Teaching I have grown a lot from this course in the short amount of time we had. When I first entered this class I knew very little about technology and was very hesitant to use it in my classroom. I also did not really believe that technology added much to a lesson. I knew technology was important and I would have to teach my students how to sue technology, however, I thought that I would teaching students how to search the internet, type, and make presentations. I never knew that there was so much out there for students to know and learn and so much for teachers to know.
One major think that this class taught me is that technology should be used to facilitate learning and make learning more entertaining. Technology is a aid and is only useful when it is used in a conjunction with a lesson that helps add creativity and meaning to the lesson. Just like anything else, when technology is just thrown in the a lesson to make use of it confuses children and can actually take away from the lesson. Before a teacher decides to use a piece of technology is a lesson a teacher must think about not only how to use it but whether or not it is appropriate and meaningful to the lesson.
Another major thing that I released form this class is the amount and variety of technology tools that are available for school and teachers. I never knew that there were so much technology out there that could eb siued for education. Most of the technology tools that I have come in countere with I could not see any sue for teaching, however, this class showed that if you think hard enough anything can really be very useful for teaching at any grade level and in any content area.
These forms of technology can even be used to help young children. There are lots of videos and on-line books for children and they can even engage in Facebook and blogging and other forms of technology as long as they have the assistance and guidance of their teacher. It might also be helpful o do these kinds of activities as a whole group lesson with younger children. Technology can also be used to help create real world connections for students and meaning. Technology is such a part of our world today that most students, even elementary school students, know how to use computers and the internet and various other forms of technology. Using technology in a lesson help the students see how the lesson related to their life and they will be more engaged in the lesson so they will get more out of it.
Technology can also help teachers as well;. There are many links to on-line lesson and curriculums so all an instructor has to do is search the internet and they can finds everything they need for a lesson. Also, teachers can record students’ progress and have ongoing conversations with other instructors who are teaching the same thing to discuss lesson and idea. This class has taught me that it is not scary too use technology in the classroom. All you have to do it use it meaningfully and not be afraid to play with it and see what you can do. Teachers are supposed to be learning new things every day from their experiences and students so why not learn new forms of technology. If the teacher does not take the appropriate amount of time to learn to sue the various forms of technology it can become a waste. Schools do offer informational sessions about new technologies that they purchase, however, that is not enough time for a teacher to become familiar with the piece of technology
The textbook we used helped me understand a lot of the material and information from this class. I liked how the book separated the arguments dealing with technology into the skeptics and the people who are for technology in the classroom. I would definitely say that I am for technology in the classroom. I feel that the skeptics argument was kind of weak. They mostly focused on the cost and the time it takes to learn how to use the piece of technology. I mean, there is no denying it technology is expensive but the cost is worth it. Technology adds meaning, life, and entertainment to a lesson and will really help the students learn the material.
This class has definitely helped me become more comfortable using technology and shown me how to use it in my technology. I will definitely be more willing to sue the technology in my classroom on a regular basis due to this class.
