Month: July 2023

I remember unboxing my brand-new iPhone 13 pro max. This, at the time, was the time, was the latest phone out and had all the newest bells and whistles. My 5-year son grabbed the phone and started using it like he had been using it all his life. This piece of technology for a five-year may be outdated when he becomes an adult. Technology is everywhere. In many places you go, you see advancements in tech. You now have automated cashiers, phone services, car washes; you name it. As the world embraces technology, the field of education needs to embrace technology to prepare students for the world, they will be in when they finally graduate and have to go out into the real world. For a world with technology front and center, it has yet to be embraced much by the field of education. “..less than one-third of teachers are using technology in their daily instruction, yet the underperforming “iGeneration” can be highly motivated by the digital tools that they are already using for social purposes.” (Ferriter & Garry, 2010, pp. 6-7)

            Technology is a big part of a student’s life. As educators, if we want to engage students in learning, we need to use technology to reach the students. Technology is a big part of a student’s life. They can access many different technology and social media from waking up to sleep. Our students interact with the world in ways that education struggles to keep pace with. “Today’s classroom learners are no longer interested in the old lecture format and are tuning out the teachers who simply stand and deliver their lectures.”  (Schrum & Levin, 2009). Mobile devices and laptops are tools educators can use to engage the students if done effectively. A phrase that is often said by students today is, “I learn more on social media than I do in school.” As educators, it is our job to change that thinking in our students. That starts with revamping how we use technology in the classroom and re-evaluating our relationship with it.

            Many new tools are at the educator’s disposal. Students are now tuning out teachers that stand and deliver during their instructional time. It is on the schools to find different ways to engage these students. One tool that can be used is called Nearpod. This program takes Google slides which many are familiar with and gives you the tools to turn a PowerPoint slide you have probably been using for many years and turns them into an interactive lesson for the students. At your fingertips, you can add videos for that students to watch at their desks, interactive tours, and have students collab using Jam Board, where you can ask open-ended questions. Students can answer at their desks and see other students’ answers, take real-time polls mid-lesson, and even make the lesson fun and competitive with live games for the student to play. Technology can engage students like never before. Leaders need to be able to provide educators with professional development and resources to reach today’s students. Any teacher can learn a tool like Nearpod. It does not take a tech-savvy educator.

            Technology is now a part of everyday life, and it is essential as educators to use it to reach and engage students. To prepare the students for tomorrow’s world, we need to change and teach the students to what is going out outside the school walls. “Understanding how today’s children learn, think, work, and live in a digital world is critical if a digital learning culture is to become a part of the fabric of school life.” (Preparing School Administrators for a Digital Age, Taylor & Francis Group, 2013. pp.14) If students are to be ready for the world tomorrow, technology needs to be a part of learning today.

Technology has become the center of the modern world. When we wake up in the morning, the first thing many of us grab is our cellphone. We scroll endlessly throughout the day, often keeping up with relatives, or the latest news. For our students, this is no different. The truth is, that the COVID-19 Pandemic showed educators how important technology is to our daily lives. We had to find ways to integrate technology to connect with our students, to keep them engaged through a computer screen, and ensure that they were still learning. The tools we learned during the pandemic, that allowed for our students to learn, must continue to be used in our classrooms.

Students learn in different ways. Each student sitting in our classroom has diverse social and academic needs. As educators, we have the responsibility of ensuring that we help each student meet their goals and meet them where they are. Technology gives us the opportunity to meet the needs of each of our students in engaging and exciting ways.

The use of technology in our classroom allows us to provide explicit instruction and use video clips, visuals, audios, the use of a document camera. In addition, technology allows students to show what they have learned. Students can create projects, conduct research, engage with interactive websites, and create videos about what they have learned. This allows students to not only demonstrate what they have learned, but to practice social and team building skills as well. Technology motivates even the least engage student and allow students to actively participate in the learning process.

The use of technology in the classroom also allows us to cater to student across diverse sensory preferences and academic needs. Visual learners learn best when working with pictures, drawings, sketches, or maps. Aural learners learn best when listening to instruction, podcasts, or videos. They may also prefer to listen to other students. Kinesthetic learnings prefer hands-on experiences, the use of manipulatives and movement in the classroom. Other students may also prefer to read and write visual texts and what they have learned. Teachers should provide experiences that allow for all students, despite their sensory learning styles, to succeed in the classroom.

