Werkheiser-Chapter 5

Why are digital media and educational software applications important for education?

According to Cashman et al. (2008), "Interactive digital media allows students to define their own learning paths, investigate topics in depth, and get immediate feedback from their exploration activities" (p. 271). Digital media allow our children to speak in their own native language. Our children are familiar with using multimedia for visiting with friends or learning a new skill using one of the many websites available to them. Using traditional methods only stifle the learning process for these children who have been raised speaking digital. Educational software applications allow students to "examine their skills in a risk-free environment" and provide "instant feedback, testing, and review" (p. 288). These software applications are often aligned with state standards and allow the teacher to engage the learner in a familiar way and offer the most creative learning to occur.

Werkhesier--Chapter 2

P. 121/Exercise 1



According to http://www.newdream.org/, people in America spend lots of money disposing of unwanted paper waste. Americans use "more than 100 million trees' worth of bulk mail" and we could fill "450,000 garbage trucks" with this paper waste. Most of this waste is not recycled and is disposed of using taxpayers dollars. California spent "$500,000" per year disposing of those disks for free internet service. This website proposes to rid America of this waste by recycling and telling these bulk mailers that we no longer want their trash. We would all send a clear message if we would write to these various junk mailers and tell them that we want them to stop killing trees and using them to fill our mailboxes with useless trash.

Werkheiser--Chapter 4

Desktop--Uses, strategies, & challenges of use in school

Laptop--Uses, strategies, & challenges of use in school

5306Werkheiser-Chapter 1

In reading about the classroom described on pages 25-30 at the end of chapter 1, I couldn’t help, but think of how it compared to the technology in my district. Ridgedale High School uses technology in many different aspects of their daily activities. Several different people associated with the school were able to utilize technology to make their jobs easier and more efficient. At Port Neches High School, the principal as well as many other teachers and paraprofessionals are accessible via e-mail. I collaborate with many teachers in my department using e-mail on a daily basis. All teachers use a software program called Skyward to check attendance each class period and the attendance clerks will also use the software to monitor student attendance patterns and take appropriate action. We have three computer labs with thirty computers as well as a mobile lab for teachers to use for student projects. The computer labs are located so that all teachers have access. The mobile lab is available for check-out thru the library and provides teachers the opportunity to allow students to learn using mobile technology. Every classroom is equipped with at least one internet ready computer for teacher use. Our technology coordinator for the district constantly inform the teachers in our district about new and changing technology by sending a technology newsletter via e-mail every month. In the science department we have two interactive white boards and two Activboards. We definitely need a projector in every classroom with a type of interactive hardware for students to utilize on a frequent basis. This year, we will be offering parents more access than they usually have with just the school website and weekly bulletin access. Every teacher is required to have a website this year so parents will be able to interact more frequently with all teachers. The district is using School Fusion as well as offer parent interactive access to their child’s information and grades using parent access thru Skyward. I would absolutely love to find a way to involve the community the way Ridgedale High School did in the example. I would also like to have a media center as Ridgedale does so students and possibly parents could have access to technology.