Week #10 Blog |
Taking a look at the kinds of edtech tools and resources that are available and currently in use is something I find very interesting. As I began teaching 21 years ago, technology was a very limited resource. When technology was being introduced to us then it was to communicate faster as individuals (administratively) and do routine things on the computer to make us more efficient. Eventually it grew to allowing the students to use the technology. As that expanded, we incorporated it into our lessons and students begin to learn to become more efficient with technology that they would most likely encounter on a daily basis. To get started, teachers had to collect information and create new curriculum by using websites and different software. I have always wanted to use technology, so this was easy for me to try to learn on my own, new ways of using what was available. Going through my graphic, I feel it is important to lay out all the ways educational technology can be used, progress to specific things that can be used in a classroom and grow into a digital learning environment once the simple uses are mastered. I see it as a progression that starts small and ends up really big in the end result. When I talk to others working to embrace technology in their classrooms I tell them to start by doing one thing, master that, then incorporate another aspect. It can be overwhelming if you think of it all at once, but when broken down into sections it is much easier to tackle and to feel successful. Often teachers resisting the change believe technology has to be used at all times, when in actuality it is used in moderation for most. Only use it when it fits the situation and makes the curriculum better and more innovative. In my graphic I started with some general uses for technology such as websites and software to find resources to use, then moved to incorporating those into specific practices and choosing their style or approach to teaching. When you look at the management tasks, they can be compared to what we do in the classroom each day and can be used to compare what needs to be done on a daily basis. For example, we take attendance on the computer each day, and we can use the computer to collect homework, take quizzes and tests, and collect real-time responses from students during class! Next, I gave some great advantages and changes that take place in the classroom when technology is used correctly. Teachers are always looking to improve so they could take one or two of the suggestions and focus on making it work in their subject area. |
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