Technology in the Classroom

I will be the first person to admit that I am maybe the least tech savvy person on the face of the planet. Just earlier today I was ready to smash my computer into oblivion trying to download a program for a class! The good news is my computer is still in one piece the bad news is the ITS help desk is not open until tomorrow! Anyways whether you are tech savvy or are like me on the other end of the spectrum one thing is true. Technology is all around us and it is our job as teachers to refrain from smashing our computers and learn how to be technology's friend...something I have a hard time doing due to its stubbornness at times, but hey I'm trying!

Technology has a tremendous amount of benefits to be utilized inside the classroom. We as educators are now dealing with 21st century learners and need to learn how to accommodate them. Using technology in the classroom is not only an amazing way to engage students but it also holds a wealth of knowledge that we ourselves cannot provide. So many of our students are now coming from a background where technology plays a key role in everyday life that technology helps students relate their learning to their real lives, solving the old question of "when am I ever going to use this?!"

In my practicum classroom I try to use technology as much as I can. The SmartBoard has become a key element in many of my lessons. The SmartBoard is a way to get students up and moving. I always try to incorporate activities that require students to come up to the board and move or drag something to a new spot. The SmartBoard if I could only have one element of technology in my room would be my first choice. There is so much to do with it and it incorporates so many different aspects of technology all in one spot. I love using it and I am still constantly trying to learn new ways to better my instruction with it.

A major aspect of technology I am looking into is how we can use technology to differentiate our instruction. Classes are becoming mainstreamed more and more all the time. Technology is the key to helping students with mental and physical disabilities succeed in the classroom. There are so many programs to help these students learn that we are unaware of. I think it is important that all teachers strive to meet everyone's needs in the classroom and technology is becoming a great way to bridge that gap.

Technology in the classroom is definitely an element of teaching that I am working really hard to learn more about. I feel it will be vital for me to be able to succeed in my future classroom. I look forward to learning more as I move forward in my classroom experiences.

Here is a youtube clip of students sharing their own thoughts about technology in the classroom. Enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2lSscbqRZVM