Current Event #1 - Technology in school not always best

Thank you to all for your comments. I am going to just add a couple of notes because I miss read the instructions and I didn't include a brief description of why I chose this article.

Technology in school not always best, study says

The headline initially attracted me to the article because I was starting my master's on-line and I'm interested in using technology in the classroom.  Was it referring to K-12 classrooms or University type courses? The article is making reference to digital natives and how savy they are but yet young people are not attracted to on-line learning. So why is this? The article goes on to explain that perhaps it's not about them being tech savy but about what fits each individual person and how they choose to learn. Kind of the one size doesn't fit all approach doesn't always work. We've known this for some time in education, but do we all choose to follow this train of thought?

For some of us, the traditional classroom setting works and for others they learn by doing while others learn through other mediums. What I find most interesting now after having just listened to the podcasts Joanne posted, is perhaps the "digital natives" are not as tech savy as we thought they were. If they are not, then this explains why more students prefer lecture type classes, are more statisfied and prefer face to face classes than high-tech classrooms.
Now I'm interested in this myth of why the "younger generation" may not be as digitally connected as we originally thought they were.

I've got some searching to do for my next current events post.

April

Autobiography of a Tech User

I sure hope you enjoy watching this as much as I enjoyed creating it. Let me know your thoughts in my comment area. 

Welcome to The Math Whisperer

This is an exciting opportunity for all primary teachers and myself. I'm starting a new blog which will integrate some new teaching ideas, technology components (for the master's course) and reflections of teaching in a grade 2 classroom. 

I am looking forward to sharing what I'm doing and learning. 

Come back and visit often. 

How the title came to be. I've been thinking about starting a new blog that was different from my classroom one, msbrownsgrade2class.blogspot.com, I love this one but I use it for sharing with parents, the students and other teachers. I wanted a new blog that allowed me to share my thoughts about  teaching, lessons/activities and what my students are thinking about and understanding. 

I'm at the beginning of this incredible journey in my Master's and my first course is a Web 2.0 Technology course. I'm pumped!!! What a perfect opportunity to create a new blog. 

I was wanting a name that stood out from the rest. My classroom blog name is boorrrinng. So at 6:30 am this morning, I was thinking, and thinking. I loved the movie Crazy, Stupid, Love this summer and thought perhaps I could use three words to describe teaching and what I wanted to convey. The choices I came up with were, well basically lame. I read the choices to Darcy (aka the husband) and he was quiet. I know what that means. He provided me with a couple suggestions and then said nothing. I don't have this knack for words like he does. I guess that's why we're a good team, he fills in the holes that are missing. 

He then suggested,  The Math Whisperer. I knew at the time, it was PERFECT. My passion is math and helping kids think about strategies, their ideas and to help them clarify all that's in those little brains. Plus, I think Caesar Millan is amazing. I love his show and his philosophy of being calm and assertive. The name is perfect for another reason. I read the book, The Book Whisperer over the summer. Fabulous if you haven't read it. If you go to my classroom blog you can view the post. My ultimate goal in grade two math is the get the kids thinking and loving math. Some come in having filled in worksheets after worksheets. It doesn't provide them with an opportunity to think. I want them thinking, doing, playing, talking, and exploring all the ideas they have. I'm The Math Whisperer for students and teachers. I've got a lot to learn but I'm well on my way.

It's a tough and often frustrating journey but I persevere and the end result is amazing. I can't wait to share with you more reflections, thinking, and technology ideas in grade two. 

See Ya Soon!!!