Creating vs. Consumption

In this weeks reading I found it interesting in reading about using technology mainly for consumption and not so much for creating. As I examined how I have used technology in my classroom I soon realized that I was guilty for using it for mainly consumption and "finding" information.
As a special education teacher and seeing students for only a short time during the school day it is often difficult to deviate from what the classroom is doing as my role is usually to support students with their class work. However, at this time students are beginning to explore persuasive essays. This was a great time for me to integrate the technology into something they are already doing, but present it in a different way. When they begin to write their own essays, students will first use technology as consumption and locate factual information to support their thesis. They will write that information into their graphic organizers. When they are ready to write their essays, they can either write it with paper/pencil or use the word processor. After completing the essays all students will present their essays to the class. Many of my students are uncomfortable standing and sharing information in front of their peers so this is when they will use the technology to "create." Students will use "Shadow Puppet" to find pictures that would support their opinion. The students will then read their essay and record it to match with the pictures. This is how they will make their presentation and hope to ease their anxiety of standing in front of their classmates to present. I hope that we can also share these with their families through email. I look forward to exploring this with my students.