Educational Technology

I'm still working on all this blogging and RSSs and Tweeting. Oh yeah there's also bookmarking, following people, and writing my own ideas. It seems like it's never ending! And I'm sure that as soon as I start getting used to what I'm learning about now it's all going to change and bigger and better things are going to come out.

Looking around on the internet even only this week I have found countless of great things to follow and read. So many people have so many ideas that they want to share and get out into the world via the world wide web.

Technology has definitely been integrating into the classroom slowly but exponentially over time. What I think is fascinating is to think about 4 of the main placements that I have worked with and the differences of technology they had in the classroom.
In a second grade classroom in South Lansing the class has computer class, two computers in the classroom, a printer, and an over head projector. Not too much of anything special and other than writing on the overhead everything was done at the tables.
In a fifth grade classroom in Okemos the class I was working with was specifically an art classroom, but even for art technology was integrated in the curriculum-if I had had more time to spend around the school I'm sure what I would have found technologywise would have amazed me. The main project the class was working on while I was there included giant projector screens and video taping as they were making youtube videos about their "under the sea" sea creatures.
In a seventh grade classroom I worked at in Detroit, they had 3 computers and a printer in the classroom. I taught this class by myself and tried to incorporate online materials into the small summerschool class that I was teaching. The lack of a projector screen or even an overhead made it difficult, but somehow we managed.
In the RDC in Lansing, too, technology is booming. With their computer lab, car simulator, and rosetta stone CDs for english leaners, the RDC has made a quick shift over into the technology driven world we live in.

What amazes me is the differences in technology from place to place. Of course the more urban setting schools have less money and thus less chance for new and up to date technology, but eventually they all get there. All in all technology can only seem to bring in a positive learning experience for students, as long as it's monitered and censored, of course. But it is through technology that I have found that it's easiest to accommodate to all of my students' different learning styles, as well as up to date ideas and activities.