Many people today view technology as a negative thing when it comes to education. They see it as something nonpersonal that may separate and divide students, when in reality, technology can be a very useful asset in the classroom that can actually be used to bring people together. Blogs and wikis are examples of how teachers can keep parents informed of events or homework assignments.
I believe that it is important to find a good balance when using technology in the classroom. First of all, it can be especially useful for aiding students with learning disabilities, communicating quickly and effectively with students and parents, and teaching material in an engaging manner. There are so many online tools and resources that are avaliable and at students' disposal that can aid in learning, and in an age of technology, it is important that the next generation knows how to utilize it.
On the other hand, I don't believe that technology should replace all physical textbooks and supplementary materials. Some students,including myself, have an easier time learning and comprehending material when it is in physical print form. These students really struggle with learning only by technology. In terms of innapropriate internet content, I think that students need to be taught how to responsibly use the internet, but I also think that site blocks do need to be in place.
As referred to earlier, I do believe that finding a good balance when using technology in the classroom is vital to making its usage effective. As someone hoping to teach lower elementary, I would love to have access to a computer lab with computers avaliable for every student to use. Also, although smartboards are uncommon in most schools as of the time being, I would absolutely love to have a smartboard in my class. I find them to be an effective and engaging teaching tool. Overall, I find technology to be a tool that can be effective when correctly implemented in the classroom.
Future Plans to Update Technology Skills
I have learned so much about how useful technology can be in a classroom in this class, and I definitely want to incorporate technology into my future classroom in some way.
As for future plans to update my technology skills, there are a number of ways in which that can be accomplished. I think that it can be extremely beneficial for teachers to attend conferences and seminars dealing with technology in the classroom. Going to these types of events may seem time-consuming and not worth the effort, but in the end, I believe that they can be extremely helpful to teachers.
Another way that I plan to update my technology skills is to simply keep building on and implementing the knowledge that I already have. It would be so easy for me to finish this class and just forget everything that I have learned. However, it will be important for me to actually use what I have learned to help with retention. I have many more education classes coming up in the future, and I can apply much of what has been taught not only in those classes, but in my life in general. I have already started a blog with a friend after learning about them in this class, and I can definitely see myself using wikis and online surverys in the near future for classes.
Finally, I should just be aware of what is going on in the world of technology. Kids are becoming more and more involved with technology as it becomes more commonplace and avaliable. As a teacher, it will useful for me to know what tools they are using, and how I can utilize them in such a way that I can not only teach better, but help my students to learn better as well.
As I mentioned earlier, I have learned so many different tools and ways to incorporate technology into the classroom. As someone who really never really considered the role of technology in schools before, I now look forward to learning more, and implementing what I've learned.
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