My Love of Technology

This is the topic I waited to discuss throughout this year; it’s too bad that we don’t get to spend a lot of time on it. Unlike with testing and teacher evaluation, we as future teachers can actually enact changes in how we use technology in our classrooms. Technology in classrooms is such a widely growing idea with so many fantastic variations in different school districts. I work in educational IT and have seen firsthand the many uses teachers can find for technology. I’ve seen teachers jump for joy when they are told they are getting a cart of computers because they know that it opens so many doors for their students. I’ve seen portals and wikis become places of real education and communication between teachers and parents. I’ve seen students create their own textbooks instead of using a prescribed book. I’ve seen blended learning classes give students a chance to learn in more comfortable environments to them instead of the traditional learning setting. I am such a fan of getting technology into classrooms so that students can experience the excitement of learning in ways that really connect with them.

I also know exactly what it takes to get technology into the classroom. I understand the amount of money and time that go into creating an environment technology friendly. I spend my entire summer working to make sure that my school district is ready for the next school year. But I think it is worth the investment in our students’ futures. Our job as educators is to prepare them for what lies ahead of them. And what lies ahead of them and what is currently surrounding them is a culture where being technologically literate is a must. We owe it to our students to teach them the skills they will need to function in the 21^st century.

This website from the Department of Education [ http://www.ed.gov/technology/netp-2010/teaching-prepare-and-connect ] has the most encompassing look at why technology in the classroom is something that should be in every school. It provides the benefits and goals for our nation when it comes to educational technology. While this is a very technical description, there are hundreds of websites available with apps, programs, ideas, and lesson plans all about incorporating technology into the classroom from teachers themselves. The amount of information about technology is staggering and it is just waiting for each of us to take a look.