Blog Assignment #11

       Ms. Kathy Cassidy of Moose Jaw, Canada, is a wonderful example of a technologically literate teacher! She is constantly researching new ways to use technology to benefit her first grade students. For example, she uses a classroom blog where her students can post writing assignments and other things, such as wikis and Skype.
       After watching the Skype Interview conducted by Dr. Strange, I learned many ways to use technology in my future classroom. The first thing Ms. Cassidy suggests we do is think about what is best for our students? Since I am going to be a secondary social science teacher, I have been thinking of ways to use these different things that she suggested. When using blogs, a few of the things I plan to do are: 1. Post all homework assignments onto the classroom blog so that the students and their parents will be able to keep track of all due dates, 2. assign the students to post writing assignments, videos and other assigned projects to their own personal school blog, 3. have the students to post special assignments that they will do individually or in a group, this could be a video they make about research they did on a specific historical figure or event, 4. I would love to use blogs as much as possible because they are also a great way to keep the parents informed on different events going on in our classroom or even at the school. Another thing Ms. Cassidy does in her classroom is assign them "blogging buddies" to write to from all over the world; this would be great to do especially in a social science class, it would help them to better learn what is going on in different parts of the world, they could also Skype their "blogging buddies" which would make it even more interactive. Wikis are another thing that I think the students and myself would enjoy using because it would give them a chance to interact and learn from others, like Ms. Cassidy used the Wikis in her class to find out about traditions.
       Some things that may impede us from using these different types of technology would be if the school administration or if the students' parents didn't encourage or allow it. I would try and assure the parents that I would educate the students on how to use the Internet in a safe way, for one, as Ms. Cassidy says in her interview 1. make sure they do not use their last name, no pictures of themselves, and also that we are digital citizens and not to say mean things to others on the Internet, 2. when they are playing a game not to click on any of the ads that surround it and to just stay in the middle because the ads will take them to another site that they may not want to go to, 3. they would need to know what to do if they do end up somewhere on the Internet that they do not want to be.
       There are many benefits to using Ms. Cassidy's approaches. First, using a blog allows the parents to keep track of their child's work and also to keep track of other things such as due dates and classroom and school events that are going to take place. Second, having them post assignments on the Internet where many people all over the world can view and comment on will give them the encouragement to do a better job on all of their work. Finally, it will give them the opportunity to interact with other students from around the world and give them a better view of the world.
       In conclusion, Ms. Cassidy's use of technology in her classroom in wonderful! More teachers should become more aware and use these different types of technology. Every day people are coming out with newer and better technology. As a future teacher I plan on learning as much as possible about all of these things so that my students will be able to benefit from them.