Technology in the Classroom
In
the classroom, technology can be a hindrance as much as it can be a helper.
Distractions, technical glitches, and not knowing how to properly use equipment
can all lead to ineffective technology in the classroom. However, when it is
used properly, technology can open doors in education that can be boundless.
In the elementary classroom, I believe that technology is
a tricky thing. Too little of it, and the kids are inattentive, too much of it
and the kids are distracted by the “toys”. In my elementary classroom, I want
to incorporate such things as the use of an iPod to listen to education songs
and document cameras to show work clearly and read stories to the children. I
do not see myself giving a classroom of first graders such expensive
electronics like iPads or other tablets, simply because I would worry they
would be broken. However, I would want to have access to one for myself so that
I could use some of the apps on them or Imovie so that the students could have
vlogs that their parents could access to talk about that we are doing in the
classroom.
I believe that middle and high school students should
have lots of technology though. Access to IPads and document cameras should be
essential. I also believe that high schools should also prepare students that
are college bound with instruction on how to take online courses. It is a
totally different experience and can be quite overwhelming the first time.
Also, high school students should be taught how to use Microsoft office and
Adobe photoshop because these are things that they will most likely have to use
no matter what their career path is. They should also be taught about creative
commons and how to get photos that are okay to use on their personal websites
and on their school assignments so they can be ethical students.
As an educator I also feel that is my duty to follow the
ethics of creative commons in my own presentations and also to teach my
students about what to look for in websites to make sure that they are valid.
Likewise researching the websites that I choose to show to my students or their
parents.
The future is in technology, and we should try our best
in the education world, to try and prepare our students to live in a world that
runs on machines. Whether it be iPads or the apps on them, children should be
taught what to expect.
