Forvo is a tool I could use in International Finance when students study the economy of a country. They could use this tooll to learn how to say a few statements related to the culture and/or business operations. I think students will be engaged and enjoy this unblocked site.

Typing web is anorther tool that could be used in instruction.This tool alows studnents to learn how to type which could be used as a practice tool at home or as a instructional tool in a Keyboarding class. This tool would be included with others which will allow students to choose a method that will allow them to be successful. The site offers lessons, games, and tips to help students improve that are easy to access at school or home without any filters.

Quizantor is another tool that could be used for me to improve instruction. This allows an educator to create worksheets and not save them to a flash drive because it is stored in cyberspace. This is compatible to google docs. Some parts of this site will need county approval to be unblocked.

Project-Based Learning (PBL) interested me the most because I use it often to teach Marketing. By the time the project is completed all learning styles would have been catored to and students would have the oportunity to work independently and in a group. In the beginning students would be whole group to learning vocuabulary terms using the Elmo to presentinformation and student response devices to assess their understanding of the terms. As student begin in their groups they will have access to the computer to locate instructions for each phase of the project and the rubic using the student drive. This will help students to pace themselves while working collaboratively. As students gather information needed for the project they will use Powerpoint or Movie Maker to create their presentation. While using these applications students will also have the opporitunity to incorporate video using the Flip Cam or capture still shots of student art work using a digitial camera. While students are working on the project in class homework could be given having the students reflect on the phase of the project they are on and aswer a few question to assess their participation and understanding of that portion of the assignment. This could be done using a Wiki modify the access so the group can see what is written so that they could clarify anything that went wrong or wasn't understood in class or for me to give feedback on what happened in class or their comments toward the task being done by the group.

From my experience Baltimore County is not close to this vision. BCPS offers numerous professional development opportunities for teachers to learn new technologies to implement in the classroom. However, in my opinion after that one or five class session(s) there isn't time for a teacher to research, experiment, and prepare quality lessons using what is given. Planning periods are spent doing more than what is needed to prepare for a class. Personally I think there should be PD days for teachers to focus on one technology at least a semester but no longer than a year to become comfortable learning, using, and applying a technology in instruction. As students, adults learn at different paces as well. I see many teachers overwhelmed with all the technology in their classroom and none of it is used for instruction. Students want technology to used but to have them engaged we can't use or teach it if we as educators are at the beginners level. BCPS can continue to offer technology and courses but teachers have to use. I'm not even going to mention the Blueprint for Progresses statement about teachers being equipped with a computer.

Althea - Sell! Sell! Sell! I think teachers spend so much time getting students to buy into learning that when students actually buy in it is June.
Geoffery- I think this will be good for the students since they are comfortable talking to someone and not seeing them.
Jackie, Robert, & Christie - I agree. :-)
Tammy & Toni - I love the clickers. Students act like kids in a candy store.
John - I agree. This is something that I definitely want to try.

The Wiki is something that I could see myself using in the classroom. I do many projects in class and this will allow my students to do some of them out of the classroom without worring about transportation issues. For any technology I use there will need to be some pre-planning to ensure that it will be used effectively by the students. The Wiki will also need to be set up but once that is done maintaining it and sending timely feedback will be the concern. Students in class will probably respond positively to the technology. Once it is taught and the procedure is practice I'm sure they will use it effectively and come up with ideas to use the Wiki for.

Mark Prensky's observations have proven to be accurate in my classroom. When started teaching ten years ago I thought I would be modeling the teaching styles of those teachers who impacted me. That didn't last long. What worked for me wasn't and isn't working for the students I teach today. Luckily it didn't take me long to figure it out. To help me adapt I spend time with younger family members and students to try to understand what they like and how they learn so that I can plan lesson aroud them. It takes a great deal of time and energy but I noticed that my classroom isn't the one with major behaivor problems or class cuts. If students in my room are bored I try to find out why so that I may do better next time. As I talk with coworkers many in the older generation blame students and their parents for not taking ownership in the students learning but at the same time there style of teaching hasn't changed since the 80's. When do have to pacifiy students as educators but I think we should be meeting their needs which would bring a whole new meaning to differentiation instruction. My main concern with having teachers adapt to the learning styles of the Digital Natives is that there is not enough planning time to prepare and modify lessons to meet their needs and for them to learn content information.