Technology Showcase
My district is hosting its first annual technology fair next month. In preparation for the event, each school is supposed to be registering students to attend. Students should demonstrate their use of technology and how it helps them learn. My school had one entry (a powerpoint presentation of an extended educational field trip) as of the registration deadline date, so panic spread across the room during a teachers’ meeting. Ironically, it was suggested that students just create something on the computer as perhaps an activity they could do when they finish with state testing. Again, we miss the whole point of the fair. Using technology for the sake of using technology is wasted time. On the other hand, integrating technology to enhance learning isbeneficial and would be nice to showcase. Side-note, I asked if my students could enter their My Space pages. The answer was no since ten year old aren’t supposed to have My Space accounts.
Meaningful use of technology sounds like the goal of that fair. The suggestion of using technology for the sake of using it goes against the fabric of the fair. Good luck with the fair.
I think that many students ages 10 and 11 have MySpace pages even though they are not supposed to. My niece, who is 11, could really show me the ropes with MySpace.
Several years back our district held annual Technology Showcases; however, we don’t seem to do that anymore, or if we do, I do not know anything about it. What amazes me is the fact that now students would have so much more to showcase than previous years. If you can, get involved. It is a wonderful event to have and you will really enjoy it.