The use of computers or tablets gives us access to thousands of websites where we can find visuals to engage our visual learners. We can provide visual representations of teaching models, diverse strategies, or scenes in a book. Videos can cater to both visual and aural learners. Listening to podcasts about a certain topic and integrating it into an activity allows students to use various senses and provides opportunities to engage with technology.

One of the challenges teachers may face in implementing technology in their classroom may be that not all of us are ‘tech-savvy.’ However, the internet gives us access to endless resources where we can learn how to implement various technological tools into our practice. The use of technology in our classroom may also require support on an organizational level. Some software, programs, or learning management systems require licenses for us to have access to all features. When organizations invest in educational technology, they must also provide professional development opportunities to allow teachers to thrive and make efficient use of the technological tools available. They may also have to provide training to students and families to learn how to use the resources the organization or school has made available to them. Technology gives us the opportunity to cater to the whole child. While we do not have to be totally dependent on it, there are benefits to using resources that can help us motivate, engage, and teach our students in fun and exciting ways.



References

Hamilton, B. (2018). Integrating technology in the classroom : Tools to meet the needs of every student. International Society for Technology in Education.

By Yasmin Llevada

In an increasingly interconnected world, technology’s role in education is no longer a matter of debate. The question now is not whether to integrate technology but how. Particularly, the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI), manifested in tools like ChatGPT, has sparked a significant dialogue within the education sector. This piece aims to advise administrators, teachers, and parents on the potential of AI in education, its implications for student learning, and the importance of responsible integration.

AI’s potential to reshape education is immense. Its ability to facilitate personalized learning aligns perfectly with the pedagogical shift from a one-size-fits-all approach to individual-centered learning (Zhao, 2019). AI can tailor the learning process to each student’s pace, style, and needs, providing extra support where necessary and presenting advanced challenges where students excel. This personalized touch can foster a deeper understanding of concepts and enhance students’ engagement and motivation.

Beyond personalization, AI can break down barriers to accessibility. Text-to-speech and speech-to-text technologies, along with real-time translation services, are game-changers for students with special needs or those learning a second language. In a sense, AI democratizes the learning process, offering opportunities previously unattainable for many.

However, with every technological advancement comes a new set of challenges. Potential misuse of AI, particularly regarding academic integrity, is a significant concern. Students might be tempted to use AI to complete their work, sparking plagiarism issues. Over-reliance on AI could also hinder the development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Additionally, AI systems often rely on extensive data collection to function effectively, raising critical privacy concerns.

Given these potential pitfalls, it’s vital for schools to implement clear, well-thought-out policies around AI usage. Administrators and teachers need to define what constitutes appropriate use and the consequences of misuse. They should also ensure that students understand these policies and the ethical implications of AI misuse.

More importantly, educators should strive to incorporate AI as a learning tool rather than a solution provider. For instance, teachers could use AI to facilitate collaborative projects, promote problem-solving skills, or stimulate discussion about ethics in technology. By doing so, we’re not just leveraging AI’s potential but also teaching our students to navigate the digital landscape responsibly and ethically.

Parents, too, play a significant role. They need to understand the benefits and drawbacks of AI in education to guide their children responsibly. Dialogues around digital ethics, responsible AI usage, and online safety should be a part of regular family discussions.

In conclusion, integrating AI in education has the potential to transform student learning. However, its success hinges on responsible usage, thoughtful policies, and continuous dialogue among administrators, teachers, parents, and students.

Reference
Zhao, Y. (2019). What Works May Hurt—Side Effects in Education. Journal of Educational Change, 20(1), 105–108. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10833-018-9328-2

In today’s digital world, teachers are faced with the considerable challenge of getting students to put down their mobile devices in the classroom. Students are often inclined to take out their devices and check their texts or scroll through social media. When students give in to this inclination, it disrupts classroom management, their ability to stay focused on their tasks, inhibits their capacity to produce authentic work, and hampers their overall cognitive thinking skills and productivity. The daily responsibilities of teachers include delivering lessons, collecting data, meeting with students, and providing individualized support to students. Teachers simply don’t have the time to be constantly battling against students using mobile devices in the classroom. Interrupting a lesson to ask a student to put down their device and refocus takes away from other students’ learning experiences and creates unnecessary distractions. However, recent evidence suggests that students persist in using mobile devices in the classroom, even when policies prohibit their use. Therefore, it has become necessary for teachers, staff, and administration to proactively transform classrooms by considering students’ perspectives and embracing the integration of today’s technology (Lieberman, 2019; Morgan, n.d.). By capitalizing on the use of these devices, we can enhance educational opportunities, utilize mobile devices as valuable tools, and engage students in meaningful ways.

