Technology in schools can generate continued improvement in student achievement. I will encourage students to broaden their horizons with technology by means of global connections, electronic field trips, and online research and publishing. When students are using technology as a tool or a support for communicating with others, they are in an active role rather than the passive role of information. The student is actively making choices about how to generate, obtain, manipulate, or display information. I believe by incorporating technology in my classroom, I will increase motivation and self-esteem in my students. The expansion of learning opportunities provided by technology can create a positive change in students.

Technology use allows many more students to be actively thinking about information, making choices, and demonstrating skills. When technology is used as a tool to support students in performing valid tasks, the students are able to work on long-term research projects for which they are making use of online resources such as artwork, scientific data sets, or historical documents. Introducing technology into the learning environment can make learning more student-centered, and encourage cooperative learning. Greater student cooperation with computer-based learning will allow students to compete against the computer rather than against each other boosting student self-esteem. Small group activities and assignments using the computer are especially important, and I will encourage my students to collaborate on projects and to use peer assessment to critique each other's work.

Even though a variety of diverse knowledge levels of technology exists among students, it is important to continuously incorporate technology into the lesson plans. Instructors can begin to close the gap between the diverse knowledge levels of technology and improve what happens in the classroom by using educational technology that is the same high quality everywhere. Enhancing learning through school-wide projects, integrated with technology, will level the playing field of learning. Integrating technology in the classroom helps students learn in an exciting and unique manner.  Creating a website or making an inspiration diagram are just two examples of what students can accomplish.  Technology is rapidly taking the place of the everyday chalkboard and textbook, which is exciting for both the students and their teachers.

Parent involvement is and will always be a significant aspect in teaching.  Technology can help parents to stay involved and informed.  I will provide a class website that contains students’ assignments, upcoming events and email for parent teacher communication.  The parent can see upcoming projects, due dates, and any other important information about their child’s class along with the ability to contact me.  It is important in any teaching environment to have parents that care and wish to be involved. Another way parents can be involved in their child’s education is outside the classroom. At home, parents can assist their child on computer learning activities as well as homework on the computer.

Technology can be very diverse in the classroom. I will be aware of the many different types of technology that can be used to support and enhance learning. Various technologies bring different kinds of content and supply different purposes in the classroom. Word processing and e-mail promote communication skills; database and spreadsheet programs promote organizational skills; modeling software promotes the understanding of science and math concepts.

I believe that every teacher and school should have technology and be able to utilize it in everyday lesson plans. In this information age, technology is becoming more and more important. As a teacher, I plan to take my experiences and what I have learned to a higher level for my students. I will participate in professional development activities to gain experience with various types of educational technology and learn how to integrate this technology into the curriculum with the state standards. I want to create entertaining activities that incorporate the state standards that will heighten my students’ level of desire and thought in learning. Students seem to retain information better when they are involved in activities. I plan to use activities with technology to reinforce topics from the classroom and textbooks. My enthusiasm combined with technology will hopefully make an awesome learning environment for my students. I feel that as technology becomes more accessible and common in the classroom, students will desire to learn more.  As a teacher, I will create an atmosphere that includes and promotes technology in my lessons which will cause my students to stay interested and excited about school, education and even homework.