Naturally, after having spent the past five years of my life embarking on the journey to become a classroom teacher, I've spent a considerable amount of time thinking about how I would like my future classroom to function and how I would like it to look. And while I have established that I would like my future classroom to be a supportive, inclusive, and engaging learning environment, regrettably, I've never really given much thought as to how technology would fit into all of this.
As such, I was especially pleased to respond to this week’s blog prompt question – How are you planning to use technology in the classroom? – as it has compelled me to think more critically about an aspect of the education system that has immense relevance to beginner teachers like myself. Many would agree that, largely due to new and emerging technologies (most notably, the advent of the Internet), a major paradigm shift in the way in which classrooms function and the way in which they look is currently unfolding.
Though some schools lag further behind than others in terms of implementing and embracing such changes, nowadays, it is not uncommon to find teachers using interactive SMART Boards rather than traditional blackboards to teach their lessons, to find students using laptops rather than an encyclopedia to find information on a topic, or to find classes sending out Tweets rather than writing in journals to express and share their thoughts. Integrating technology into the classroom in fun and meaningful ways is a hot topic in contemporary education – one that many school boards are gung ho to pursue (for a list of easy ways to integrate technology into your classroom, click here). Thus, I would be doing myself a major disservice by not thinking about these things, hypothetically at the very least.
That being said, I found it rather difficult to clearly articulate how I plan on using technology in the classroom, particularity without being able to provide any context as to why. I mean, sure, I could easily list and describe 101 different gadgets and gizmos that I envision being used in my classroom one day, but I feel this sort of question should be thought of and answered on more of a philosophical level. In the broadest of terms, I plan on using technology in my classroom responsibly. Technology enables us to do amazing things but as teachers, it’s important to recognize and educate about the dangers and limitations that are associated with its use.
Like social media for instance; although this is something that I plan on incorporating into my classroom one day – because it is an extremely useful tool – I will be sure to fully educate students about the dangers of its use beforehand, and will be diligent about monitoring its ongoing use to ensure that it is being used appropriately. Similarly, although presentation software (like Microsoft PowerPoint), Web 2.0 tools (like Weebly) and other various tech tools (like document cameras) are things that I envision being used in my classroom one day – by both myself and my students – I will always express to students the importance of having a plan B for when such technologies don’t work the way we would like them to.
It’s hard to argue, because of the potential it has to boost student engagement, to enhance student understanding and to equip students with 21st century skills, among other things, that technology does not belong in classrooms (for more information on why technological integration is beneficial, click here). And while I am fully on board with the notion that technology deserves a predominant place in modern day classrooms, I feel strongly that its integration should be done in a responsible manner.
References
Edutopia. (2007). Why do we need technology integration? Retrieved from:
http://www.edutopia.org/technology-integration-guide-importance
Haynes, K. (n.d.). 12 Easy Ways to Use Technology in the Classroom, Even for Technophobic Teachers
Retrieved from: http://www.teachhub.com/12-easy-ways-use-technology-your-classroom-even-technophobic-teachers
As such, I was especially pleased to respond to this week’s blog prompt question – How are you planning to use technology in the classroom? – as it has compelled me to think more critically about an aspect of the education system that has immense relevance to beginner teachers like myself. Many would agree that, largely due to new and emerging technologies (most notably, the advent of the Internet), a major paradigm shift in the way in which classrooms function and the way in which they look is currently unfolding.
Though some schools lag further behind than others in terms of implementing and embracing such changes, nowadays, it is not uncommon to find teachers using interactive SMART Boards rather than traditional blackboards to teach their lessons, to find students using laptops rather than an encyclopedia to find information on a topic, or to find classes sending out Tweets rather than writing in journals to express and share their thoughts. Integrating technology into the classroom in fun and meaningful ways is a hot topic in contemporary education – one that many school boards are gung ho to pursue (for a list of easy ways to integrate technology into your classroom, click here). Thus, I would be doing myself a major disservice by not thinking about these things, hypothetically at the very least.
That being said, I found it rather difficult to clearly articulate how I plan on using technology in the classroom, particularity without being able to provide any context as to why. I mean, sure, I could easily list and describe 101 different gadgets and gizmos that I envision being used in my classroom one day, but I feel this sort of question should be thought of and answered on more of a philosophical level. In the broadest of terms, I plan on using technology in my classroom responsibly. Technology enables us to do amazing things but as teachers, it’s important to recognize and educate about the dangers and limitations that are associated with its use.
Like social media for instance; although this is something that I plan on incorporating into my classroom one day – because it is an extremely useful tool – I will be sure to fully educate students about the dangers of its use beforehand, and will be diligent about monitoring its ongoing use to ensure that it is being used appropriately. Similarly, although presentation software (like Microsoft PowerPoint), Web 2.0 tools (like Weebly) and other various tech tools (like document cameras) are things that I envision being used in my classroom one day – by both myself and my students – I will always express to students the importance of having a plan B for when such technologies don’t work the way we would like them to.
It’s hard to argue, because of the potential it has to boost student engagement, to enhance student understanding and to equip students with 21st century skills, among other things, that technology does not belong in classrooms (for more information on why technological integration is beneficial, click here). And while I am fully on board with the notion that technology deserves a predominant place in modern day classrooms, I feel strongly that its integration should be done in a responsible manner.
References
Edutopia. (2007). Why do we need technology integration? Retrieved from:
http://www.edutopia.org/technology-integration-guide-importance
Haynes, K. (n.d.). 12 Easy Ways to Use Technology in the Classroom, Even for Technophobic Teachers
Retrieved from: http://www.teachhub.com/12-easy-ways-use-technology-your-classroom-even-technophobic-teachers