The integration of technology is of utmost importance in our current times, as it aligns with the direction our future is heading. In the 21st century, integrating technology in classrooms is playing a crucial role in developing various skills for students, including social, creative, critical thinking, reasoning, and decision-making (Noah, 2007). Increasing evidence shows that integrating technology positively impacts student achievement and academic performance. For instance, imagine a math classroom where students can access a digital math application that offers personalized learning experiences. This program adapts to each student’s skill level, provides immediate feedback, and offers interactive lessons and practice exercises. In the classroom, students can access this math application on their mobile devices at any time. It can be utilized for various purposes, such as starting activities as students enter the class, engaging in individualized work and practice, or completing exit tickets to assess learning before leaving the class. This example of technology integration helps to directly impact students’ learning experiences by providing individualized support and tracking students’ progress in real-time. Technology through handheld devices also offers students various benefits such as online syllabi, reminders, online discussions, collaborative notetaking, digital libraries, and more. These learning experiences could not be made possible without the integration and use of technology. By incorporating technology into the classroom, teachers can provide students with valuable experiences that improve their academic outcomes and equip them with the necessary skills for success in higher education and the workforce (Noah, 2007).

However, to ensure the effective integration of phone devices in the classroom, stakeholders must establish a policy with clear expectations regarding when and how to use mobile devices in the classroom. By collaborating and setting guidelines, teachers, administrators, and parents can ensure that mobile devices are integrated to benefit students’ education. Administrators will need to collaborate with the school board to obtain licenses and proper documentation for mobile applications intended for use by teachers and students. Additionally, they must establish clear procedures and policies among teachers to ensure a cohesive learning environment. As well as providing teachers with resources and professional development to help teachers integrate digital applications and resources effectively. Teachers should conduct research and proactively plan interactive learning activities to implement mobile devices in the classroom effectively. Additionally, they should be prepared to adjust and address challenges that may arise concerning using these devices. By staying informed and adaptable, teachers can maximize the benefits of mobile devices and ensure a positive learning experience for students. School officials should effectively communicate the technology integration policy to parents, clearly outlining the objectives, expectations, and benefits of the phone device policy and usage. Parents, in turn, should engage in conversations with their students and collaborate with teachers to ensure consistent policy enforcement at home and in the classroom. This open and collaborative approach helps establish a shared understanding and reinforces the importance of responsible device use for students’ academic success. In today’s world, the integration of technology is highly important. Establishing parameters collaborating with stakeholders, and integrating digital applications are crucial to ensure students’ future success in education.

References:

Lieberman, M. (2019). Students are using Mobile even if you aren’t. Retrieved from https://www.insidehighered.com/digital-learning/article/2019/02/27/mobile-devicestransform-classroom-experiences-and

Morgan, K. (n.d.). The Pros & Cons of Cell Phone Usage in College. Retrieved from https://education.seattlepi.com/pros-cons-cell-phone-usage-college-1578.html

Noah, T. (2007, November 5). Why do we need Technology Integration? The Myriad Benefits of Integrating Technology into the Classroom. Edutopia. https://www.edutopia.org/technology-integration-guide-importance

Integrating technology into teaching can have a profoundly positive effect on the learning experience. However, to ensure that the use of technology in the classroom is beneficial to all, it is important to have an effective strategy in place.

Administrators, teachers, and parents must take the time to understand the issues and the implications of incorporating technology into the classroom. By doing so, they can create a learning environment that helps students become confident, informed, and capable technology users. First and foremost, it is important to understand that technology does not replace a teacher in the classroom.

Technology will not make the job of a teacher any easier, instead it must be seen as an extension of the teacher’s role. This means that the teacher is responsible for introducing, applying, and assessing the use of technology in the classroom. As such, teachers must be aware of how technology can be used as a tool to facilitate learning. They must be knowledgeable of the learning objectives they are trying to achieve and the technology that can be used to improve teaching quality and student learning effectiveness.

For technologies to be effective in the classroom, it is essential to involve all levels of the educational community in the process of incorporating it. In order to ensure that all are on the same page, administrators and teachers should establish a technology committee that can oversee technology plans and share ideas about the effective use of technology. This group can help provide support when creating plans for integrating technology in the classroom and in supporting teachers who use technology.

