Joe Santonacita – student blog

INNOVATION
The first time I witnessed technology used as innovation was in college for data collection on classic physics experiments using PASCO equipment. While I have the PASCO equipment in high school to use, the computers are from 1998 and are so slow, it is a waste of my classtime. See poor usage.

EFFICIENCY
What was the technology? How was it used? What made it effective?
The first time I utilized technology for the purpose of increasing efficiency was the moodle education webpage, where I began posting homework answers or students post jounral logs, online. I have been able to provide feedback for HW almost immediately and it has eliminated time spent on giving answers, offering suggestions, and keeping track of lab journals. I am still trying to keep up with their homework in general, once I master it by the end of this year it will be very useful for the next school year.

COMMUNITY
The first time I utilized technology for the purpose of increasing community was the forum function on the moodle education webpage, where I had students come together and help each other with their homework or post jounral logs, online. The forum is just like a message board where students post questions and comments about the class to me, or the students. Initially, the questions were directed at me, but after a short period of time students began answering their peers questions. It was effective because I was able to communicate with students outside of the classroom, eliminating time spent on questions inside class. While I am still struggling to keep the website up with my busy schedule, it is evident that I can use it to my advantage in up comming years.

Good Technology is readily accessible, increases efficiency, easy to use and requires a break in period for all. For some the learning curve is higher.

POORLY
Boo! poor use of technology. I see this everyday with the computer system in my school district. We are supposed to take attendance with it, but we still must record attendance in our grade book. Also we must fill in absense sheets when students hit 10, 15 and 20 days to keep track of students in danger of credit withdrawal, when it is already on the computer!!! The point of technology is to make our lives more efficient, however when you have to do the same thing twice or three times it is tripling our work. The online grading program has been in place for 3 years and they are just beginning to use it. There are two things to remedy the situation, (1) the school district can hire people to setup and establish the online grading system and (2) they can actually have these people do professional development so teachers, especially the older folks, can learn how to use programs effectively.

While I have the PASCO equipment in high school to use, the computers are from 1998 and are so slow. Also they are located in one classroom which not everyone teaches in. It is a waste of my classtime. Either provide the funds to equip all classrooms with it or update the computer systems. Otherwise they are really expensive paper weights.