Technology

**Technologies Used** The four technology elements I am focusing on are: Illustrations (Bubbl), Photos, Video, and Social Technology (Librarything) I selected these four technologies because they were very useful in my process of encouraging teachers to use puppets in their classrooms. Adults also learn differently and their skills with technology are varied. I realize that teachers are stretched for time and at times they do not have the time to spend on the computer. All the technologies are straight forward and can be easily used and viewed. **Video (located in process) ** //“Video can be used to spark students to pose solutions to practical and theoretical problems. Through motion, television display and any number of processes, showing the learner exactly how something is done. Learners can be shown a specific skill by an expert”. (Annette Lamb,// //Building Treehouses for Learning: Technology in Today’s Classroom//, p.199) Video was the best way to demonstrate how the puppets can move, and can be used in the classroom environment. The expressions that the puppets can make to engage the children are easily seen on video. Video also engages the students through movement or “Bodily-kinesthetic” one of the multiple intelligences, written about by Howard Gardner. Some of the issues you can have with video, is that the affect can be very amateur, not visually well done. You need to plan ahead and have the correct materials to shoo the video. It also can be hard to set up the different angles and lighting to give a clear understanding of what is to be taught and viewed. **Bubbl** **(located in process)** //“Tables, charts, and graphs can present statistical information clearly and accurately. They are good tools for explaining, interpreting, and analyzing numerical facts. In addition, they are simple and effective way to illustrate comparisons, trends, and relationships." (Annette Lamb, Building Treehouses for Learning: Technology in Today’s Classroom, p.326)// Bubbl is a chart/mind building technology that helps organize your thoughts and ideas and puts the information into an easy readable form. I used Bubbl to help convey to the teachers how and when a puppet could be used in a lesson plan. Teachers could later use the technology to incorporate puppets into their plans. Teachers just starting out using puppets will use this to get them more familiar with when to use puppets. Using charts ties in with the Logical-Mathematical Intelligence and the Linguistic Intelligence, by incorporating written communication and conceptually laying out the information. However, the downside is graphs can be boring, or hard to see. They can sometimes be confusing. Sometimes it is easier just to write the information down rather then do a chart on the computer. You are also dealing with some teachers that lack computer skills. **Photos** **(located in materials)** Photos are the best way to show a process. If you are going to make something you need to have a still picture that can be easily followed. In the book //Toward a 21st-Century School Library Media Program//, by Rosenfeld and Loertscher, in the regard to visual literacy, "the develpment of students' visual literacy skills has a positive effect on reading comprehension and provides students with a choice of modes in which to make sense of their social and cultural contexts". By using visuals like photos will help teachers connect with the written word. The viewer needs to be able to understand what he or she needs to do, and be able to view it as long as they need to. Using photos to describe how the teachers can easily make their own puppets was the best solution. Teachers who are more visual in their learning will gravitate to photos to help them understand. Some of the problems with photos can be the layout, not getting the angles right, the photo software, software may not be compatible. **Librarything** **(located in support)** //“The computer is a logical tool to help store, calculate, retrieve, and visualize information”. (Annette Lamb, Building Treehouses for Learning: Technology in Today’s Classroom, p.185)// Librarything allows for the user to connect with others that share the same interests. By using Librarything it gives teachers new to using puppets, a social way of connecting with others for guidance. Through book selections and setting up groups this will serve as a place where teachers can get support. Also facebook is included to allow for more communication and to join the existing puppet groups, another way to get answers and support. Teachers can keep a list of books to refer to and tag them with the different uses. Using Librarything ties in with the Interpersonal Intelligence and Intrapersonal Intelligence by, connecting with others and keeping a record of contributions. Some of the down sides of using Librarything is it’s another site that you need to visit, when you already have several. Also there is the problem of how many teachers actually use the computer for job and social interaction. The //Pew Research// Center’s study of computer use shows 36% adults in the age group of 33-44 used social networking and in the 45-54 age group only 20% use it. Also in job related activies 55% in the 33-44 age group use the internet for information and only 43% in the 45-54 age group sought out information. So again, will the teachers use it? Another concern is books are the only resource you can include in the list at this time.

[] Generational Differences in Online Activities. Pew Internet/A Project of the Pew Research Center. Jan 28,2009 Gardner, Howard. //Frames of Mind:The Theory of Multiple Intelligences//. 1993. Basic Books Lamb,Annette. //Building Treehouses for Learning: Technology in Today's Classroom//. 2006. Vision to Action. Emporia, Kansas Rosenfeld, Esther and David V. Loertscher. T//oward a 21st-Century School Library Media Program//.2007. Lanham, Maryland. The Scarecrow press, Inc.