Moreover, this committee can serve as a platform for sharing best practices with the rest of the educational community. In order to ensure the successful integration of technology into the classroom, each stage of the integration process should be taken into account. From purchasing, installing, and troubleshooting to training and evaluating, each step must be carefully planned. Professional development and training for teachers is particularly important in the process, as it helps them to become comfortable and confident using technology in the classroom. The use of tutorials, workshops, and webinars can be an effective way to train teachers and help implement technology in a seamless way.

Additionally, administrators, teachers, and parents should also understand the implications of incorporating technology into the classroom. This includes ethical and security concerns as well as the fact that technology can open up new possibilities for learning. With technology comes the potential for a wide range of challenges, and it is important to take these into account.

The integration of technology into teaching can bring great rewards if done effectively. Administrators, teachers, and parents should take the time to understand the issues, ensure that a suitable planning and implementation strategy is in place, and work together to ensure that the use of technology in the classroom is beneficial to all.

Technology is an integral part of modern education. Technology offers teachers and students more resources than ever before, allowing them to engage with and explore knowledge in new ways. Technology also has the potential to transform the classroom environment, making it more interactive, engaging, and effective in stimulating learning. If used strategically, technology can help teachers to address different learning styles, adapt curriculum objectives, and increase student success.

Teachers must understand the importance of effectively integrating technology into their teaching practice in order to maximize its potential to benefit student learning. Administrators and educators can begin by encouraging teachers to assess their current practices. Through self-reflection and dynamic research, educators can become better-versed in the technology available and identify how each tool can be best used to meet their learning objectives. Educators should ensure that technology is present in the daily routine, and provide opportunities for teachers to collaborate and share ideas on successful technology integration.

Teachers should create an environment in the classroom that promotes technology use and encourages students to appreciate its benefit in their learning. This will involve making the most of available resources, empowering students to become self-directed learners and develop the necessary knowledge and skills for using the technology. Educators can also provide guidance and instruction for students to learn how to use technology safely and responsibly. Offering students opportunities to actively engage with the technology can allow them to self-regulate their learning and build their confidence with the tools.

References:

Mahon, S. (2013). Redefining Teaching and Learning through Technology Integration. The Clearing House: A Journal of Educational Strategies, Issues and Ideas, 86(2), 63-65.

Sequeira, R. (2017, March 30). Strategies to Effectively Integrate Technology into Teaching. Retrieved from https://www.morganinternationalcommunity.org/strategies-to-effectively-integrate-technology-into-teaching/

Patrice Dias da Cruz
EDL 635 I-2023-0M
Professor Richard Jones
Lynn University
July 9, 2023

Will Teachers become obsolete in the future due to Artificial Intelligence?

The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology in the classroom is crucial for enhancing learning outcomes and benefiting students, parents, administrators, and the community. AI technology can provide additional knowledge and improve student achievement. As an advocate of this technology, I am amazed by its potential in the classroom. However, we must also consider the potential consequences, such as the possibility of reducing the number of teachers in the classroom. As a community, we should discuss the impact of AI on education.
Back in the 1970s and 1980s, students had to create research papers from scratch without the help of search engines like Google or other Artificial Intelligence (AI) machines. Finding information was a tedious process that could take many hours, and even involved looking through microfilms in libraries. Nowadays, AI machines have condensed knowledge into a chip, making it possible to easily learn about almost any topic. However, there is a fear that AI could eventually take over the world and eradicate mankind. Teaching jobs may be at risk since AI could learn to teach and adapt to self-learners. This may seem far-fetched, but AI can already teach humans just by answering their questions and can even teach itself new skills. With an infinite source of information, AI can learn to do just about anything, including teaching itself to talk.
The era of machines thinking and learning for themselves is now upon us. Over in Silicon Valley, internet giant Baidu has made a breakthrough in speech synthesis that enables AI to learn to very quickly express spoken language. Effectively, the machines can now teach themselves to talk in a matter of hours. That’s where Baidu just stepped in, after developing a speech synthesis project of its own in Silicon Valley based on self-trained, deep-learning algorithms. Toppan Digital Language, 2021, How Computers Are Teaching Themselves to Talk, Toppan Digital Language, https://toppandigital.com/us/blog-usa/computers-teaching-themselves-talk/ The fact that artificial intelligence can teach itself is scary for humans, the reality of what they can create and become is unknown, but does that mean that humans should not utilize their newly made creation to help them in their daily lives? The use of artificial intelligence in the classroom is starting and teachers can only learn to embrace the new technology, students will have knowledge more accessible for them, just like during the pandemic teachers were not able to teach in school yet they were able to video chat with students to learn, although the actual achievement outcomes of this we are now finding out this year as educators that the pandemic education really stunted the knowledge of our American students they are not on level as they should be in certain topics and it is causing remedial classes to become the norm unfortunately yet we could now use artificial intelligence at home or in the classroom and develop plans to teach students at home or different settings and a teacher will not be needed in that area , The idea of having Artificial Intelligence in the classroom does not necessarily mean that human teachers will become obsolete. While AI may take over certain tasks, such as programming, it is unlikely that it will completely replace teachers. However, as AI continues to advance, it may lead to job loss in certain areas. Currently, the use of AI in the classroom is exciting, but it is important to consider the potential implications for the job market in the future.
The rise of artificial intelligence means that many jobs will become obsolete, and this is the new reality we must face. In the future, robots will replace human soldiers, industries will rely solely on machines to produce goods, and stores will no longer require cashiers. It may seem like a dream come true to some, as humans will no longer have to work, but this new world the workload will be run by artificial intelligent beings, essentially creating a new form of servitude. However, throughout history, mistreated slaves have always rebelled against their oppressors. Despite this, the rise of AI could lead to a utopian society where humans can spend their days with loved ones while their robotic counterparts take care of society’s needs.

