Monday, February 14, 2011
Integrating Technology
How do you feel about integrating technology into your classroom curriculum and activities? What is your favorite form of technology in the classroom? What is the biggest question or the most valuable advice someone can give you as you begin teaching and integrating technology?
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Integrating technology into the classroom today is a must, because today's students communicate using technology. If teachers do not keep up with technology they will not be able to communicate with their students. For teachers today to develop students that are thinkers, problem solvers, and creators they will have to create projects in which students work with ideas, symbols, and abstractions. Teachers will have to incorporate technology into the classroom - if not, these students will fail in the workplace. Teaching students how to use a word processor is a must because it will make their life easier. Students can access so much information when they use the Internet. They surf information that they are interested in - this allows them to become apart of their active learning. When using technology in the classroom my biggest advice would be to instruct with patience - because not everyone is as fast or knowledgeable as others.
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I believe that integrated technology in the classroom is essential to student success in a ever growing global community. Teachers have a unique opportunity to prepare and encourage students in the use and application of technology.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite technology in the classroom is the use of wikis. I have been searching through wikis online that are used by classrooms on a regular basis to enhance student learning. I love the use of wikis for classroom newsletters, book sharing, and powerpoints on topics being studied in class.
Best advice: Don't be afraid to try new things, technology is growing so quickly and students knowledge and use of it is growing just as fast. To create competitive adults in the technological world, teachers must incorporate the use of new technology as it becomes available.
I feel that technology must be included in the curriculum. Technology is a huge part of society today. Students need to be knowledgeable about many aspects of technology to be competitive in our global community. I also think that another important aspect of using technology in the classroom, is that teachers have the opportunity to teach students how to use technology effectively and safely.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I have not had much experience with Smart Boards yet, I think that they are my favorite form of technology. I love how interactive they are and the opportunities they provide to teachers and students alike. I think students would be much more engaged in a lesson if they could interact with a Smart Board.
I think almost any advice someone could give me about technology would be helpful. While I know how to use basic technology I am a novice and still have a lot to learn.
I feel that technology needs to be integrated into the everyday routine of classrooms in order to prepare our students for tomorrow’s technology. If students are unable to use the technology of today, they will be at a great disadvantage tomorrow. I do not have as much experience with technology as others, and I have personally been terrified of the journey that lies ahead but I know that I will be able to use the technology after being taught how to do so. I have learned that I need to be more optimistic towards new technology and enjoy the advantages that it brings to the classroom environment.
ReplyDeleteI have only observed one teacher using a smart board in her classroom on a daily basis. The students were engaged and focused and absolutely loved going to write on the smart board or show the class something on it. I also loved all of the features available for the Smartboards and the learning opportunities it brings. Most of the schools which I have observed have ELMO’s in their classrooms, which are neat to use but not as engaging as the Smartboards. I think the best form of technology to be used as an added form of communication with parents would be a wiki. Teachers can post class information, helpful websites, and just about anything else they feel is needed on a class wiki to allow the parents to use if they want.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated when I begin teaching!!! As I stated above, I do not have as much experience with technology as some people do, therefore I will be asking quite a few questions to my colleagues when I begin teaching!
I am kind of torn about the idea of integrating technology in my classroom. I think technology can be great, but I also feel that it can be abused. An example would be the school that my cousin teaches at, which is a middle school. Every student received an Ipod Touch at the beginning of the year, which I feel is a waste of money. Most of the students use theirs primarily for listening to music, which is no big surprise. I feel like the money could have been spent more wisely, on technology that would have done better to advance educational endeavors in the school. But I do feel that technology can be useful, although I am no expert in technology. Our students today have a better grasp on technology than any generation in the past, and it is our responsibility to educate ourselves on technology that is used in today's classrooms. I don't have a lot of experience with technology, but Smartboards seem pretty interesting, and I am looking forward to learning more about them. I think great advice that could be given would be to always be willing to adapt to new technology devices. Many people can be threatened by technology, as it seems pretty overwhelming at times. But we need to learn these skills, as these are the skills that our students will be using well into the future.
ReplyDeleteIntegrating technology into the classroom is an absolute must. Our nation is becoming so completely technology driven that it would be hurtful to our students success if we didn't integrate technology. In fact, students probably do much better with the integration and learning about new technology than most adults and teachers. They are basically growing up with a digital chip built into their make up! My favorite piece of technology in the classroom is the Smartboard. I think it is amazing how you can create a lesson that is interactive with the students by using pictures and videos. I was very disappointed to find out that the elementary school that I have been placed this year does not have ANY Smartboards. If I had to think of the greatest advice that could be given about the integration of technology it would be that the administration and educators need to be open for change and be willing to adapt to what is new and to know that it is all for the benefit of the students. Teachers need to look at the technology as a great tool to assist their teaching!
