Reactions to Chapters 1 and 2

• The purpose of technology is to "make a collaborative medium, a place where we [could] all meet and read and write". Before taking this class, I nievely thought that that Language Arts had not as much need for technology integration as a science and math class. But now, I believe technologies are "obvious tools for teaching writing and reading" and must be incorporated in classroom (weblogs).
• During student teaching, my students came into class and immediately began working on their "sponge" activity, which was a journal entry to a specific topic or a grammar exercise. At my new school next year, I can implement blogging instead of journaling when completing sponge activities. Through blogging, students can read and respond to other students' insights and thoughts, creating an authentic, collaborative community in my classroom.
• Technology is replacing paper and pencil. I do not subscribe to the Courier Journal, but read articles online everyday by visiting courier-journal.com. It's not that I am too cheap to pay for the paper version newspaper, instead, I enjoy reading articles online and then reading readers comments to the article in the blog section at the end of the webpage. For example, during basketball season, right after a game, I will get online and read the article summarizing game action. Although I have watched the game, I like to get online and read readers comments and reactions to the game and information presented in the article. It's like I am having a conversation with Louisville fans online. This is the type of community I want to create in my classroom. After we read a piece of literature or reading, I want students to reflect and react on a blog, and have other students respond to their comments.
• FACEBOOK. Should teachers have one? It seems facebook creates several problems in the professional community. But, it is a technology that creates the collaborative atmosphere I will strive to enstill in my classroom. Should teachers be friends with students or former students on facebook? Why or why not. I say, no they should not be friends with students and former students, for several reasons, but would love to read comments by my EDTP 504 class why teachers SHOULD be friends with students on facebook.