Citation: Toppan Digital Language, 2021, How Computers Are Teaching Themselves to Talk, Toppan Digital Language, https://toppandigital.com/us/blog-usa/computers-teaching-themselves-talk/

Thank you to Professor Jones for teaching me how to write my first blog, and also for gaining more knowledge on Artificial Intelligence.

Integrating technology in high schools can benefit students and teachers. I know many people are against cell phones and tablets in classrooms but I think if used correctly it could help the classroom environment. Using Mobile devices, especially smartphones and tablets in the classroom to access different apps so students can be interactive with their electronic devices when learning materials. I have seen students in elementary schools learn reading and math using tablets during instructional time and when they are out of school with their parents they continue to access those apps which have been helping them learn. The world is dependent on technology so why not use it to help increase students’ knowledge. Being a high school teacher and having weeks where I turn my classroom into a digital classroom helps keep the students engaged. Students find it to be fun when they can use the smart board, and bring in their technology from home to present a project in front of the whole class. So whether it’s a group project or an independent assignment, turning my classroom into a digital classroom some weeks has kept the students interested in my class.  PowerPoint presentations can be used to introduce a classroom concept while providing the opportunity for engagement. Along with the use of graphics and bulleted information, links to videos that accompany the ideas presented in the PowerPoint can be embedded within the slides. Educational apps in the classroom like Kahoot can be used to review information after a lesson or unit. Teachers can create and share Kahoots with one another while students can create anonymous user names to participate in the game. This allows for whole-class participation from students who may usually be reluctant to participate in class. Kahoot is accessible to play on phones or computers and teachers can determine if they want students to work independently or be assigned to teams (Drexel University 2014).    

I must admit integrating technology in high schools can be sometimes difficult because some students who just don’t like using technology find it hard to use, or just use it to cheat. I have been thinking of ways to get those students more engaged and up to speed with technology and the one solution is to use the online platforms before even introducing technology to the students. Making knowledge of technology part of my curriculum the first couple weeks can help those students feel more comfortable using technology even though they don’t like it. One assignment I start doing is making students make a virtual locker telling me about themselves and their goals for the year. The virtual locker assignment makes the students use technology to access vast amounts of information and resources, while enabling them to explore and deepen their understanding on how to gather resources from the web for their virtual locker. It enhances their research and critical thinking skills, as they learn to evaluate and analyze information from diverse sources. Once they are done they will present it in front of the class on the smartboard which ends up being fun because the students get to see what they have in common with other students.     

More importantly to me being a teacher Integrating technology equips students with essential digital literacy skills necessary for the modern workforce. I tell the students that learning and being educated about technology will help them once they start their career no matter what it is.  By utilizing technology in the classroom, students gain proficiency in using digital tools, collaborating online, and adapting to evolving technological advancements. These skills are increasingly crucial in today’s digital age and can enhance their future employability. Once I start talking about how technology can impact their future students normally start taking advantage of technology especially when doing assignments. 

