And that's a wrap!

             I think the future of education is a smooth integration of ICT into the classroom and curriculum. The Literacy with ICT continuum is a great method to follow to accomplish this.  I hope to follow this as much as possible when teaching. There is a lot in all curriculums that pertains to ICT more than we think. Math for instances, leads to the basis for all computer programs. Pretty much all of the senior years math curriculum can be linked with ICT. Statistics and functions can be shown using programs that greatly help with a deeper understanding. In the PD using ICT in math I learnt about the Desmos graphing calculator. It is just one example of the neat apps out there to make math more accessible and even enjoyable. Another is this phonto below:

            I’d like to use ICT as much as possible in my classroom to activate and help create deeper understandings with the curriculum. I would also like to use ICT to promote creativity, in any subject. ICT changes constantly, which is a positive and a negative. It will be hard to keep up with the new, but very necessary. It will be a professional goal of mine to keep up with all the changes or my attempts to use ICT in my class will be too behind my students capabilities to be useful. 

                                                                                                                        courtesy of wordle

I learnt a lot this term about ICT, I hadn’t considered how useful networking and sharing information is in the teaching profession. We shared a lot of extremely useful apps that I will be sure to use in the future. I’d like to see more examples of ICT integrated into the curriculum as well as learn how to use it properly alongside assessment. I think the future of ICT in schools is going in the direction of the St. James school division that incorporated I pads into their entire school. It has and will continue to allow for students to have more contact with their educators and be able to learn from home. As teachers we will have to grow with it and be as flexible as it is.

Week 8

This week we looked at our internet literacy through the Alan November quiz. As I expected I am only somewhat savvy when it comes to the internet, scoring 4 out of 13 on the quiz. I think this is a really important topic, since most people are very well versed in using the internet but know barely anything about it. This is especially relevant to teens who are posting their every move on Facebook, instagram, vines, twitter, etc. without realizing the consequences. And as great as students are at being able to google Miley Cyrus videos, they lack the knowledge of how to use the internet to research scholastic findings. There are key words and ways to search for things that can lead you to sound resources quickly, and students need to be taught these things.

We also spent time sharing our e Portfolios with our classmates. I found it very helpful to see all the different approaches to the aesthetics and content within them.

Week 7

This week we had an interesting presentation on literacy with ICT from John Finch. It was neat to think of it as being a continuum and of use in all subjects. I also enjoyed the idea of using it to get students to be creative and innovative thinkers.

We also looked at internet literacy a bit. My group looked at social media in the classroom. I think students respond really well to this concept and it's a great way to further their learning and be able to reach them at home etc. I also think it needs to be kept within reason. It's something to be careful with. I really enjoy how social media can be used to bring "the outside in" to a classroom.