Wikis, Blogs, and Podcasts, Oh My! Blog 3

I can really identify with how Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz must have felt when it comes to all the new technology I am being exposed to recently. I often feel as if I have been swept away by a tornado and set down in the strange land of the World Wide Web.

I never thought about hidden reliability of information until I experienced the MAPit activity. I have often created a research project or computer activity and sent my students forth on a quest for knowledge from websites I thought were reliable. I did not know or give much thought to the idea that these websites may have hidden sponsors or source information that is not accurate or reliable for what subject matter is being portrayed.

Through the MAPit activity and the chapters I have read from Alan November's book, I have truly had my eyes opened. I plan to utilize the MAPit strategies I have learned when I do a search myself or create an activity or project involving technology for my students to complete. I believe this will keep me from being swept away into an unknown land where there are hidden secrets and inaccurate opinions that often contain unreliable information. I plan to share this information with my colleagues also. In the future, I will give more consideration to the URL, check http://www.altavista.com/ for URL history and links, and utilize these MAPit search strategies more carefully. By following these helpful guidelines, I believe I will create a much safer learning environment for my students, my colleagues and myself in the land of the World Wide Web.

Picture Source: http://www.smh.com.au/news/dvd-reviews/the-wizard-of-oz-special-edition/2005/11/21/1132421578232.html

Educational Technology Organizations Blog 2

INTERNATIONAL TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION


ITEA is the professional organization for technology, design, innovation, and engineering educators. http://www.iteaconnect.org/

Mission: ITEA's mission is to promote technological literacy for all by supporting the teaching of technology and promoting the professionalism of those engaged in this pursuit. ITEA strengthens the profession through leadership, professional development, membership services, publications, and classroom activities.

Purpose: ITEA's purpose is to help teachers through professional development and leadership with classroom activities that will promote learning.

Technology Education Definition: Technology education is problem-based learning utilizing science, math, and technology principles.

My choice: I chose ITEA because it has classroom proven tips, educational trends and issues, scholarly research, best practices, plus unlimited searches of their archives available online. ITEA provides lessons for teachers, and supports them as they strive to provide integrated learning for children.

Education Development Center, Inc.

EDC is a nonprofit organization with more than 325 projects in countries around the world. EDC is dedicated to promoting health, enhancing learning, and fostering a deeper understanding about the world. EDC is a pioneer in developing, evaluating, and implementing a wide-range of educational technology tools. http://main.edc.org/

Mission: EDC specializes in bringing diverse parties together—government agencies, business leaders and labor unions, community groups and schools, and non-governmental organizations—to develop innovative and academically challenging programs that prepare people of all ages, and from all levels of the workforce, for the employment challenges they face.

Purpose: EDC is a leader in bringing computer and information technology, and the skills to use them, to groups of people who have traditionally lacked access to technology.

Technology Education Definition: Learning begins with questions which can be answered with a variety of projects that support teachers and school administrators through professional development initiatives that promote effective use of technology in education.

My choice: EDC is an organization committed to bringing hands-on inquiry based learning to people of all ages and backgrounds. I chose this organization because of its focus on all people regardless of educational background and its collaborative efforts to bring many groups of people together to build a skill oriented world through technology education. EDC is a host for EWIT which I found to be a great educational technology source as well.

EDUCATORS’ WEBSITE FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

EWIT is a partner for Information Technology in Education and Training at EDC. EWIT (The Educators' Website for Information Technology) is a learning community of technical and academic educators and community-based business partnerships.This organization is made up of a team of professionals with extensive backgrounds and experience in the information technology industry working collaboratively with community organizations, K-12 public schools, higher education, and technical education.http://www2.edc.org/ewit/default.asp

Mission: EWIT is committed to working across traditional boundaries and to employing inclusive, equitable and collaborative principles of interaction and engagement.

Purpose: EWIT specializes in building capabilities in organizations and individuals seeking to develop/deepen information technology skills for living, learning, and working.

Technology Education Definition: Increase of the diversity of the Information Technology workforce, ensuring that all individuals have opportunities to learn about, train for and access Information Technology career opportunities in all industries.

My Choice: I chose this organization because of its focus, like its sponsor EDC, on all people regardless of educational background and its collaborative efforts to bring many groups of people together for available opportunities in career technology. There are opportunities listed to transform schools using technology, lists of success strategies, and suggested ways to strengthen information technology in schools.