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Wiki Technology Autobiography:

My first experience as a "user" more than likely occured in school, considering my family didn't own a computer at home until i was well into the fourth grade. Prior to having a computer, we owned World Books (a large set of encyclopedias) and most of my information came from there. Computer time at the Catholic School I attended was coveted. Several of my classmates also didn't have computers at home, and even the ones who did always wanted some computer action as well. Technology excited us. It still does. But, I believe my first experience with computers started there, taking reading quizzes online. About the time that my family bought a computer, the school gained a computer lab as well and a technology class was scheduled for students, alongside our usual content courses. I can recall that my fellow classmates and I always loved technology class, even if the subject of the day was simple typing.

A computer at home meant more fun than work. My siblings and I quickly began ignoring the World Books in the living room and started exploring Encarta. We would spend hours reading up on random subjects and watching videos on the software. In addition to that, we discovered social networking. My parents weren't exactly thrilled and watched our interactions online carefully. The large, boxy Compaq computer became a resource for learning and entertainment. It was frequently fought over.

Since then, our family has gone through a couple computers. Countless research papers have been written in our office/laundry room and a copious amount of homework has been completed. Most of my technological knowledge that I have learned, I learned at home, having had few technology courses in my school career. This class was one that I was worried about taking. I felt I'd fall behind. I do not own a smart phone. I know how to use Microsoft applications and certain Movie Maker programs. I have a Facebook and can manage email just fine. However, integrating technology into my teaching was one thing I didn't know much about until now.

After taking this course, I have learned so much about involving technology in my lessons for my future students. Computers and technology should always have a place in the classroom, no matter the subejct. Students are especially engaged when using technology. Working on a computer or with other digital components gets them excited about learning and opens their world up to more than just their environment at home and at school. In such a technological age, it is impossible not to integrate technology into one's classroom and expect the students to be prepared for the world outside.

Ted Talks Assignment:

How to learn from Mistakes media type="custom" key="8869294"

"How to Learn from Mistakes" was a very enjoyable video. I loved hearing of how the teacher took her students on a field trip related to genocide and then asked them to make videos of people who have dedicated their lives for a good cause. She also asked students to talk how they were going to dedicate their lives at the end of the assignment. The answers, she said, were extraordinary. She said that we you ask something of a middle school student and then actually listen, you'll find that their answers are extraordinary. I strongly believe that. Thought they're young, students have so much insight into the world, if we'll only take the time to just listen. I feel like her most valid point throughout the video was when she stated that failure is part of the learning process. If you expect perfection out of your students and don't allow for wrong answer, you are not teaching them. Everyone makes mistakes. Not every piece of work that a student turns in will be absolutely perfect. As a teacher, I will not be perfect, nor can I strive to be. I can strive to be effective, fair, knowledgable of my content, and many other things- but perfect is unachieveable. With that said, I can't expect my students to be perfect either. There's no place for that sort of pressure in a Middle School classroom.

Teaching Kids to Take Charge media type="custom" key="8869312"

Contagious. Kiran Bir Sethi begins her presentation with the word, "Contagious." She starts out by saying several things, but what struck me most is when she said, "Passion is contagious." Sethi instructed her students that when you believe in something strongly, you can encourage others to change their mindest as well. She guided her students to be good people. She then argued that students who are "doing good do well in school" and then began to show the results with test standardized test scores in India. This part of the video brought a smile to my face. As one a people-person who believes adamantly in helping others, I often think and plan ahead for philantrophic activities in which to involve my students. I wonder how I can incorporate these into my day-to-day lessons and not sacrafice content. After watching Sethi's activities with her former students and the children of India, I feel more empowered myself and stronger in my belief that I can teach my future students to become responsible global citizens.

Education Innovations media type="custom" key="8869346" The start of CDI in Brazil is an amazing story. Placing computers in community centers in the slums provides for so much opportunity and learning for those who otherwise had minimal hope. Also, the segment regarding the African slums caught my attention, as I've always wanted to teach in Africa. Half the children in the classroom there had no parents due to AIDS. This means that had no real support in their education at home, which is important for their growth and success in life. It also means that the biggest challenges these children face aren't even related to academia. The challenge is simply to stay alive in the face of disease and poverty. Charles Leadbeater presents in this video that education in these types of settings needs to have more pull and less push. Pull the community and students in to education by providing what they need and also by showing them how education can improve their quality of life. Motivation is the key. As a famous slam poet and educator, Taylor Mali (my favorite), says "I just gave you what you needed before you knew you needed it." This video shows me that if I am to really pursue my dream of teaching in Africa, or any other place like that, then I will have to prepare myself with more than lesson plans for the day. I'm confident though that providing education for people in such settings can make miracles though. As Taylor Mali would say, "Education is the miracle. I'm just the worker."

Once Upon a School media type="custom" key="8873114" Dave Eggers, an author, presents an incredible segment called "Once Upon a School." He started an after school program with twelve friends, who specialized in the written word, that offered free tutoring in english. At first, his program started off slow but it soon picked up. The effects of this program on the community were remarkable. Eggers showed people that by giving simply two hours a month that they could improve these students' writing skills and get them more excited about learning. Soon, the volunteers began moving into the classrooms to help out during the day, and then they moved into their own classroom. I am taken aback by the kindness and generosity of these volunteers. They provoked so much motivation and excitement in these students, so much so that the students began creating their own books and generating profits. To think that these students started out as remedial writers and readers and then evolved into published authors is amazing. It just goes to show that when one believes in their students, their achievements are limitless. Eggers ends the video with his wish stating that he wishes the audience and viewers will get involved personally and involve organizations as well by engaging a public school in their community and then telling their own story of how the students evolved so that more examples like this will be made known.