Here you can find my philosophy of placing technology in the classroom. As our society moves into the 21st century it is importnat that we prepare our children with knowledge that will allow them to succeed in the world. I hope you enjoy reading what I will do, as a teacher, to ensure my students gain knowledge and awareness of what they can accomplish using computers.
Three Building Blocks of Technology
According to John Bailey, the Director of Educational Technology for the United States Department of Education, “Only 1/3 of teachers report that they feel prepared to use computers for classroom instruction.” I am delighted to report that I am part of the 1/3 that is ready to integrate technology into educational settings. In my teacher preparation courses, I have come to better understand technology and various ways to incorporate it into the curriculum. I believe there are three building blocks that I need to remember when using computers in the classroom: teach computers correctly, allow only appropriate activities on the computer, and use the computers to add to, but not control, the curriculum.
As a future educator, it is important to understand how to teach computers to my students. I have been taking courses to learn about Excel, the World Wide Web, Outlook, and Publisher. These applications will add to my classroom and help me become a better instructor. When I introduce the software and programs listed above I need to make sure I am using appropriate vocabulary terms. For example, instead of saying, “point to the picture of a printer,” I should say, “Point to the Printer Icon on your desktop.” This is very specific and will help the children learn the correct terminology. I will continue to attend workshops and listen to guest speakers to learn current information regarding the expanding field of technology. To be a successful teacher I will need to understand computers thoroughly. I want to answer my students’ questions and integrate technology into the curriculum with ease. I know that by continuing the training I have received, I will be better prepared for employing technology correctly into my classroom.
I will ensure that when my students are using the computers at school, they are using them appropriately. Even though the internet offers opportunities for e-mail, chatting, music, and videos, I believe that my students should only view educational information that enhances their knowledge. I have begun a list of interactive websites and tools that will boost learning for my students. Other application programs such as Paint, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Encarta can add to children’s learning experiences in a variety of ways as well. It is important that I supervise my students after they receive their instructions for activities on the computer. While completing service learning at the Chandler Boys & Girls Club, I realized how some children can get off-task and go into programs or areas they should not. I will teach my students about the dangers of the internet and how to be safe while working online. In today’s society, many children come home to an empty house where there is not proper supervision. I want parents to understand that while at school, their children will be supervised and taught how to correctly use technology for educational purposes. Having computers in the classroom will only enhance learning of the curriculum when used appropriately by myself and my students.
It is essential that I use computers in my classroom to support the curriculum, not control it. I believe that technology should be used more to review and reinforce the concepts already taught in class. For instance, if I were teaching a lesson on probability, I would teach it to my students, and then let them review the concept hands-on through an interactive website. Activities found on the computer can be good tools, but I should not rely on them to solely instruct my students. I need to present information first hand, allowing technology to take the backseat. Another way I can incorporate technology in the classroom, is to use PowerPoint to present lectures, instead of being up in the front of the room merely talking. This will help visual learners more strongly capture the material, and it will show my students what they can do with slide show presentations. I will require that some homework assignments be typed in Microsoft Word, giving my students an opportunity to use a word processing system and to practice their keyboarding skills. I will have the children complete activities, such as WebQuests, to get practice using the internet, while still learning educational information. At the Boys & Girls Club, I was highly impressed with what young children could accomplish using the technology they had available. I want my students to lead productive lives, and I can achieve this by allowing technology to be part of, but not the entire curriculum.
Technology is increasing everyday around us, so it is important as an educator that I prepare my students for their future. Almost every career involves technology and by presenting opportunities for my students now, I will be helping them for whatever they decide to do later in life. By teaching technology correctly, by making it part of the curriculum, and by allowing it to enhance learning, I will be guiding my students to lead more productive lives. As Richard Reginald Green once said:
"The future of the nation is on the shoulders of teachers and how they teach kids; the future of the world is in the classroom where the teachers are. And if we have any chance to guarantee a positive bridge to the 21st century, it is how we educate the children in the classrooms today."
*Graphics
Black Computer graphic from ClickArt! CD
All other graphics from Big Box of Art CD
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