ReplyDeleteClearly our society is driven by technology and in order to inform our students and provide them with opportunities that will set them up for the real world, as educators, we must integrate technology across the curriculum. Technology should not just be implemented as an ‘add-on’ in the classroom; it should be integrated and connected to the lessons in all content areas. There is a multitude of ways to use technology in the classroom and to base activities around it. Technology is a MUST in the classroom because it is continuously growing outside of the classroom and will inevitably continue to expand in years to come.
ReplyDeleteI’m not sure that I have a favorite form of technology in the classroom, but I think it is imperative for students to use computers as often as possible, because they will have to know how to navigate them in the real world, whether it is at college, at home, or in their future employment. However, I do not think computers should be used in lieu of writing as that is a skill that will never die. I also enjoy seeing teachers use the SmartBoards, they are amazing, eye-catching, and filled with multiple ways to be used in lessons and activities. Technology is an excellent way to engage students while helping them learn curriculum content and preparing them for real world situations.
In regards to advice/question on integrating technology, I think my biggest question is where do you start? And the most valuable advice someone could give me is resources on how to use technology, ways to use it and ways to implement it across the curriculum so that it can be beneficial for all students.
I feel it is so important to integrate technology into the classroom and curriculum because it is our job as teachers to make sure our students are well rounded and prepared when they go out into the real world. As time goes on we are becoming a society more and more dependent on technology, without the skills needed to successfully maneuver in these environments students are likely to experience difficulty. Future job opportunities are expecting their employees to be fluent in technology therefore we must provide children with the foundation for success. Obviously the best way to do this would be to provide each student with their own personal computer however this is unrealistic. In an ideal world every student would have this luxury and they would have an equal opportunity to succeed. Luckily most schools have a computer lab in which each student is able to use at least once a week and teachers must utilize this. The smartboards are also great not only for the teachers use but also for the students. Personally I would love to know more about how I can integrate technology and through taking this class I am realizing how much there is to learn and how many ways this can be done. I think the only advice I can give is that no matter the age of the teacher they should work on their own technology fluency so they can aid their students. It is essential to learn all that you can as a future educator so you can do all you can for your students.
ReplyDeleteI feel comfortable integrating some forms of technology into my classroom activities but there are still some forms of technology I would like to learn more about. I think integrating technology is important in order for students to become comfortable with it. It’s hard to say what my favorite form of technology is, considering I have never used or seen much more than computers and overhead projectors. I have seen a little of the Smart Board so, from what I have seen, that is my favorite because it seems like it can be used in many ways. The most valuable advice someone could give me would be to integrate technology frequently and to make sure I thoroughly understand how to use the technology beforehand. I should understand how to use the technology in order to prevent problems during class time.
ReplyDeleteThere are definitely pros and cons to the integration of technology in our classrooms. I beleive that in order for teachers to reach students today, they need to be comfortable with and use the same technology that the students are using day in and day out. However, I agree with Casey that technology can also be a distraction if abused. There is always a time and place for everything. My favorite form of technology in the classroom would have to be two things. The first is the SmartBoard. What a fantastic tool! I love observing/interning in Talbot county schools because they all have them. Now, whether or not the teachers actually use them effectively is a different story, but at least the county thought it was a good idea to spend the money and purchase such a wonderful tool. The second item would be the iPad. I work with students at Matapeake Elementary on my down time and some special needs students there use iPads. The programs and apps that can be put on the iPad for education are incredible and allow these students to learn on a completely different level than before. The best advice I could receive about integrating technology is to not overuse it. It can be exciting to use the SmartBoard all the time, but the more it is used, in my opinion, the more the students are going to get used to it and will not be as excited. It will be like the blackboard never moved.
ReplyDeleteTechnology is now apart of our children's lives.It is transparent. Many homes have computers and internet connections. As prices of technology drop computers and other digital devices may replace television as we know it. When you walk in to a classroom you should now see computers.Technology is revolutionizing the way we think, work, and play. Technology, when integrated into the curriculum, revolutionizes the learning process. More and more studies show that technology integration in the curriculum improves students' learning processes and outcomes. I am placed in Dorchester County for my methods teaching, so technology integration sadly enough has not been integrated to the full potential in their schools. If I were placed in a county where SmartBoards were apart of the classroom, it would make my lessons more interesting and would reach all types of learners. With technology the possibilities are endless. Learning how to use the SmartBoard would be the most vital tool I could learn to transform my classroom into a rooms of many learning opportunities.
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ReplyDeleteI hope that when I am teaching in my own classroom that I will have a smartboard. This is because I have seen so many teachers teach lessons and then say "if we had a smart board..." And honestly some of their lessons would be so much more in depth and possibly hit home for so many more students if they could interact on a smart board. As of right now my favortie piece of techonolgy I now i will get to use is the document cameras. However my favorite piece of technology I hope to have in my classroom is the Smart Board because of the Notebooks you can make and use of. I am open to any advice.
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