Technology today is an ever advancing practice. The influence of the technological strides that we have made can seen in numerous aspects of our lives; especially in the advancement of medicine and medical procedures, communications, transportation and education. Classrooms are becoming more interactive due to these technological advancements, and thus new opportunities are being created to facilitate better teaching and learning. For example, a teacher is now able to utilize graphics and information via an iPad to teach their students various lessons. While experiencing another type of instruction (not just from the book), the students are also immersed, engaged and introduced to the type of technology that the world is becoming more centered around. There are many students who do not have the opportunities financially to afford this type of technology and by allowing them to utilize it in school they are not penalized for their lack of finances. Technology allows the teacher and student to have more access to information, which in turn can help create a more exciting learning environment that will promote a more hands on learning experience for students.
I personally can attest that by incorporating technology into education promotes a better learning environment. When I was in elementary and middle school there was very little if any influence of technology in my classrooms. By the time I reached high school many of my teachers incorporated power point presentations, class websites, discussion boards and other multimedia dimensions into the classroom. I truly enjoyed learning this way, I found myself learning better and retaining the information much more successfully.
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| Photo credit to The Barstow School on Flickr |
Tech Tool link: Ultraportable Laptop Computers
Ultraportable laptops (cue the heavenly music); lugging around an eight pound laptop from class to class will truly make you appreciate these two to three pound lifesavers. Not only are these featherweight devices easily transported from various locations, they possess a pretty hefty battery life as well as enormous storage capacity. I will admit that while on a budget these can be a bit pricey and frivolous, but in my opinion an ultraportable laptop will be a necessity in my teaching career and worth the extra cost.
Summary & Connection:
The introduction to this class and what I will be learning is exciting. I am looking forward to mastering the various types of technology, and learning how I can incorporate them into my teaching style. I think because I personally enjoy learning in a more interactive environment, my teaching philosophy will follow along the principles of student-centered teaching.
I also learned that I very much agree with the ideologies of the National Educational Technology Standards (NETS) which are:
I really believe that the technology that exists in our world presents the opportunity to better educate all students, and while the world of technology is never stagnant it provides an environment for constant learning.At the core of the NETS is the view that technology makes possible new learning experiences that teach academic content, promote innovative and creative thinking, and prepare students for citizenship in a digital world- while also addressing the needs of all learners in equitable ways.
Resources:
Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2011). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc. ISBN:10 0-13-159611-X, ISBN:13 978-0-13-159611-5
