Teacher Reflection
Technology is a part of the everyday life for us as Americans. I have a love hate relationship with technology. At times, nothing drives me more insane than seeing a group of young children sitting around with their head's nose deep in their phones or family dinners where the crying child gets an IPad shoved in his face so that he will behave.
Technology in the classroom is something I am willing to explore with more. I am a teacher with the philosophy that students learn best by getting involved with hands-on learning. Typically when I envision the use of technology in the classroom I think of children with their eyes locked on the computer screen, independently completing a task. By testing and being allowed the opportunity to explore different ways to use technology in the classroom I am reassured that technology can only enhance learning.
Students of any ability now have the potential to be involved in class by having technology resources at their fingertips. Students who are nonverbal can now communicate and participate in class discussions in a variety of ways. Students who have difficulties reading now have applications that can read to them. Students who need to discover more while learning and who need different ways of being assessed rather than with an assessment now have that chance to display their individuality.
Technology can only help our world grow more and more with each day we discover different ways to use it. Going forward, I am now accepting my own chance to grow and challenge my students to use technology in more creative ways than ever before.
Through the course of this class I have experienced my highs and lows, frustrations and successes. I have learned that I need to become more technologically equipped if I want to teach my students how to use it. Knowing how to use the apps and tools we were introduced to mean nothing unless I can become an expert in using them. I am striving to change my ways and to keep up to par with the new age of today! #edt500