Entry 8- K12 Conference

From the K12 Conferences, I chose to listen to the presentation about using digital technology for history classes. The speaker talked about how by using technology, history can become more impressive to the students who are sitting through the lessons. The presenter also stressed that using different forms of technology would help students be more actively involved in the class and discussion. He presented several lessons that he would use in a classroom to entice the students to be more interested and ultimately learn better than if the lesson had been taught in a more traditional lecture session. I thought his ideas were really insightful and progressive.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/frederickmdrocks/6588636677/ -- http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en

I learned a lot from the presenter and can incorporate many of the suggested items into my classroom instruction. As one of my areas of instruction is Social Studies 4-9, I can definitely relate to the information presented. The professor presented ways to help students bring history to life through present day news like creating newspapers or news reports. I think that those are both awesome ideas because students will be able to see history from a first-person point of view. By putting themselves in the situations personally by making a modern day periodical or newscast, history becomes more relevant.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hackny/6893166270/ -- http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en

As we have learned all semester, technology is a pivotal part of modern-day classroom instruction. It’s a great way to keep students interested and involved with their lessons. So often, traditional lessons leave students wanting more so incorporating new forms of technology in the classroom will help students be more excited with the information being taught. Many students dread the idea of a history class because “it already happened” and “Why should I care. It’s just a bunch of dead guys.” Showing them how important history is through the use of technology can make them better understand why history is necessary and how it can relate to their lives in the present.