Shakespeare in ourTimes

References:

Alberta Education. (1986). Drama 10-20-30. Retrieved September 29, 2007, from
http://www.education.gov.ab.ca/k%5F12/curriculum/bySubject/finearts/drama10.pdf


Drama 10


Description of Activities:

Students will engage in discussions of Shakespearean plays they have seen, read or heard of. Then through the use of computers they will research Shakespearean plays that have happened or will be happening in their city, province, and country; as well as how they are staged. After discussion and recording of their findings a brief clip from the modernized Romeo and Juliet movie will be shown. The students will then discuss and list changes that have been made in Shakespeare's works for today's audience in terms of staging, language, and social context.


General Learning Outcome:

To develop an appreciation of drama and
theatre as a process and art form.


Specific Learning Outcome:

Explore various conventions and
traditions of theatre


ICT General Learning Outcome:

C1 Students will access, use and communicate information from a variety of technologies.


ICT Specific Learning Outcome:

1.1 access and retrieve appropriate information from electronic sources for a specific inquiry


ICT Rational:

These activities will allow the students to explore different methods of searching for information from local to country wide resources. This will widen their information searching abilities as well as being able to focus on internet material in a broad and more focused view from different types of electronic sources. These activities will also allow students to discover more about Shakespearean theatre in a modern day and relevant context.

What is Technology Integration?

Technology integration, when we are discussing education, is the use of new technology in and out of the classroom for learning purposes. This has great possibilities and could speed up and/or enhance the learning process of students if integrated well. Some good ways to integrate technology into classrooms can already be seen in a lot of classrooms across the country. The use of LCD projectors allows teachers to quickly and easily display from computers text, pictures, video, etc. This would save time from making overheads, blowing up pictures, or dragging around TV’s from class to class. Things could quickly and easily be researched right in front of the class using the internet or computer programs. Teachers and students would no longer have to go through books and libraries for hard to find information. Information and multimedia can most certainly speed up the ability to find and show material. As well the quality of that material as well could be much higher because of the amount of information computers and the internet can hold gives a large field to choose from. Also how that information can show using computer technology can enhance the quality of material and subject matter.

Technology integration as well though can have it down sides if not done well. Internet and computers have many programs on them that can allow students to find short cuts for their work. As well having computers readily available with a tremendous amount of information on it could have kids continuously attached to their computers doing work instead of using conventional pen and paper. Libraries could become obsolete and books ignored. Students could stop reading just get summaries of books, plays, and texts on-line. If every student sat down at a computer to learn then a connection between teacher and student can become completely lost as the students focus is drawn completely to the computer in front of them. Interaction, group work, and socialization could be completely lost. Integration of technology into education must not be all encompassing. Their must be a limit to the use of technology and human to human interaction must occur. Real life does not take place within a computer or on the net, it happens here in the real world. Students must be able to learn and develop in the real world and integration of ever growing technology threatens that, we must be careful how far we take it.

A large barrier that does hinder the integration of technology in the class rooms is that simple fact that not all teachers are equipped to use such technology. Many teachers grew up never having seen such technology used in class rooms and aside from not knowing how to properly use it, they may be afraid to use it. As well the education system is not as well funded as it could be. Education is not always a top priority of the government or public. So with limited money schools may not be able to afford to buy new technology or to train teachers in how to use it. Teachers do not make enough money to continually buy the latest technology to keep up to date them selves. These are all things that are stopping the integration of technology into class rooms.

Thoughts on Teachers Blogging

Blogging and Teaching combined could be a great way to help students learn and grow, but it could also just as easily turn into a big problem very quickly. The internet is undeniably a form of learn and will continue to grow in this respect. However their are things that can be down on-line that can not be monitored properly and could be misused by students or teachers if one is not careful in ones approach.
Blogs can be opened up for students to help them and their teachers watch their learning progress if students can be asked to complete blogs about their lessons. Students can also socialize and grow with friends under the watchful eye of teachers if done properly. In this way blogging could help teachers be more aware of what is going on with their students to help better teach them.
Blogs also can be a personal playground for bullying or misinformation on the part of students. As well I fear that a student blogging with teachers on-line could lead to some sticky situations if teachers do not blog appropriately. As well this could lead to students searching for information about their teachers on-line and could stumble across something inappropriate.
Internet blogging for school learning purposes had great potential and would most like excite the students and be able to open up new doors for them and teachers. But this comes with an element of danger that if not careful approached could lead to terrible results.