Concept Map:)

There's so much i learned in EME5432 in terms of why and how to integrate technology into the classroom. Before taking this class i didn't think much about the need of technology in the classroom other than for typing papers or presenting PowerPoint presentations. However, after 13 weeks of being in Ms. Drexler class i finally realize the purpose of incorporating technology into my future classroom, to prepare my students for the workplace, college, and democratic society. Now a day, technology controls almost every sector of our lives therefore, it's crucial to learn how to use it effectively. Unfortunately, everyone does not have access to the Internet or other forms of technological innovations. The "digital divide" is everywhere, it not only exist between countries but also between counties, schools, and classrooms. Nonetheless, many educators and students are advocating for the integration of technology in all classrooms because technology literacy will soon be a requirement or "a most" in all job sectors in order to quality for a position. Technology is advancing so rapidly, widening the gap between the "have" and "have not." For this reason, teachers/educators should do everything in their power to advocate for the integration of technology in all classrooms.
Moreover, technology can be used in so many ways from PowerPoint presentations to wiki pages and podcast. A few of my favorite web-based applications were the glogster, wiki, podcast, timetoast, blogger, google earth, voicethread, itunes, oral history, and service learning projects. These applications can all be used in classrooms to help make the curriculum more engaging and inquiry-based. In addition, students familiarized themselves with technology and grow comfortable enough to use it more effectively and strategically. Students will also learn how to identify personal websites from scholarly or government sites. Internet safety is very important to stress in the lesson plan because it teaches students to be more critical of what they do and read on-line.
I particularly liked how Mrs. Drexler taught us how to read websites, find the publisher, the existence of the site, who else follows the site, and the accuracy and legitimacy of the website. This information is crucial to teach high school students who are more naive than adults because more likely to believe everything they read or see on-line.
Overall, I have learned a lot in Mrs. Drexler's class: Concept Map
It's kind of difficult to say what i didn't like about the class because I may have not liked a certain web-based application because i found it to be insignificant however, this doesn't mean it isn't beneficial to the classroom or other teachers. All of the applications where wonderful, some more than others, but i wasn't amused with a few of the web-based applications such as the concept map and geocaching. But this may change in the future as i get adapt to my new school and classroom.
My advice for this course would be to engage students more in the web-based applications their peer's present. We basically were lecture on how to use a certain application but we hardly created one for ourselves, this would have engaged us more in the presentation and helped us to get better acquainted with the web-based applications. In general, I truly enjoyed this course and learned far more than i thought i would. Now I just plan on implementing every thing i learned from this course into my actual classroom!