Writing Assignment 4

I will integrate technology in to my classroom with the use of a variety of different tools on the computer, and the internet. I will have my students participate in web quests, making iMovies, VoiceThreads, using MS Word, and through managing my classes schedule and homework with a classroom wiki.

When children are younger it is important to expose them to a variety of different kinds of technology, but it is more important to get the children to feel comfortable with using a computer and typing on a key board as well as being able to navigate their way around on a computer. With younger children I feel that it is most important to use simpler technologies like paint and Microsoft Word, as well as maybe allowing the children to play age appropriate educational games online.

Older elementary school children should be able to access a classroom wiki, and navigate their way around on a computer, as well as on the web pretty easily. Therefore I would use Web Quests when teaching the older children along with Voice Threads, creating iMovies, and letting the children research different topics of interest of curriculum on the internet using child approved and friendly search engines.

BrainPop.com allows for teachers to use the implement the use of technology into their lessons. This website has many different subjects to choose from and areas of concentration within the subject area. There is a short little cartoon on the website that introduces the area of concentration to the children in a humorous way that will help the children to better remember the material.

The teacher In my practicum classroom had the children use the web to do research about the characteristics of the moon, participate in Web Quests, as well as play math games online. The children seemed to really enjoy these activities and they seemed to be very comfortable with using the technology in the classroom.

I believe that technology should be implemented into the classroom every day that the children are in school because technology has become a more and more common way for people to do things. Children should be able to feel comfortable with using technology and excited about trying new things in terms of technology. The teacher can implement technology into the classroom through a variety of different ways and technology can be used to help children in any subject area. It’s just up to the teacher to be creative about the uses of technology in their classroom and how they are going to include their curriculum into teaching children through technology.