I think I am pretty average when it comes to my use of digital technologies. I am not really a “techie.” I’m not always up on the latest, and I’m sure there are features on my phone I have never used and am not even aware of. But I do have an I-Phone 5 that I use continuously every day. It is my primary phone since I don’t have a home phone. I use it to check my email, text, map my routes, listen to music, calendar my life, set alarms, surf the web, keep up on faceboook and use a host of other apps. I have an I-Pod that I utilize several times a week to make playlists and teach Group Fitness classes. I have an I-Pad that I use most often when I travel because it is oh-so-handy for reading and watching movies. I did use it this week to track my fantasy football team and download a YouTube video. I probably spend a little more screen time per week right now than on average, because I am often working on my laptop for school assignments. I do like to listen to the news on the TV in the mornings when I am home, and kick back and watch some TV at night to unwind (although my husband makes fun of me because we have about 20 shows on our DVR that I have seen the first 20 minutes of and then fallen asleep). I exchange digital texts with all kinds of people- family, friends, business associates,and university acquaintances. I read news, political commentary, literature and informational digital texts.

I am excited about the ways in which technology can be used in the classroom. I see myself maintaining a class website and/or blog. I think they could be helpful to extend class discussions and familiarize students with utilizing technology, as well as interacting with one another. I see myself communicating with students and parents via email and text. (Apparenty, class texts can be set up to send without giving my phone number.) I think webquests on the internet could be helpful for establishing historical context, or finding information about authors. Videos, powerpoint, prezi, and other digital formats are now easily displayed for students for instructional purposes, and I think can be a great addition for visual learners, as well as providing visual texts to go along with written texts. I have also seen my cooperating teacher have students “take out their devices” in class when there is a question about a definition or a fact and have them google the answer. In addition to having students complete assignments utilizing computer publishing programs such as word and powerpoint, and searching the web for information and sources, I think it would be useful for them to create original texts based on digital formats that they are familiar with. They could dramatize a portion of literature on YouTube, create facebook pages for literary characters to interact (I found a website called “Fakebook” where students can do this), or imagine what one character might text to another and create a text dialogue. It would be important to walk students through the use of these formats initially, in case some students are not familiar with them. I would also need to make sure that any assignments I created that would necessitate the use of digital technology would be available to students in the library or in the classroom for those who might not have their own devices.