Can technology and education mix?

1. What role do you believe technology should play in education? Why?   

Education in technology should go hand in hand. Technology is constantly in flux. Everyday our lives are made easier by technology. With that said, having the technology is all for naught if there is not a subject matter expert on said technology to utilize the technology. Being a product of the public school during the 90’s, I got to see the direct effects of putting technology in the classroom. Thinking back, I remember that getting computers in the classroom was a big deal. On the surface, this sounds great! In every classroom a working computer that will help children learn! In practice what it amounted to was a Pentium 2 computer with windows and maybe a few educational games such as Number Cruncher, Oregon Trail, and Dino Park Tycoon. The one computer served the ~20 students in the classroom. Rather than be used as an instructional or multimedia aide, it was used as a reward for children like myself who finished their work early and liked to fidget. Becker would have found that the conditions for technology use in the classroom were lacking. Although there was convenient access to the computer, it was heavily regulated. The computer games were not part of the lesson and the teacher had no flexibility to alter the curriculum to the game. The teacher was not adequately prepared to use the computer as I can recall several instances of instructing the teacher on basic computer operations.

2. What is your theory of how people learn? How does your personal theory affect how you plan to teach?   

Prior to taking this class, I had a vague concept that people learned things in different ways. You were either someone who could be shown how to do something and repeat the task, or you could be told how to do something and by discerning it on your own to complete the Since taking a myriad of education courses, I have learned that there are multiple types of learners. The difficulty in teaching comes from giving equal instruction to students who may learn in different types of ways. Knowing this, I plan to utilize my students as peer teachers. Knowing that some students will grasp concepts quicker than others, I plan to use those students who have grasped the idea of the lesson as aides to students who may not understand. This interaction between the students builds learning for them both.  The student who has grasped the topic will reinforce what he knows by explaining it in simple terms. The student struggling with the lesson will be helped by having a peer explain it to him in a way that is easy for him to grasp.

3. What ideas do you already have about using technology in your instruction?

It has been said that many new teachers will emulate the style of a teacher that they admire and carry those traits into their own classroom. I am no exception. Some of my favorite teachers have been prone to the lecture style of teaching, using expressive and descriptive language to bring the lecture alive. On the flip side of that, I can also recall many heads on the desk in blissful sleep. The use of technology such as videos and interactive quizzes can break up the monotony and help solidify the material to the students.

4. What are your goals in taking this course and what do you hope to accomplish?

I consider myself quite tech savvy and only after writing this post and thinking about how I will implement technology….

I hope to find ways to successfully integrate technology into my lessons and arm myself with a

powerful weapon to wage educational war with in the future!