Sunday, November 30, 2014

Digital Badge L

Because chapter 12 focuses on integrating technology and creating change in the classroom, I feel it is important to stay informed of the latest technology tools.  On page 300 of the textbook, there are a number of good resources that could help.  I found that ICT Magic has a lot of useful web tool suggestions that could be used in the classroom.  But it takes more than just having a list of tools to refer to, according to Maloy on page 298, teachers need to have the correct mindset to ask how computers, the internet and any other technology tools can help students meet their learning goals. 

I believe that integrating technology in the classroom may be easier to implement for a beginning teacher.  This is because they have not yet delivered any lessons, so it would be easier to plan lessons around different technology tools.  Although, on page 303 of the textbook, to integrate technology smoothly, teachers need administrative support and professional development training and the necessary resources.  The use of technology is intended to enhance learning, therefore, as stated on page 304 when technology it used as a reward or punishment it no longer is a valuable tool in the classroom.  I believe is better for students to be taught to have intrinsic motivation to complete their assignments or have good behavior because this is more fulfilling and provides a sense of self-satisfaction.  

Even if I stay informed with the latest technology tools and am prepared to use them in my lesson plans; if I do not have access to them then I will have to make the best with what I am given.  It will be important for me to be creative so that the students will benefit from what is available to them in the classroom.  While doing observations, most of the elementary classrooms I visited only had 4 or 5 computers.  The idea of centers helps the teacher so that she has more time to spend with the students and can address the different learning styles plus the students get equal time on the computers which can enhance whatever lesson was taught for that day. 

Maloy, Robert, Verock-O’Loughlin,Ruth-Ellen, Edwards, Sharon A., and Woolf, Beverly Park (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.




1 comment:

  1. Staying informed about technology applications is an important expectation these days, even if you can't always access them in the ideal way! If you can't have iPads for every student, there are ways to use one iPad in a class and still meet instructional goals. Using centers is an incredibly efficient use of technology and instruction - you are not only allowing students opportunities to interact with content within technology, but you are also promoting collaboration and cooperative learning, if properly staged.

    ReplyDelete