Week+2

__** Week 2: Learning Log: **__
**1. Readings, Reflections, and Questions.** Guest Speaker: R. Grignon- gave us an introduction on using SRS in our classrooms, the usefulness it provides to teachers. The SRS or Student Response System allows you to gather information fast and efficently. Through this system you can mark tests, check attendence, do surveys, ask questions, and basically a lot of the things we do in the classroom, but in a more efficient way.

I am just going to highlight some interesting points that Jukes makes in his second part to week 1's reading.
 * Reading: ** "Understanding the Digital Generation II" by Ian Jukes
 * There is a disconnect that needs to be addresses between the learning preferences for digital students and the teaching and assessment preferences of traditional teachers.
 * ENGAGEMENT & MOTIVATION! -It is our job as teachers to get our students to WANT to learn. We need to learn what is out there and what will engage our students. Students also need CONCRETE and REALISTIC things to aim for.
 * Interesting to note and what most people dont realize-including myself, is that it is the bottom 2/3s of the class that are the ones that need to be taught. Our success is found in them.
 * I totally agree with NOT banning individual technology in the classroom. Technology such as ipods or blackberries have access to the internet, where kids can do research from their seat. Also, music while reading or doing seat work or individual tasks can actually help and motivate most students.
 * Discovery Learning-empowerment of independent thinkers. Getting students to find the answers instead of telling them. Make them use their resources to find the answers. We should be encouraging our students to use technology instead of banning them. Let our students use their digital tools to demonstrate their knowledge. This video states exactly why we should be using the technology that our students already know so much about in our classrooms.

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**2. Software and How to Use it.** SRS-Student response system



They look like little remote controls, but they can serve a great purpose within the 21st century classroom. Anywhere from testing to attendance.



Specifically, I learned how to set up a google slide show and use google forms.
 * Google Docs- I was introduced to the extensive word of Google Docs.

**3. Information and What you have learned.**

I actually had a gmail account previous to this classes emphasis on google docs and used google on a daily basis, in fact GOOGLE IT! is a main saying in my vocabulary. However, I had no idea the things I had access too being a gmail subscriber. It is amazing all of the documents you can create and use within the classroom. It is outstanding what google has put together and is at our fingertips. How can we not use this technology in the classroom when it is so accessible and user friendly?