Blog Post #1

As time passes, technology continues to become an essential part of education. Now a days, teachers implement the use of technology by creating lesson plans and taking attendance with computers, making presentations using Microsoft Powerpoint, requiring students to type essays, or using emails as a mean of communication. Technology is so common in a classroom environment that according to a report done by the U.S Department of Education, 99% of teachers surveyed had computers in the classroom everyday (Duffy & McDonald 2015). However, as positively as technology may seem, it has its cons. Technology is an expense and sometimes, schools cannot afford it. Many schools limit the use of computers and internet access simply because they don't have the funds for it. Also, implementing technology in a classroom is a time challenge. Teachers must come up with ways to incorporate technologies while still completing what the standards dictate. On another aspect, with all the information available to one on the internet, copyright becomes a critical issue to take into consideration when utilizing online information. Also, communicating through the use of technology is so accessible that many students occasionally cheat on tests or assignments. Teachers also need to be aware of the dangers of using technology. When mentioning a student on any sort of media, they should be cognizant of the proper way to do it. Teachers should never mention the full name of the minor because that could be putting the student in danger.

International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) standards are used by teachers as they “design, implement, and assess learning experiences to engage students and improve learning” (iste.org). One specific standard, standard #1, is my favorite because it involves both face to face and virtual involvement. Standard #1 ask the teachers to use their knowledge of subject matter, instructing/learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation (iste.org). This specific standard promotes innovative and creative thinking while also allowing the student to analyze and solve real world problems through the use of digital tools. However, all of this is conducted face-to-face with the teacher. I believe that by integrating both face-to-face and digital learning, it can better the outcome of a child’s learning. There is, however, one standard that is out of my skill set: standard #3. Standard #3 asks for teachers to demonstrate knowledge of technology and transfer it into new knowledge to new technologies and situations. I can say that I am familiar with the basics of technology, however, I have little to knowledge of anything more than the basics. So, jumping into new technologies may be a conflict for me. 

Millennials are often referred to as “digital natives.” That is, someone who was born or grew up in the age of technology. I believe this term adequately suits us because through out our lives, we have been surrounded by technology in both direct and indirect ways. We have a much faster way of adapting to technology than those who did not grow up with technology, also referred to as “digital immigrants”. Most of us know how to work a computer, a smartphone, a projector, a social media platform, etc. Much older teachers often have difficulty using these types of technologies mainly because they were not as accessible to them as they are to us. As I get older, I feel like students younger than me already know what I know and in some cases, they know more about technology than I do. In time, when I am teacher, I believe my students will have more knowledge about technology than me simply because technology advances every day and what may not exist in my young years may exist in theirs. It’s all a matter of how much I keep up with the current technology and how I effectively incorporate it in my classroom. 

Sources:

Lever-Duffy, Judy, and Jean McDonald B. Teaching and Learning with Technology. 5th ed. Upper Saddle River: Pearson, 2015. Print

"Standards for Teachers." For Teachers. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Sept. 2016