Blog Post #11

I really enjoyed seeing the kids in action in the video Little Kids...Big Potential that Ms. Cassidy posted. To see that 1st graders know how to blog, use the internet, and have fun with all of it is very encouraging to me as a future educator. I know technology is a big thing in this generation. Just about everything that children are interested in is some new technological invention. To see that Ms. Cassidy even included the use of a Nintendo DS in her classroom was very interesting. Many people would not expect to see that in a classroom. Students mentioned in this video that it is helping them with their problem solving, and I think that if a Nintendo game will help then why not use it!

Interview with Ms. Cassidy
I think that the way Ms. Cassidy uses technology is very reassuring to me. I have always wondered how I would be able to incorporate the things she has in her class, because of student confidentiality. I like how she sends home a letter/permission slips at the beginning of the year and informs the parents that their child's work will/could be posted online. I am hoping to have a class blog myself when I begin teaching. I would love to be able to post my students work on the blog. I think that these letters/permission slips are a good idea to see how supportive the parents are.

Another thing that I liked that Ms. Cassidy mentioned was the fact that she teaches her students to only use their first name. I know that many parents are concerned for the privacy of their child. And I think that is why many parents are very hesitant when it comes to allowing their child/children to use technology. She also mentioned that when she does video her students or when she takes pictures of her students, she does not link faces with names. I think this is another good way to help keep students safer.

Dr. Strange asked Ms. Cassidy in the interview where she thought people should start when it come to technology. I really liked her response. She goes on to talk about how people should start with something that interests them, such as those who like photography could use flickr. I know there are many different sites that people can use to key in on their interests. When using technology, I think that it is important for people to begin with something that interests them.