How technology will be used in my classroom

         When used correctly, technology has always been a revolutionary tool in the classroom.  My vision for technology in my classroom is that it will be used.  I want students to have world at their finger tips and for them to be active in their learning.  I can see giving them an assignment or topic and having the students researching it and then provide the class with an explanation.  I see my role becoming more as a facilitator and the students role become more active in their learning.  Using technology gives students motivation to want to learn and use these tools to aid their learning.  In the article "Effects of Technology on Classrooms and Students" many teachers noticed an increase of student motivation when technology has been used.  Many students took on the role as "teacher" to help other students learn the topic.  Students have a huge interest and drive to use iPads, laptops or Smartboards and I think that if the drive is there then as a teacher you should use that student drive to help your teaching skills.     

One of my concentrations is science, I can see students using programs to help drive home the information that I provided.  Sometimes there is not a lot of time in class to do an experiment and explain the content behind the experiment.  If students have access to internet at home I could send out a link to the class and they can learn the content at home before the experiment and then when we come into class the next day, answer the questions any students have and then do the lab.  There many tools that can bring science to life, for example using 3-D printers to make models of atoms that students manipulate and hold.

Technology has a way to inspire students to learn.  It could be a teachers best friend.  That teacher just has to be willing to step back from the lime light and become a facilitator.  that might be really hard for a lot of teachers but I can see myself diving head first into that role.  An example of teachers stepping back would be to use the SmartBoard.  Students love the chance to go up to the board and display what they know, teachers can use this to their advantage by creating lessons around student participation on the SmartBoard and students doing the explanation of what they know about a topic.  The teacher can later on apply the correct names to the concepts students explained as well as fix any misconceptions.

Besides educational purposes technology offers the ability for classroom management.  There are apps for the iPad that you can upload grades and do student attendance.

I do know I want to use technology in my classroom but I am not sure which devices would suit my classroom needs.   



Sources: http://www2.ed.gov/pubs/EdReformStudies/EdTech/effectsstudents.html