E2campus Alert system

My encounters with technology this week seems to be quite useful! This week I seen a link on blackboard, where you can have e2campus where Morehead State University sends you a text message alerting the user of invents that could take place that could cause a threat to attend school, and therefore would be put on 2 hour delays, or closed. For example, I just used this technology this morning, because Morehead State University alerted me that Morehead State University would be closed, and the offices would not be open, this was due to the vast amount of snow that covered the roads and caused for danger transportation.

The Alert system is set up on a Plan A, B, or C system. Plan A means that Morehead State University is closed, and administrative offices will also be closed. Plan B, means that Administrative offices will open at 10:00a.m. and students will start their classes at 10:30a.m. Finally Plan C means that offices will open at regular time, but classes will not start until 10:30.
To get this wonderful technology, go to www.moreheadstate.com, and double-click on the Sign up for alerts by text message or email. Then a sign up screen will appear upon the screen and that is where you put all your information, and where you want the alert to be sent where it be through email or phone. Then the website will send a text message for an email to your account for you to verify your service is ready to receive alerts.

Finally, the system is so simple that I wish that I had done it sooner. It easy, fast, and you no longer have to wonder if there will be school because as soon as the decision is made about attending school, a text or email will be sent to you. So if you go to Morehead State University as a student or a faculty member, and haven’t yet signed up for the Morehead State University alert system I advise you to do so, you wont regret it!

The pro's and con's of Technology in a Classroom Setting

As I took part in the first class of the new spring semester in EDEL 302 I learned many ways technology can be used in the classroom and the effects of those uses in the classroom. To my findings the pro's out way the con's. There are many wonderful uses for technology in the classroom that is seen to be beneficial to the students as well as the teachers. For example technology allows students to learn in a structured way that can still be fun and creative for the student. Examples of ways that students can learn in a fun structured environment is using software that allows the student to learn, and have fun doing so. When the classroom environment can incorporate fun settings the students are more likely to be involved and participation freely within the class lesson. Also, a way that technology is useful in the classroom is that it allows for the teacher to implement the lesson to each students way of learning such as visual, audio, and kinesthetic learners. The computer is a great resource for this because it allows the teacher to set up programs in such a way for students who need to hear instructions, and learn through audio. The computer also allows for tons of visual aids that allow the students to get their minds thinking. 

However their are cons to having technology in the classroom, as there are good and bad sides to everything. This would include working a lengthy time on a project only to have it lost, deleted, and with younger children it is hard to get them to remember to save their work, allowing their work to be deleted. Also, computers are very expensive and it is hard for every one to have access to the computer. However contradicting to that fact, there are grants and programs available for schools that do not have the money or the resources for the technology needed to provide a better learning environment for the students.

All, and all today in my first class for integrating technology in the classroom I learned more than just the pro's and con's to technology. I learned that not only do you need to know now to use technology but to teach the students and allow them to use it as well as the technology in the classroom is mainly for the students to learn.