Technology as I understand and feel about it today!

I never realized there was a difference in educational technology, technology integration, or instructional technology, however after reading the definitions I realize how they affect education. The definitions helped me to understand how technology is really incorporated into education. Educational technology is simply the technology educators and students use to complete the education process. I know that I cannot run my classroom without these everyday programs. Technology integration is the one that I struggle with. As I understand it, it is how you determine what to use in the classroom. Instructional Technology is my favorite; it is what we actually use to educate students. After reading this section I better understand the difference in these terms.

I was surprised to see how technology history was broken up in to three eras, most likely because I wasn’t alive for most of it! The microcomputer era was the first computers in classrooms. This was exciting for teachers, however from the reading, it does seem that teachers had support to use computers most effectively. The internet era was the most significant impact on technology in the classroom. The internet connected the world.

“Teaching is one of the most time and labor-intensive jobs in our society” This quote from our text really hit me. I am thankful that people realize we can’t do it all. I know that I put a large number of hours into my lessons, understanding that technology can help but that I don’t have to use it. I always want to use the latest and greatest, but technology only works when it makes the process of teaching and learning easier.

Technology education is essential for today’s students to be successful beyond school. However I see that technology can be a hassle for teachers. From my little experience working in schools, there are two types of teachers: those that want to use technology and those that are scared of it. If we don’t teach students how to use technology who will? The use of computers in today’s society is necessary to survive.

Of course teachers can teach without technology, it’s our job to educate. However if technology is available it can only increase learning. Teachers always get the job done. Teachers are innovators. Teachers can teach without fancy technology, but why should they have too.

The use of technology is inevitable for today’s society in order to be successful in life. If technology skills aren’t taught during the education process, when will they be?

A teacher can teach without technology; however I truly believe that technology can improve the education of today’s youth. While there might not be conclusive results showing how technology improves understanding of standards, is there data stating that it harms understanding of standards? By using technology to guide students to a higher understanding of standards we are preparing them to use technology to solve their own problems. Technology is surrounding us in this world. To turn a blind eye and continue teaching the standards without technology would be a grave injustice to our students. Without the use of technology in my classroom this week, my students wouldn’t have seen a short film of the assistant principal finding a crime scene in the vacant trailers. This film allowed Mr. Hart to share the crime with the students and charge them with the task of solving who poisoned the chef. The video captured their attention, gained their interest, and clearly stated their task. While Mr. Hart could have come to visit every science class with every science teacher, the use of technology here streamlined the process and kept all of my co-workers and I on the same page for the project.

I hear the nay-sayers, and this is what I have to say … have you tried it? People don’t like change, I get that, however if you try it you might be surprised. I have worked with many of my co-workers that are less technically inclined and what I have found for the most part it isn’t that they are not willing to learn something new, but they aren’t given the time. Teachers are lovers of learning by nature, so why wouldn’t they be willing to incorporate new and innovative technology? They need the time to use and manipulate new technology. Learning new technology during a rollout period is only frustrating on top of grading, lesson plans, and teaching.

I, also, hear the nay-sayers that aren’t teachers, and this is what I have to say to them…come walk a day in my shoes and see if you can manage without your laptop, blackberry, or calculators. Without the best technology in my classroom, my students will leave me in the dust. In order to reach students, teachers need to be able to connect with them on their level. We are most definitely in the technology era and today’s youth know how to use and aren’t afraid to try new technology out without a fear of messing it up. Like I said…come spend a day in my classroom, see if you could do it without technology.

No, when teachers know how to use technology teachers use it. It took time to get teachers to use computers, it’s just takes time. Once teacher are trained to use technology, they must have the support to keep using it.

If all of the technology was taken from the world, where would we be? Technology runs the world I live in. Technology can only increase student learning from motivation to engagement. Take any argument for the use of technology and teachers can show students learning, making memories and retaining information.

Students cannot receive an “excellent education” without technology. Computers and other technology resources are essential in today’s business world, therefore we need to be teaching them to use them and how to problem solve with technology for the future.

Every teacher hopes that they will have the moment when they realize they have made an impact on students. I have a unique teaching position; I facilitate the student news stations at my school. I train students to run a fully operational broadcast television station. The students selected for the news team are greatly impacted by their participation. These students are getting hands on experience with technology they might not otherwise have access to. Not only do these students become leaders to their peers, they must learn how to manage their time. These students have to be to school an hour before classes start. Not only do I enjoy teaching these students, I love it even more when they teach me something new with the equipment. The students are so proud of themselves when they produce the show without me for the first time. The biggest success I have seen from this initiative is one of my students earning a summer youth internship at CNN, something he might not have otherwise even thought about.

There are so many different software applications for computers today, who could keep up! I enjoy having access a wide range of programs to use in my classroom. My top five programs are Word, Excel, PowerPoint, FrontPage and Sony Vegas. I could not operate my classroom everyday without these. Computer programs are necessary for me to keep up with grades, lessons, presentations, and videos. During instruction you never know what program I could be using to deliver information. I would like to incorporate an interactive board soon. (Hoping I get a PTA grant) Interactive boards can be used while using these software programs as well.

After reading about leadership and vision in technology, I began to better understand. I understand that technology has to be planned for and implemented. I have never really thought of “having” to use technology. I guess it just comes naturally for me. I use technology in my classroom. After reading though planning technology for the community I realized that technology doesn’t always come easy for others. Facilitators have to “sell” the technology to be used. Having a clear plan can easily get everyone on board and ready to work with something new. Without a clear implementation plan of new technology, people with not be willing to work with the new technology. This year my school system is rolling out a new information management system. I have not been “sold” that this new system is good for teacher, parents, or students. No one has even tried to “sell” it to me. Had School System Powers that Be read this chapter on technology implementation, the teachers that I work with and I might be in a better place with this new technology and accomplish grades in a timely manner.

As for my own vision of how technology should be use in school as a whole, I don’t know yet, still working on developing it. As for my classroom vision of technology, I want it to natural and easy. I don’t want to do something that is going to take more of my valuable time. My vision does include empowering students to use technology to make their lives easier and more efficient.