Red Group: Integrating “Everyday” Technologies

When I think of “everyday” technologies such as cell phones, You Tube, Facebook, LinkedIn, iPods, BlackBerry, and the like, using them in classrooms does not automatically pop into my mind. One reason is that those technologies are not everyday ones for me. Another reason is that I think of many everyday technologies as more for entertainment than for education. There is a distinction for me between how they are used at home versus at school. However, for today's children (my future students) and their parents, these personal technologies are very likely a part of their everyday lives.

For me right now, there is a definite disconnect between the technologies I personally use and the ones I expect to incorporate as a school librarian. Is that disconnect acceptable? I think it is. My future job will include knowing about information sources and technologies, but I believe I can integrate them successfully in my work life even if I don’t ardently use them in my personal life.

I can see creating lessons or developing assignments that incorporate everyday technologies appropriately. I could help students make video book recommendations for a school website. I could use a digital camera to film student reenactments of scenes from a book. I could use blogs to conduct a book club. I could manage wikis for group research and reporting assignments. Students could “meet” authors or illustrators by listening to podcasts or watching You Tube interviews with them. For students’ parents, I could communicate by cell phone, email, or a dedicated page on the school website. There are many ways to incorporate “everyday” technologies as a school librarian, and I’ll pursue appropriate ones when the opportunity arises.