Educational Technologies

            Incorporating technology in the classroom is the wave of the future. It allows learners to collaborate, share, and understand (Tamarkin & Rodrigo, 2011). It allows for collaboration in real time and the learner to be able to demonstrate that they know why and how something works (Tamarkin et al., 2011).

            When reviewing the blogs of my fellow learners over the last eight weeks, there are several technologies that standout. The first one is from Adam Pierre’s week 7 blog. This is the week we discussed digital citizenship. The technology he talked about was at http://www.ongaurdonline.gov/media/game-0005-id-theft-faceoff. This is a game that can be played by students to warn them about identity theft, and the hazards of putting too much personal information on the Internet. Although my students are not allowed on the web, they are very vulnerable to having their identities stolen. I would use this game as a starting point to discussing this problem with them and what steps they could take to protect themselves (Pierre, 2015).

            The next technology reviewed was from Week 5, Angela Harris’ blog that discussed games, simulations, and virtual environments. The technology discussed was Second Life, http://www.secondlife.com. This site is interactive and would open up learning environments to my students that they have never experienced before. They would be able to walk through history, and experience other parts of the world without having to leave the state. There is no limit to what can be studied thru secondlife (Harris, 2015). I would use this technology to show the men the world beyond the walls of the prison, and the boundries of state of West Virginia.

            The third technology reviewed was from Week 4, Shirmen McDonald discussed iPads. For more information on iPads, you can go to www.apple.com. iPads have made technology easier to access, are cheaper than a computer, and are mobile. Ease of mobility and affordability has made iPads the technology choice for higher education. Through the wireless capabilities of the iPad, the user can access video-conferencing which allows for increased collaboration among learners, researchers, and teachers (Tamarkin et al., 2011). Through the use of information technology, learners can collaborate in real time and learn on a deeper level. I would like to use this technology in my classroom to extend the lesson, and keep the men in class longer.

            In a 21^st century classroom it is important to have the learners use the technology that is available to them to advance the learning process, and to make sure that the process is a meaningful one.

References

Harris, A. (2015, November 26). Games, simulations, and virtual environments [Blog message]. Retrieved from: http://angelakharris.blogspot.com

McDonald, S. (2015, November 20). Mobile learning technologies [Blog message]. Retrieved from: https://shirmenblog.wordpress.com/

Pierre, A. (2015, November 9). Digital Citizenship [Blog message]. Retrieved from: http://adampierre.blogspot

Tamarkin, M., Rodrigo, S., & The 2011 Educause Evolving Technologies Committee. (2011). Evolving technologies: A view to tomorrow. Retrieved from: http://www.educause.edu/ero/article/evolving-technologies-view-tomorrow