Oh where to even start??? 

Chapters 5 and 6 present so many great tools for technological integration within the classroom that it seems almost impossible to choose which sources to use.  To narrow down the list, I started by addressing the most prevalent issues and concerns of our students.  From here I identified the support tools which would best assist in alleviating these apprehensions.  One of the leading barriers we face within my program is a student’s lack of basic reading, writing and math skills.   A second major obstacle… a student’s lack of motivation.  When grouped together, these two obstacles in themselves leave our instructors scrambling for an effective response to the problem.  Add the issue of limited funding to the list and we’ve really got a problem now.  Luckily, this week’s readings provide various alternatives to educational instruction, many of which specifically address the roadblocks we face each day. 

            The development of materials generator software tools seems like a perfectly wrapped gift straight from the educational Gods!  After looking into a few of the worksheet and puzzle generators sites listed in table 5.2, I now see that the options for their use are limitless.  Despite saving an immense amount of time and money, this tool proves especially invaluable within my program due to its ease in use, ability to create fun and engaging activities (for even the toughest crowds!) and its extensive availability of coverage in many different subjects.  Like test generators, our instructors will now be able to input their own material and content, specific to their student’s interests and abilities to create practice exercises which compliment their lesson plans and objectives.  Chapter 5 also makes mention of the usefulness of organizing tools such as outlining software programs.  Because many of my students struggle with writing, outlining software would be a great resource in helping students organize their thoughts and ideas prior to beginning a writing assignment.

The introduction to multimedia and hypermedia in chapter 6 also presents some resourceful tools for classroom integration.  According to the text, ‘educators recognize and use these systems when they see the powerful capabilities they offer to enhance classroom learning’, including but certainly not limited to increased motivation, flexible learning means and improved writing, creative, creative thinking and process skills. (p.171)  Of particular interest to my program is commercial hypermedia instructional software packages, which allow instructors to integrate digitalized, interactive tutorials, drills, simulations and problem solving activities into their instruction.  It is extremely difficult to teach unmotivated students.  Difficult, but not impossible, and I firmly believe that often this lack of motivation stems from a lack of positive prior learning experiences.  The potential use of hypermedia instructional software packages excite me for its ability to capture and maintain my student’s interests while at the same time actually teaching them a said skill or concept!  What could be better than watching a student smile and actively participate during a math lesson???  Hypermedia also provides my program with the opportunity to effectively ‘tackle’ one of our greatest barriers… difficulty with reading.  Sadly enough the majority of our students enter our school at the median age of 18 still reading at the 6-7^th grade level.  At times it can be like pulling teeth to get these kids to read anything, even something they are interested in!  Even more frustrating to both the students as well as the teachers is the student’s inability to comprehend what it was they just read.  Ebooks to me seem nothing short of an electronic miracle.  Now our instructors will be able to take advantage of a program which will allow them to personalize instruction to the student’s ability through the various interactive approaches and techniques offered by ebooks.  And according to the text, many ebooks are available for FREE!               

I could probably go on and on, but for the sake of this blog and anyone who reads it I’ll wrap things up.  A couple of final honorable mentions first though.  I’d say all of our instructors’ use some type of presentation software, but this week’s reading has extended my knowledge of wealth pertaining to presentation materials well beyond what I ever thought possible.  We are always looking for new and exciting ways of presenting material to our students… And last, but certainly not least, I’d like to state my ultimate excitement at the prospect of learning how to integrate web authoring tools such as blogs and e-Portfolios (though I have yet to find a good eportfolio site which is also easy on the budget?).  I strongly believe educational technology is the future of education, and after this week’s readings I can’t wait to get started catching up to all the resources that are out there!