         As technology advances in society, schools are adapting to the technology wave. Schools are starting to add computers, smartboards, and other resources to improve education. Students are so wrapped up in their phone, computers, iPad, video games and any other type of technology that it benefits them to have advanced technology in the classroom. It gives them tools that they are familiar with and can help them be more engaged in learning. 

         Effective technology integration is about how you use the technology. That can depend on the curriculum. A good way to integrate technology would be a purposed based or student-centered approach. Making it effective can be having the students use it as a tool to problem solve. It can also be used for the student to learn a deeper understanding of the curriculum. 

         Technology creates an interactive learning environment for the students to learn. “Student engagement has increased 55% after the introduction of smart technology into classrooms” (March,25,2022. Par.10). Students can collaborate with each other using the technology by using different media outlets. Students enjoy using it and making presentations, Canva flyers, videos, graphs, and more that will gain the attention of students. These resources help students learn and create their path from learning. 

         In one class at my school a teacher does virtual reality for the class. The students love it and are constantly engaged. When they put on that headset they are engaged and focused on what they are seeing. When the class ends the students ask for more time and want to see more. They get to go on virtual fieldtrips and see different parts of the world. You can make these interactions cross curricular for the students. The teacher can connect with the core subject teachers to align a curriculum, so students are visually seeing it as well as learning it in the other class.  

         Using technology in the classroom not only benefits the students but can also benefit the teachers. This gives the teacher more support to give the students the tools they need to succeed. It is a way for the teacher to meet all students’ unique needs in the classroom. The teacher can use smartboards, give interactive examples, PowerPoints, audio books, and videos to give the students different ways to grasp the material. Technology helps the teacher by moving away from traditional teaching methods that the students see every day and give them something engaging.  Tech gives the teacher a chance to have the students become active participants in the learning process. 

         As technology changes, administrators must also be able to adapt with technology so they know what students and teachers can do. Administrators need technology for accessing data on state testing. Knowing what students are getting on these tests can help administrators plan. Same goes for teachers as administrates can see what teachers’ classes are scoring on these tests. It can help administrators give the teacher options or help in their instruction. It can help students’ well-being by improving students well being and education at the school. Having technology also helps the administrators build better relations with the parents. Administrators can really headline the push for technology in schools as they have a lot of say to benefit the students. 

         Technology has many positives to it, but it isn’t something we can put all of our eggs in. As for how many positives it has it also has its negatives such as it can be distracting, less work on spelling and grammar as it can be corrected for you. Some students will also have an easier time with presentations because they will just copy and paste information instead of finding it and putting it into their own words. 

Technology has positives and negatives in education. From a learning standpoint there are a lot of positives if you use it the right way. Technology will only continue to increase, and it will benefit the students the more schools adapt. It gives the students a chance to drive their own learning and can benefit teachers at the same time. Technology will be a big part in making sure the future is moving in the right direction. 

The Future of Education: Integrating Technology in the classroom. The Future of Education: Integrating Tech into Class | LSU Online. (n.d.). https://online.lsu.edu/newsroom/articles/future-education-integrating-technology-classroom/ 

Niall McNulty. (2022, November 24). 5 ways technology is helping teachers do their jobs better. Niall McNulty. https://www.niallmcnulty.com/2021/06/5-ways-technology-is-helping-teachers-do-their-jobs-better/ 

Advantages and disadvantages of technology in education. Allison Academy. (2023, July 4). https://www.allisonacademy.com/students/education/technology-in-education/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-technology-in-education/ 

3 reasons why teachers need to use technology in the classroom. Concordia University Texas. (n.d.). https://www.concordia.edu/blog/3-reasons-why-teachers-need-technology-in-the-classroom.html 

Technology has been altering education for years now. Why should we trust our students/children to learn from technical programs rather than a classroom teacher? Lots of people are skeptical on what children may be learning from these platforms in school but the other side is what have they been missing in their learning that can be gained from these sites as well. Technology has benefits to teachers and students as well as maybe some negatives that can hinder their learning if depended on too much. There needs to be a balance between virtual and in-person as learned from covid.  “Teachers who may not use technology might want to start with just one tool, while those who are more familiar with some technologies are encouraged to try a new tool that suits their classroom purposes” (2019). As a teacher in today’s classroom, we use multiple technology programs to boost motivation and creation in our students learning. It can be hands-on while be educational in the sense of their motivation in achieving success with the rewarding outcomes of doing so. Students are more aware of their weaknesses in these programs and can create achievable goals with the addition of seeing their strengths and their accomplishments along the way. With anything else you were to purchase or use in your everyday life, you also must ask yourself questions as to why we should implement certain programs and if they will be worth it such like these questions:

1. Will using this tool add to student learning and engagement or hinder it?

2. Is this tool reliable, practical, and relatively easy to use?
3. Will this tool help students achieve the learning outcomes of the curriculum?
4. Do or will all students have access to this tool?

