EDUC 628-Spring-08

Barriers that Solomon Offers: 

Barrier 1:  Access to up-to-date hardware, software, and connectivity:

Barrier 2:  Access to Meaningful, High-Quality, and Culturally Responsive content to the Knowledge Base in that content

Barrier 3:  Access to educators who know how to use digital tool and resources effectively

Barrier 4:  Access to systems sustained by leaders with vision and support for change through technology

After reading this weeks assigned pages from Solomon and searching for blogs I am yet overwhelmed again with information about technology and its access.  When I read about the barriers in the text, I could really relate to what Solomon was saying about Barrier 1 –where she discusses student to computer ratios being lowered, but with many of these lowered rates, the computers that students have access to are old ones that are very slow.  I have been in some computer labs before where it takes the computers so long to boot up, or reboot because they are out of date.  I will get on one and just to get a pdf or something will require the download of  Acrobat Reader, etc. 

I think that there is access to meaningful, high-quality and culturally responsive content to the knowledge base, but the problem could be that educators do not know where to access it, and then perhaps they don’t know how to use some of this technology.  I know that since I have taken this class that I have found some valuable information and tools on the Internet for instructional purposes that I didn’t know existed before.  I hope to try to take all of the information I learn form this class and my other tech class, and put it to meanful use, even though I am not working full time right now.  Or should I say that because I am not working full-time right now that I will have the time to explore and plan some lessons for nest year.

In my EDUC 621 class, I had to go visit the site http://www.intime.uni.edu/. Regarding multicultural issue and technology and I found it to be a beneficial site.  There is a lot of information there and perhaps too much to fully grasp the site’s purpose in one visit of two, but I will continue to visit this site for information for my instruction. 

Also, I searched for a blog and I did a search for inTime blogs, and I found this one belowhttp://ehansonsmith.blogspot.com/Although the first two pictures of videos on the left only turned out to be pictures when I clicked on them and I was a bit discouraged, when I clicked on the Asterpix it took me to a tutorial and I joined up so I can find a video for a lesson in the future now.There are other interesting links on this blog spot, like the interactive American Writers- C-SPAN videos link.

I think this site is a good site that relates to educational access for the purposes of integrating technology into education, even though I think the pics should access the access.

Angie H.

Well, over my morning coffee I read Chapter 1 of Toward Digital Equity.  I like the way it prepares the reader for the upcoming chapters, introducing how historically free education has emerged in America, and the problems that have been overcome in doing so.  The book points out how technology and the access to it can either improve education or digitally divide it.  There is an emphasis on teachers implementing the use of technology as opposed to merely just teaching technology as well.

My thoughts would linger as I read this chapter to the fact that I have chosen a particular college to attend for my Special Education Degree based on the fact that it offers the entire program online.  Be that as it may that I may not have the social interaction through in class instruction that so many may encourage.  I will get that interaction when I teach.  My point is that I chose a degree based digital access……

Angie H.

Well, I joined in a Tapped In Tricks session today at 12 Noon.  I really don’t know is I joined in , or just was present.  I was a little confused for a while until I caught up with all the chat.  I did learn how to navigate some and I knowingly joined a club called Webheads, and next Sunday at 12 Noon I will go to their session.  There is also a Campus Tour next Saturday at Tapped in which will be good to go to.  BJB was the leader of the discussion, and I learned quite a bit from this Tricks of Tapped In informational session. 

I also went out to find myself four more blogs to add to my gator, which are

http://www.ed.gov/rss/edgov.xml

 http://davidwarlick.com/2cents/feed/

http://www.amazon.com/gp/blog/A56STDCXPUNPD/atom.xml

http://dreamofhope4u.spaces.live.com/feed.rss

I have subsricbed to these, yet have not spent very much time reading them yet, but I certainly will….after I put the rest of my classmates’ feeds in my gator.  I plan to do this late tonight and also read Solomon’s chapter 1 and have this completed by dawn on tomorrow…at night is when I work best.

Angie H.

Technology, Education, and Culture

How these three relate to each other could be looked at endlessy, and I think that they each are effected and affect each other. Certain cultures will pave the ways of technology, while technology will shape the culture. Education and culture intertwine while technology changes education and culture continually.

I read one of Dr. Lowell’s comments about today’s kids “linking up”, and he was right. When my 14 year-old comes home, the first thing she does is check MSN and MySpace….and text. We won’t talk about what her new phone is capable of doing.

As soon as I get home, I link up to check email sites, Blackboard, websites, and now Yahoo Messenger, Edublogs, Tapped In, and I don’t know what else. I do know that I am excited about hooking up the MP4 Player my 7-year old got for Christmas to downlaod podcasts and podiobooks(I think I said that right).

I hope that technology can shape my education so I can be part of the cyberspace culture more….but please don’t ask me to hook up a video cam. I really like to sit in front of the computer without worrying about what I look like.

Well, I finally made it through cyberspace enough to get to this spot to post to all a little bit about me.  First of all, my title needs a little creativity, but I am still trying to figure out how to change the title, so I will let it be for now.

My name is Angie Hinson and I am finishing up the MAT Middle Grades Degree through Morehead this summer and I am getting a second Masters in Education Technology.  That is why I am here right now.  I like learning about all of this technology, plus, I can’t let my kids outdo me you know.  Also, as far as my educational endeavors go, I am entering into Georgetown College’s Special Education Program this upcoming Fall and I am taking those classes via cyberspace.  I like Special Education quite a bit and am hopeful to work in the field next year. My Middle Grade’s Degree will just be on my resume for now….and the Technology Degree will always be useful for me and my curriculum vitae.

As far as my personal life, I am married, and have been for 21 years, and I have two daughters.  One is 14 and the other is 7.  Yes I waited a while before I had kids.  I guess I was sewing my wild oats as they say…trying to grow up.

I am still trying to grow up, but always find myself around the kids again and again in my home life and where I work.

I look forward to learning about technology for myself and so I can incorporate it into my instruction.

Angie H.