Comments on: iSchool Worries…Is Technology A Distraction?

By: Elona Hartjes

Elona Hartjes — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 14:03:38 +0000

Mathew,
I’ve found that my high school students will explore technology and have fun with it in their own way and then settle down and work on my assignment. I can honestly say that I don’t have a problem with that. They take mini breaks and that’s OK with me. I can’t concentrate for 75 minute straight either without a little break myself.

My reluctant/struggling learners tell me time and time again they wish more teachers let them use Web 2.0 technology in the classroom. They love it when their work looks as good a what they see online. That’ really motivating.

By: Brittany

Brittany — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 21:19:10 +0000

I have to admit I agree with the fact that it can be distracting. However, the more technology I use in the gym the more the students are engaged , the more they understand and the more they are willing to try new things. I am a physical education teacher, I use pedometers to measure their steps then we use a wesite to convert the steps to miles, and calories burned. I also have the ability to use heart rate watches that show up in a graph on a PDA. The students think “its cool” to see what their heart rate is doing when they are exercising.

Also, I used to use about 50 CD’s that I would have to shuffle through to find the one I need. I recently just bought an Ipod so that I can be more organized. Now I will just have to have the lists available for the students when they are picking thier music for certain lessons. Now begins the long download process of all my cd’s.

By: Kimberly

Kimberly — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 16:40:30 +0000

Rule number 1 for handing out technology to students – go over safety rules before handing out technology.

Rule Number 2 – Build in “explore time” before you you start the lesson.

Engaged students are learning students. I was distracted in school because I was off day dreaming – because i was bored. When I write my lessons I want the students engaged – and technology is the best way for me to do this.

By: Chelsea

Chelsea — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 15:06:20 +0000

Good point…making school boring is, in my opinion, a worse fate than bringing in an exciting new technology that could be slightly distracting at times. And maybe my concerns are simply a reflection of my own inability to focus when I have my iTouch within reach!