on, but it all sounded very vague to me. I do not know how far behind I am in my technology knowledge and use so I really do not know what I need to work on.

I use technology to check email, I use the NU Eagle website for this. I own a Dell desktop computer and a Macbook computer but do not know how they work. I own an ipod but am having a hard time figuring out how that works. I only use the Internet for email and to check up on the news and learn new things. The only search engine I use is google. That's about it. That's all I do with technology. I think. Clearly I am far behind, I just don't know how far behind because I don't know how much is ahead.

2) My view on the subject of technology and education is that technology should play a major part in all grade levels of education. The purpose of teaching is to prepare people for the working world, to give them the tools they need to survive and do well in society. Our society today is technology based. Therefore, teachers should be teaching students everything about technology! Learning cursive is out. It is not as important as learning about technology this day in age. Who is going to survive better in society: the person who learned cursive and long hand division in school, or the person who learned all about technology in school? Clearly the later is the correct answer. I know that I have a lot to learn myself when it comes to technology but I am willing to learn it because I want my future students to learn it from me and go on to get good jobs, make good money, and avoid living a life serving food at Jack in the Box at 3am for a living.

3) Engage in learning activities with learners from multiple cultures through e-mail and other electronic means. (2, 6) To do this I would sign each of my students up to correspond back an forth via email with a pen pal from a different part of the world. I would require that the students include in their emails a description of where they live, with whom they live, their interests, and what they would like to learn about their pen pal's culture.

In a collaborative work group, use a variety of technologies to produce a digital
presentation or product in a curriculum area. (1, 2, 6) To do this I would teach the students how to use powerpoint and then assign them to groups of 2 or 3 to create a powerpoint slideshow about a certain subject that the class is studying. An example would be a slideshow about the Battle of LittleBighorn (history), or a slideshow about the concept of photosynthesis (science).

Communicate about technology using developmentally appropriate and accurate
terminology. (6) To do this I think that I would make a list of technological terms (example: hard drive, PC, search engine, modem, etc...) and create an assignment for my students to learn the definitions of these terms. They would need to fully understand what each term means, locate it in the computer lab, use the term in a sentence, and generally just understand what the term means. I would then give a definition test either orally or on paper to test the kids knowledge about the terms. I would benefit from such an activity! All too often kids move up a grade level without ever learning the meanings of important words and terms. This assignment would help prevent that from happening.