CarpeDiem

The first thing I would like to say is:
I love my smartphone!! I get (and got) a whole lot of "hoo-haa" from my husband during Thanksgiving break & to our friends about smartphones! 

Yet, while my husband tried to use an antiquated mobile nav device (yup, even upgrading his nav in his 2004 Prius would cost an arm and a leg in software upgrades), I was able to use my SP as a nav device, and I didn't have to worry about software upgrades, etc.! I found us movies to go to, too, w/ my Fandango app!

I was able to do schoolwork in the car and our hotel, by using my SP as a hotspot, and have added anti-virus & firewalls to both my netbook and SP, so I don't have to worry about logging onto unsecured wifi networks! I have instant access to Blackboard, to Google+, Docs, Blogger, etc., to Quick Office, banking apps, and all kinds of ways of staying connected, when I want to! Gotta love it!!

I have been able to troubleshoot issues w/ my aging parents, in another state, simply by using my smartphone! So yeah, I love technology, new software, the mobility of devices, apps....you name it! 

I kept hearing the same stuff...."we were fine before we had all of this technology...". Ok, do I like that our youth is communicating by texting, while they are standing right next to one another, or the guy who apparently stood next to my husband and was texting & peeing at the same time (sorry, TMI-trying to make a point, here!!) NO! But, my reasoning is: if you don't have it, you don't know what you are missing; and once you do have it (technology), you will never want to be without it again!! "Try it, you'll like it!"

Question? What did people think about the telephone and telegraph a 100 years ago? Times are a changin', and except for a small part of it, (like being able to follow a General's paper trail!!! LOL!!) technology is here to stay, and it is coming on strong in all of our schools, that have the bucks to support it!

LCPS now have electronic whiteboards, such as the Smartboard, or Promethean Board in every classroom! It only the 2nd year for this step-up in technology of learning! I see kids with Kindles & Nooks too. But hardly any smartphones/tablets/mobile devices are being used in the mainstream classroom, for K-12 learning, that is.

So, St. Mary's or Carpe Diem? I hate rote learning. Therefore, I am not a proponent of Carpe Diem methods, of having a kid sit in front of a computer or educator, for hours on end, simply to be "fed" information! I love interactive, hands on, thought-provoking, and problem-solving learning, which I feel the St.Mary's program is using! 

My 5th grader son is not a "self-starter". He wants someone  else to do it for him! That is one of the reasons we have him engaging in a 21st Century program called, Odyssey of the Mind. It engages the K-12 child in problem-solving skills, independent learning processes, and out of the box thinking, in which the parents are not allowed to help!! Yeah!

I have included an example of the Odyssey of the Mind, long-term task, my son will be working on, as an example of how technology is advancing its way into learning. While he will not be using a mobile-device, in this task, he will be learning about the mechanics, importance, presence, etc. of technology in our world and its use in pedagogy. 

I am confident, the use of mobile technologies will become a way of life in schools, K-12. The cost factor, is what is keeping many away! My husband's biggest complaint is the $30 we have to pay for my mobile data plan! We already have an Internet connection through our cable company, but that does not cover our use of mobile devises, and by itself, is as expensive as hell!

I am hoping my 75 yo mom will finally move into the 21st Century, & purchase a computer this year! 

The cloud technology is moving us away from independent learning, (ie. non-sharing experiences) and towards being able to effectively use programs, such as Google, and work collaboratively on projects while in our classrooms!

The NETS-T standards related to this assignment are in fact, all of the standards:
1. Facilitate Student Learning and Creativity.
2. Design and Develop Digital Age Learning Experiences and Assessments.
3.Model Digital Age Work and Learning.
4. Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility.
5. Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership.