Blog #1

1. In the last two decades, the world of technology seems to be developing at an even faster pace than history teaches us it did prior to that. These days, almost no technological advance seems out of reach, and these innovations are constantly occurring. Children are being raised to know how to upload and edit photos on their home computer before they can write full sentences, and know that "clicking the X" will close a window, before they can buckle themselves into a car. In Chapter 1, we are reminded that not all children have the opportunity to be so exposed, and in a sense, fall behind. It will be increasingly important for teachers to implement computer work into their student's lives, not to detach them from the real world, but prepare them for a future that will be dominated by computer interaction.

2. Computers will be an exciting way to engage the class in countless ways. Smartboards can be used to highlight and emphasize notes in a textbook or in homework, and images of ancient historical sites and artifacts relating to the coursework can be pulled up and shared instantly! For higher grades, charts and graphs will be important for financial instruction, and for students' own presentations as well. These can be easily constructed for grade breakdowns to help keep students on track. Throughout this course, I hope to learn more about the flexibility that some of these programs offer, and delve into what they are fully capable of.

3. Last fall, I spent a month volunteering in a school in Thailand as a family I visited with worked to set up an English program for the school's 1,000+ students. What struck me most about the people of this rural town just on the other side of the Mekong River from Laos was their absolute humbleness and willingness to learn anything we offered to teach them. In Thailand, a teacher is considered less important than only the king. I often encounter very discouraging responses when I tell people I'm studying to be a teacher, because there are much more financially "rewarding" careers out there, but my confidence will eternally be lifted when thinking of the impact the children longed for us to have in their lives, and knowing students here need that just the same, whether or not they choose to display that need. Don't forget that we are in the middle of (or for some, just beginning) what many around the world work their entire lives to achieve! It's easy to get caught up in the fun, but we have a big job to do!