Blog Post #8

I think that the technology advancement that holds the most promise for future education is Gamification, such as the new technology, ATOMS. Gamification would be significant to future education because it immerses children in hands-on education, which I believe is much more beneficial than learning just from a textbook or lecture. Gamification makes learning interactive, fun, and eliminates the standard ways of testing (Lever-Duffy, 288-89). For example, ATOMS allows students to work with electronic blocks, letting them use their hands to learn about technology and to create things on their own, which challenges and strengthens the brain (288). This technology would be used to teach material, allow students to create projects, and test students on topics- just all through activities and games.

                The digital divide is the gap between those who have access to technology and those who do not. I do have access to technology. I have my own laptop and cell phone, and access to internet access at my home, at school, as well as public places such as restaurants that provide free Wi-Fi. The digital divide will impact my classroom because I will have students in my class that do not have computers at home or that do not have access to the internet at home. This will make using technology for things such as homework assignments or take-home projects difficult for some students. Since technology is so important for education and especially future education, assistance will need to be given to those children that do not have access to technology and the internet. As a teacher I would have to ensure that the student would have time to access the internet at school in order to complete assignments. I will also have to teach the students technological skills so that they are not behind those who learn technology at home.  

                The PowerPoint for Information Dissemination assignment taught me how to record a PowerPoint Show. I have never had to voice over a PowerPoint before, so it was interesting to do so. I also learned how to create a master slide, and use SmartArt. I highly enjoyed doing this assignment and I liked finding pictures and videos to add to the lesson, as well as creating activities and questions to go with the lesson. However, the assignment was very time consuming. I can improve my PowerPoint by including more graphs, animations, or speaking less monotone in my PowerPoint show. I will be creating PowerPoints just like this one to teach lessons to my future students as a teacher, so it was very beneficial to get practice now.