Summary of Teaching with Technology

The webquest, I believed, best enhanced the learning process, unlike many of the other technologies we used, the webquest was error free. The webequest allowed for a more interesting, interactive, and hands-on learning. The use of the webquest helped learning far beyond the subjects topic. While creating the webquest I noticed that all the lessons created helped the student in both learning the topic as well as familiarizing them with other subjects such as web browsing, possible writing skills, and any other topic included when role assignments are given. The other technologies were limiting to single skills or were faulty. The smartboard was a hassle to use, especially with younger children because the random change in alignment of the board, the need to keep your hand off the board, the need for projectors on some of the boards, and height issues. All of the problems cause distraction from the lessons. The use of chatting can cause distractions in the classroom as well, students can have side conversations with other students, students might have issues with responding especially if they are not fast typers. Blogging is great for the enhancement of writing skill but as for other skills it is similar to the students using paper to work. Digital movie making was fun but I learned more from the lesson I created than the making the video, also depending on how interesting the video is, children might not learn much. The online exercises were interesting and seemed like they could work but it would also be good for the students to be able to have printed out versions that they could keep to study off of or to just show their work. Because of all the listed difficulties with all of the other technologies, webquest seemed the best technology we used in the classroom. It would be interesting to have a webquest that include all of the other technologies, I feel, the inclusion would be helpful and fun for students.