First Pocast

Here is my first podcast. In it is an interview with three of my sixth grade social studies students. Their opinions well represent the norms of their classmates. After polling my students I discovered several characteristics about their technology use. 

First, they use much more technology at home than at school. The average number of hours using computers, cell phones, and gaming  was three hours daily. Whereas at school, the number was less than a half an hour and primarily in computer class, if enrolled at all. 

Secondly, the students are adept at using computers for both school work and pleasure. Browsing the Internet; though surprisingly not using social networking sites as I would have expected, is something the students have been doing for some time thanks to popular tween websites that they mentioned such as Nickelodian, Club Penguin, and Webkins.  Though the students I talked to do not visit MySpace or FaceBook, I know that many do thanks to their questionnaires. 

Finally, students use of technology has been so limited in school that they are either unaware or apprehensive about doing certain types of assignments using computers rather than traditional books or paper and pencil. In my survey I asked students how they would feel about holding class discussions online and many wanted to know exactly how that would work. Many were not aware of what a blog is. However, the students were excited about alternatives such as reading our textbook online or completing assignments in Power Point rather than doing paper projects. Please click the podcast link above to hear what my students had to say. Enjoy!