Stasia+Weston

Stasia Weston
Since I started this wiki, I figured I'd go first. While I've used computers for most of my college career, I didn't really use them in the classroom until I was hired on as a graduate assistant in USA's Online Learning Lab in 2005. Wow, that was an eye-opening experience! For the first year and a half (and probably more than that), I was totally and completely overwhelmed. How an absolute tech jinx ended up working in the OLL, I'll never know. When I was at Ole Miss, I supervised the graveyard shift for the Art Department's computer lab but it never prepared me for the "hit the ground running" atmosphere I encountered at USA.

The week after I started, back in 2005, we were hit by Katrina. When school reopened and got back to some symblance of "normal," I found myself given over to the Katrina Recovery Project. Basically, some faculty members of the school had been charged with creating an instructional CD with various materials and lectures. Talk about learning on the fly! We had to design, develop, create and ship thousands of instructional CDs. They were meant for just those schools and educators along the Coast, but soon, they were being requested elsewhere. By the time the CD duplicator were just hitting their stride, we were notified that the Alabama State Department of Education would be taking over the further duplication of the project. They'd had even international requests for the materials.

More to come...


 * Mekeia Watson**
 * I created a page on this site, but I can't see it, so I will retype what I wrote here. I hope that I didn't mess up your wiki. Anyway,** I have never had any problems using technology. In fact, I welcome it. The only problem I have had is accessing it. Working in a low-income school, schedules were often conflicting and students did not have the means to access this technology at home. I would say that that is the biggest problem I have had. I love SmartBoards, and projectors. They make it much more interesting to teach and for the students to learn and is a good motivator in the classroom. I am even enjoying this class and look forward to using the technology that we learn in the classroom. Yea!!!

I have always been fascinated with including technology in the classroom. However, I know the frustrations of not having what hardware or software is needed, or not having enough of it, or the Internet going down just when I need it. Sometimes depending on technology to work is like a shot in the dark. In fact, it has sometimes been worse, lol. But the low down is this: the students are very interested in using computers, iPods, etc., and if that stirs their interests, then I need to know how to incorporate this technology. Additionally, I love having a web based gradebook that parents can use to view their kids' grades, homework, and attendance and discipline records.
 * Charlotte Spurlin**

I am not yet in the classroom, and in a way I am glad that I'm having the opportunity to take this class first. This way I will have ideas ready and technology integration activities already incorporated into my lesson plans. I am certain that technology makes the classroom a more interesting and therefore engaging learning environment. From my observations, I have seen the excitement on students faces when they are told they will have a library day to research information, and when they are given a project in which they are expected to use their creativity in conjunction with technology. I have also witnessed the worried faces of those students who are not familiar with using computers or simply do not have access to computers in their home. It is a tricky task to find time available to teach students how to use software and allow students to complete their projects during classtime, while making classtime productive for students who have completed or are completing their projects at home. I know that additional efforts on the part of educators is a necessity for ensuring that our children are prepared to compete and succeed in our ever-changing and advancing world.
 * Joshlynn Simpson**

Technology makes learning more engaging and fun. I believe it is important for all teachers to find ways to intergrate technology in their instruction, however, I know that many teachers are not properly trained or do not have the resources available. I attended a two day Smart Board training class last year, but did not have a smartboard in my classroom, therefore, the two day training class was not utilized the way it should have been. I returned to my class unable to apply what I had learned. Technology can make our jobs easier, but it requires patience, time, resources, training, and a willing attitude to change our safe teaching strategies and turn our lesson into something our students are excitied about.
 * Tammy Watson**

I enjoy using technology in the classroom whenever possible. However, it is difficult at times to do creative things with the students. Our computer lab is not usually working, and when it is, there are not enough computers for an entire class. Some students can be sent to work on their own, but not many. Having 45 mins. per class is another issue to deal with. I did introduce wikis to a couple of my classes in hopes that they may be able to set up one at home and write on a class wiki. They kids were very excited so I hope it ends up going well.
 * Sandra Smith**