Autobiography

2/10/2011
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====It is no question that technology surrounds us; there is more with me at any given time than once could fill an entire room. I am held captive to my cell phone which has more capabilities than I could possible know what to do with. My laptop, well I use the essentials, Microsoft Office, the Internet, and I-tunes. Anything else and I don’t have a clue. I can’t possibly forget my I-pod, again I use it to play music while I am exercise or with what I am doing at this very moment; typing a paper. Do I know how to do much more? Absolutely not! That seems to be the trend with me and technology, knowing how to use the bare essentials and not exploring much more. ====

====The most experience that I have with technology, prior to this class is accessing PowerPoint and creating a wiki, which I just learned how to do three months ago. Growing up I can’t remember ever having technology in the classroom (except undergrad and it was ALL PowerPoint), with the exception of Oregon Trail in elementary school. I remember being in the fifth grade, when PC’s were first introduced to the classroom. I remember typing a final draft of a paper, so accumulatively; I probably used it three times. The only memories I have of using technology in middle school was typing writing pieces for my portfolio and taking Accelerated Reader tests. I had many wonderful experiences overall, but none that required the use of technology. In high school the most technology that was used was a VCR or an overhead projector and I don’t mean the cool kind that are in schools now, but the ones that had the spinning wheel and transparencies…it was really “high tech!” ====

====So, this brings me to the next topic; should technology/computers be used in the classroom? I definitely believe that there is a place for technology in the classroom but I believe that there is a correlation between the grade level and how much technology is involved. Every elementary classroom that I have been in, in the past two years, have had multiple computers (at least 3). What I don’t see is any direct instruction but more of a work station that students are assigned 15-20 minutes a day on a computer. The students are also set up with accounts on a variety of educational websites. At the elementary level I would have to say that this is an appropriate use of technology in the classroom. ====

====What I believe is the teacher’s role with incorporating technology in the classroom is the utilization of smart boards, document cameras, educational videos to supplement instruction, and the use of PowerPoint. I have personally created a Wiki that is based on Elementary Science and literacy, and believe that giving students time to use it would be beneficial and would serve well as a “station activity.” Do I think that elementary teachers could take it one step further by creating a class webpage or blog for students to access? Sure, I do! The issues that arise from this are that many students (depending on where one is teaching) do not have access to the Internet, may not have a home computer at all, and the lack of parent support. It is also my opinion, to some, extent, that actually teaching how to use technology is reserved for “Special Area” or humanities teacher. I say this because there is such an extreme amount of pressure that is placed on regular classroom teachers to teach to the core content. This pressure alone limits the amount of time teachers have to vary any of their daily lesson plans. ====

====On the other hand, I believe that middle and high school grades should have much more technology incorporated into the classroom. Students at middle and high school ages are much more mature and can handle working in groups (without direct adult supervision), they have longer attention spans to stay focused on topic, and (especially for high school) will be able to take the knowledge and experiences that they have and use them in the real-world. Is also can take an average project and make it extraordinary, taking a poster or book report and turn it into an exciting, even higher order thinking, fun way to learn and even teach other students. I also believe that technology classes should be offered at the high school level. Students are required to take Spanish, Art, Music, Discovering the arts, and Health/P.E. Why is it that a technology is not a required course, and I am not talking about “Intro to Keyboarding?” I am speaking of a class that teaches PowerPoint, voice-threads, Wikis, one that is interesting and fun for students, one that will provide them more opportunities to excel in other classrooms. ====

====So, do I believe that technology have a place in the classroom? Absolutely! Does it vary in regards to the grade level? From my experience, I definitely believe that it does, but overall it does belong in the classroom and it is essential especially in the direction that society is moving and these students are out future. ====

