Computers and other technological devices being used in classrooms is becoming progressively more and more common. I personally believe that it is important for teachers to be using the technology that is useful in teaching because it helps students learn certain subjects better and I think it is wrong for teachers to not use something that could be helpful to their students. But I also believe that the students use in technology is becoming too common in the classroom. Giving students the right to use their laptops and tablets in the classroom is distracting to other students and distracting to the student who is using them. I do think that all students should have to take a computer class in elementary and even in high school to adapt them to certain programs the computer offers such as, excel, PowerPoint, movie maker. All of these come in handy when they are faced with a real job in the real world. Computer classes also teach typing and being able to type quickly and efficiently is important. Some issues being faced in schools is that some schools don't have the finances to afford computers and smart boards for teachers and students. This is making the students who attend these schools less efficient in information they should know when going into college or entering a job.
In my classroom, I hope to be lucky enough to have a smart board and a projector to help my teaching. Being a English teacher will include having to dissect poems and novels and being able to circle words and paragraphs on the smart board would help students fully understand it more. Students could also go to the smart board to write their thoughts or to complete other projects. I hope to learn a lot more about PowerPoint and other programs that are useful in teaching. I don't want to be a boring teacher, I want to be a teacher who intrigues students and leaves them wanting more. Using technology could help me do this.
Being a "digital native" is a useful term when it comes to my generation. Digital Native meaning someone who grew up with technology and is custom to using it. This term is even more useful when it comes to the generation after mine. My little brother brings his kindle everywhere and is always playing games. My younger siblings (I have four) can work technology better then me and it is going to continue that way as more and more new technology comes into existence. We need to recognize that "digital immigrants" that have not grown up with technology like we have are not going to be as fluent with it but I do believe it is important for them to learn it for the benefit of their students. I went to a middle school where technology was absolutely not used in any classrooms mainly because the teachers did not know how to work it and had no interest in learning. I feel like I would have learned better if they could have incorporated some of the games and programs that are available to them now.
I never really thought of how a visual of words could / could assist visual learners in the classroom, but you made a good point. Smartboards could definitely be used in this situation.
ReplyDeleteTechnology in the classroom does make things a lot easier and faster. Over time those things will continue to improve.
ReplyDeleteI think your point about kids being distracted by laptops and tablets is very interesting. I never thought about that. I agree students should have to take a computer class to further benefit their later scholastic careers.
ReplyDeleteDigital devices do actually slow a class down. Direct instruction without devices is more time efficient. But is it more effective? And do traditional teaching methods consistently reach higher order thinking skills to the degree that tech-mediated methods do?
DeleteI thought this was a great post. I liked how you discussed how we often consider our generation digital natives, but the generation after us is even more technologically skilled than us. I also thought it was interesting that you stated how you find laptops and tablets to be distracting. I agree that everyone working on their own technologies can be confusing/distracting, but I believe that it is still important for children to get the opportunity to work on these technologies.
ReplyDelete