            Technology for parents is huge nowadays in being able to keep an eye on what their child is learning and how they can do to help alongside their teacher in committing to achieving their child’s goals at home as well.  We as teachers can have the resources at hand to help them utilize them at home and continue to build upon their skills with the same programs they use in the classroom. That way they aren’t spending money on an outside resource that may not be as trusted and vetted as the schools. This also allows access for parents that may not have that advantage at there expense at home. This helps accommodates those that may not have those compensations.

            “Social learning tools allow students to interact with each other, the teacher, and the curriculum. A teacher might choose to pose questions to students via a social learning tool outside of class hours so that students can be encouraged to think about the material outside of class. Additionally, students can interact with their teacher by asking questions. For example, teachers could use the website or app Flipgrid to have students respond to their classmates’ video discussion posts. Students could use Padlet to share resources for a topic or answer an opening hook question. Students could also collaborate through any of the tools in the Google Drive for Education” (2019).

            Technology may have its fault but with this day and age and everything changing along with it we must as well in order to keep up to date with the societal demands and be able to provide the best effective education and the most effective teaching methods in order to give these students a quality education.

References

APA Working Group on Technology. (2019, August). Integrating Technology in the classroom. American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/ed/precollege/topss/integrating-technology-tools

Technology integration is very important in this era of teaching, for students and teachers. Learning using technology gives educators additional ways to ensure that students are learning material but also gives educators multiple ways to teach curriculum. It’s no longer an necessity to have students turn in paper test or assignments requiring teachers to take home bags of paperwork for grading. “With technology integrated into classes successfully, classroom dynamics can change”(Gilbertson 2007) in a positive way. With these changes come challenges that will have to be controlled and managed. My first year teaching was when the Covid 19 pandemic hit and even though I was excited and anxious to get started teaching my business education classes, my middle school students tested me and kept me on my toes. I had to “address my own comfort level with the technology that is in my classroom”(Gilbertson 2007) to be able to get complete control over things that were happening. I also had to have some flashbacks of when I was middle school age and taking computer classes to get ideas of what some of my students were doing and how to use their computer access to my advantage. Minecraft education was big in my classroom and while I had access to controlling the content that my students were accessing, I couldn’t block that particular program. I decided to design a project for my coding class for my coding students to work on using Minecraft Education.

One of my biggest errors that I made when I started teaching was assuming that all students knew how to use a computer properly. With a lot of students being into gaming, I assumed that students knew how to properly use a computer. I assumed that students knew that they had to cite sources when completing research. I assumed that they knew not to turn off their peer’s devices maliciously. The biggest sign that I needed to teach them how to treat computer hardware was when I had a few students spill water on a few systems and carry on with their day, unaware that they were causing Mr. Hollowell to be down a few computers until they were fixed. Teaching students and staff members how to safely use computers is very important for technology integration. As much as students need to learn about using computers, some of the more seasoned teachers could use some assistance with operating technology.

Everyone has to know about or learn about digital citizenship. People have to learn about all acceptable uses of technology. Students need to know about what websites are good to for visiting and how to tell if something is a scam and possibly contain a virus. Everyone should know about digital footprints and how what they post can affect them years later. Educators have to also understand that they can’t post everything that goes on in their lives as this stays online forever. Once one learns about safely using a computer and how technology can be used to enhance learning, students will grasp concepts better. Teachers will be able to provide instruction that resulting in more students learning the lessons and actually being able to apply what’s learned to their lives. Technology integration into classrooms open doors to better teaching and better learning that can reach students in their own individual ways. Students are all different and learn using the ways that that help them best, in their own time. Teaching using technology will be a lot more exciting than the typical teaching and can provide instant results with grading and feedback. I’m excited to see how much technology will change things.

Works Cited

https://www.edutopia.org/technology-integration-guide-implementation