5364+Week+1

__**Part 1: Videos**__ The videos this week on the Constructivist theory, Connectivism theory, and Cyborg theory were a great introduction to the course Teaching With Technology. Out of the three learning theories introduced, the only one I was familiar with was the Constructivist theory which I was trained in five years ago. After listening to the theory on Connectivism, I feel that it is a necessary element to Constructivism. Constructivism isn't just teaching new information and new ideas, the idea behind it is teaching students where to find the information. From what I gathered from the readings and video, and I feel it would be necessary to use the two theories together in a classroom to achieve the desired end result of creating learning connections, and understanding where to find the information when needed. In the world we live in today, there really is a plethora of information, helping students understand where to find information to solve their problems is key, not just memorizing facts.

After watching the Cyborg theory video, I was very disturbed. I feel that what makes each of us human is our ability to either excel or fail in a given field or talent. If each of us could just "download" whatever we wanted to learn, where is the achievement in that? I feel that would take the fun out of life. What worries me is how this could be used to do harm to others, especially in times of war. I hope this is not where technology of the future is going.

__**Part 2: Readings**__

I was so glad that we were required to purchase the books __Web 2.0 New Tools, New Schools__ and __Technology Instruction that Works__. I have several technologist friends that had read them, and I had heard about them at a TCEA convention, but hadn't gotten around to reading them myself. Out of the two I am really enjoying the statistics covered in __Technology Instruction that Works__. I am on the district tech committee for my school district and on the CIC committee at my school, and these statistics will be really helpful when proposing that new technologies be used in our district.

I can't wait to apply some of these new ideas in my own classroom as soon as possible to see if it makes a difference in student achievement. For the last five years I have been a technology specialist, but this year my district decided to get rid of technology specialists on campuses and we all went back to the classroom. I now teach 5th grade science, and because I am learning a new curriculum, I have been shadowing a 5th grade teacher at another campus, who isn't using too much technology. I am so ashamed of myself because I have hardly incorporated any technology into my lessons, first of all because we hardly have any tools, and secondly because there is no time with all the labs we have to cover. Our benchmark grades were horribly low. I am going to use these two books to try and get me on track for the second semester. Hopefully some of the ideas found in these books can boost student benchmark scores and get the students ready to take the dreaded 5th grade science TAKS test. Wish me luck!