Professional Background
I am a biology teacher at Newman Smith High school, about to begin my 6th year in the classroom. I have been GT (Gifted and Talented) certified, have participated in biology training with the National Math + Science Initiative (NMSI) and the AP Institute. During the summer of 2015, I was privileged to participate program STARS (Science Teacher Access to Resources at Southwestern) at UT Southwestern Medical center, assisting in the research of Cystic Fibrosis.
I have experience operating teleconferencing equipment for distance education classes at the Texas A&M School of Public Health. I also have experience with the Adobe Creative suite. In addition to taking personal enrichment courses related to the Adobe creative suite, I have had a summer job working on newspaper ads for KAMU, the Bryan/College Station public broadcasting center.
Goals
- To learn how better to incorporate technology into my classroom.
- Gain the skills necessary to become a instructional designer.
Notable links
- Newman Smith High School
- Classroom Website
- STARS program
- University of North Texas: College of Information, Department of Learning Technologies
- Final Blog Entry
Multimedia Educational Technology Statement
“We go to school for twelve or more years during our childhoods and early adulthoods, and then we’re done. But when the pace of change gets this fast, the only way to retain a lifelong working capacity is to engage in lifelong learning.” ― Thomas L. Friedman (2017)
In my life time, I have seen overhead projectors replaced with digital projectors. I went to high school without a cell phone, and now I my students have smartphones. One of the most advanced things my high school English teacher did was recorded assignments on his voicemail. Now I am posting things on Google Classroom. Facebook wasn’t invented until I was in college, now it is considered something for “old people”. While technology has many drawbacks, and it is important to be cautious when implementing new technologies, implementing new technologies is essential for preparing students for uncertain future.
In order to maximize the use of learning technologies, “we must begin by deconstructing the issues of efficiency, effectiveness, and productivity” (Molenda, 2009). Often technology can seem flashy, but not teach a single thing. As a teacher, I find Prezi, not much more effective than PowerPoint, and it seems like it takes much longer to create. In order to maximize the use of multimedia technology, teachers must be trained on how to use technology. In a study of Los Angeles schools, it was “found that access to equipment and software seldom led to widespread teacher and student use. Most teachers were occasional users or nonusers” (Cuban, Kirkpatrick, & Peck, 2001).
Despite its challenges, technology’s benefits outweigh its costs. When used properly, “the use of images, along with words, diminishes the overwhelming nature of text and helps the student to manage the cognitive load, which increases retention” (Sosnowski, 2008). As an educator, I can testify the increases in engagement some of my students have had when they get to play games like Kahoot, and Quizlet live. No implementation of technology will be perfect. However, it is important to continue to experiment with new technologies.
References
Cuban, L., Kirkpatrick, H., & Peck, C. (2001). High Access and Low Use of Technologies in High School Classrooms: Explaining an Apparent Paradox. American Educational Research Journal, 813-834.
Friedman, T. L. (2017). Thank You for Being Late: An Optimist's Guide to Thriving in the Age of Accelerations. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.
Molenda, M. (2009). Instructional technology must contribute. Journal of Computing in Higher Education, 80-94.
Sosnowski, J. (2008, September 4). Advantages & Disadvantages of Schools Using Multimedia. Retrieved from Seattlepi: http://education.seattlepi.com/advantages-disadvantages-schools-using-multimedia-3099.html