Mod 6-Technology-infused classroom

I envision a chalk less room with gleaming white walls, white boards, a SMART Board with all necessary equipment, a class set of computers, with IPods or MP3 players, and a state of the art sound system.  Maybe I could include a “Holodeck” from Star Trek! 
This sounds extreme and maybe impossible to achieve, but a girl can dream!  My school is striving towards incorporating more technology into the classrooms, but I’m not sure if it’s feasible to do this in our current economic situation.
How can I obtain all this technology?  Honestly, I’m not sure.  Grants may be the answer.  Unfortunately finding the money to maintain the technology could be a problem. When my department chair asks for special requests, I will put in for whatever technology the school can afford.
Until then, I’ll continue to use the DLP projector, software, and my 1990’s movie screen to show power points, review for tests, and do interactive activities.  I’ll add other activities and presentations as I find time to make them or download them from the Internet!

Blog 2-Internet in the classroom

The Internet can provide real-world audio and visual experiences for students.  Teachers can use this as an enhancement for their lessons and teaching methods.  This may include locating audio/video clips pertaining to a unit, video conferencing with another class, using web graphic organizers to summarize a concept, and displaying a photo for a picture prompt activity.

I think of posters and photos when I hear about visual-thinking.  I use some of my travel pictures to have my students write about what is going on.  Sometimes I’ll use one of my travel posters from the Spanish Embassy to spark a discussion or story. I’m not sure how much I’ll use the Internet for visual-thinking.  I hope to include more in my plans and class activities in the next month or so.

Schools are impacted by the Internet in many different ways.  It connects the students to the world and gives them an opportunity to see places they may never visit and hear native words and music.  This is especially true in the World Language classroom.  I plan to use the Internet to take my students on Virtual journeys they’ll enjoy!  Budget cuts and a slow economy lower the chances for students and teachers to travel to distance lands.  The Internet can bring the world closer home. And you don’t need a passport!