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What have you learned about digital writing today that you did not consider before in relation to the Common Core Standards? What are the advantages and disadvantages of taking a computer based adaptive test? I learned that digital writing is utilization of technology to communicate. It is basically writing/communicating/sharing that is not done with the traditional pen & paper as we have grown up with. Our world is constantly changing and today, it is full of technology that will only get better and become more widely used in the future. Today’s children are technological savvy creatures who are living in a fast paced society and who rely on texting, IPhones, IPods, Internet, and Instant Messaging, as a way of life.Long gone are the days of chalk boards which is why educators need to incorporate digital writing into Common Core Standards so our children can keep up with technology and be able to learn, grow, and utilize it as much as possible. The Common Core Standards are the requirements for a given subject that educators must be teaching (for example, the ELA Standards are: reading, writing, speaking/listening, and language). There are many ways educators can incorporate digital writing into their curriculum which would enhance the way students learn, but would not take away from the importance of what is being taught. It’s also important to bring digital writing into the classrooms, because as educators, it is our responsibility to provide the tools students need to succeed. In the world we live in today, that means updating classrooms with the equipment needed and teaching the ‘teachers’ about digital writing. If our children (which are the future) are not introduced to digital writing and are not given every opportunity to have it be part of their daily happenings in school, will fall behind in our society. That is not a risk educators should be taking. It is a tool our children need in order to be successful in school & in life. We can’t go back in time, so it’s essential that we catch up with the times or our students of today will not be ready for the future. Taking a computer based adaptive test allows schools to schedule the test taking at different times. It also gives students more experience with computers. Schools would be able to save on number two pencils and their paper usage would go down. Some disadvantages might be lack of resources. Not all school districts have computers, or enough computers to accommodate the student population. Another disadvantage is student’s lack of knowledge on how to use a computer. Anytime you use computers, there is always the chance that it will crash, you may lose data, or a power outage could occur.


 * We also explored [|Wordle], [|Glogster] and [|Google Presentations]--do you have any ideas for implementing them in your classroom? Do you have an idea for your lesson?

All of these programs provide a creative way for students to display projects, book reports, or essays in a class. They could also be incorporated into a vocabulary lesson for any subject. These programs allow the student/teacher to present idea/classwork in a fun, creative way. I thought the ice breaker in class was a great use of Wordle- that is something that as a teacher I could incorporate into meeting new students on the first day of school. It could also be used as a type of graphing lesson- take a survey of the class to see what student's favorite subject is or food, then use Wordle to record answers. I thought using Glogster to create a book report would be a fun way for students to be evaluated on books they read. I found these resources to be great tools that could be implemented into any classroom. Not being a teacher yet, I don’t have any specific lesson plans I could use these tools in now, but thinking about what I have taught as a substitute, I have a few ideas that one day I could implement.


 * ==== Why should we inspire students to write and communicate effectively? How will this prepare them to be college and career ready? ====

Today’s students are lacking in the areas of writing and spelling. Part of the problem is technology. Students rely on the computers to fix their errors for them, so how do they learn? It is so important that students learn the fundamentals of reading, writing, and spelling. Providing students with the tools they need to write and communicate effectively is essential if they are going to be successful later on in life. These basic skills will allow the student to succeed in all subjects in school and will give them the confidence they need to talk to adults and go on a job interview. Writing allows your mind to imagine, and gives a student the opportunity to apply punctuation, spelling, & grammar skills. The world is big place, and without the basic skills of reading, writing, and communication, everything else becomes that much harder to accomplish. Another part of the writing and communicating effectively does have to do with technology. I do believe that educators must provide the teachings to students so they can master basic technology skills, like working on Microsoft or Excel on a computer. These basic communication skills on a computer will be needed in order to get them ready for college and down the road, a career.


 * There are two articles to read this week about Digital Natives. Please respond to the challenges of teaching digital natives and why it is important to learn new teaching strategies using technology.

Digital natives are the children/students of today who think and process information differently than kids of past generations. Their brains function differently and their thinking patterns are different. We have seen how society has changed with the onslaught of computers, IPhones, IPods, texting, etc. and it is important that we run towards, not away from this growing technological era. For educators that can be a difficult thing to do, especially when you have been teaching the same way for years. But, it’s also important for educators to understand that we need to do everything we can to provide students today with the tools they need to be successful in school so they are prepared for college and the years after. Teachers must come up with creative ways to teach students in order to keep them engaged in class. Digital natives prefer games to more serious work. They like instant gratification and reward systems, are used to having technology at their fingertips, and like a more fast paced, rather than step-by-step teaching. Educators can respond to these needs by tweaking how they teach lessons- bring more computer oriented programs into the class and teach with these resources (like Wordle and Glogster). Rather than look back at how things used to be, educators today need to grab hold of the technology that is out there and learn how to communicate to student using these resources.