Blog Assignment Week Seven

Blog: It's Not all Flowers and Sausages
Mrs. Mimi
http://itsnotallflowersandsausages.blogspot.com/2010/01/technology-shmechnology.html

I found this blog on Angela Runte's class blog from last semester and I found it extremely entertaining and informative. Mrs. Mimi depicts her classroom and school environment in a comical way; mainly through sarcasm and humor. Mrs. Mimi uses her blog as a "venting" process to explain and bring to life the ridiculous and the ordinary of the teaching profession. Mrs. Mimi's most recent blog discusses her struggles to understand technology. Near the end of this entry she writes, "So while yes, high tech whiteboards are very fancy and shiny and may spur feelings of Teacher Jealousy, let's stop parading them around as Saviors of the Classroom and recognize that supporting, promoting and encouraging GOOD TEACHING (with or without technology) is our best investment". I find this quote humorous and refreshing and though I acknowledge that technology in the classroom is essential, I also realize that we (as teachers) cannot hide behind it and expect our students to simply learn from a computer, SMART Board or other technological devices, teachers need to teach.

I had some trouble finding the "Blogs for Educators" but I know that when it comes to the subject of math, ActiVotes would be extremely helpful. These personal voting systems allow students to press the answer they have come to while ensuring anonymity. The teacher is able to assign voters to each student and pull up the % of answers right/wrong so that if further assistance on a topic is needed the teacher is aware. This voting  system is a fun way to use technology and increase participation in the classroom in the subject area of math.