Modeling with Technology: SEE it to Believe it!

The first thing that I do when I read chapters in a text book is flip through and look at the headings and pictures to s get a general gist of what the chapter is going to be about. I must admit that when I looked at the pictures in this chapter I felt a little bit scared. They started out easy enough with concept maps, no problem! I know what those are, but then there was the super crazy picture of the sun, that picture made me nervous to find out what this chapter was really about it.
After reading the chapter I think that it’s amazing to think about how far things have come, who would have thought that we could be making these crazy looking models on our computers and projecting them for tour classroom to see? I love the idea of using concept maps in the classroom; I think that it is a great way for the whole class to be involved in something together. I also think that these concept maps are more engaging on the computer for students because you can make them as big and complex as you want or your conversation allows. Students then get the chance to look at a final product on the computer and marvel and physically see what they learned.
My thinking about using these kinds of programs in my classroom has definitely changed. I can see myself using a concept map program in my classroom to talk about subjects we are learning in class in anything from reading to science. Some of the more complex programs I don’t see myself using in my classroom, but I can see how they can be used and helpful in other classrooms.