The technology modules in the 21 Things 4 Teachers have definitely opened my eyes to what can be accomplished with tech in the classroom. Throughout the modules, I learned new ways to incorporate media into lesson planning and discovered tools and resources that I couldn't have even thought of or imagined myself. I learned the importance of staying up to date in the ever-changing technological world. If this many resources have been created in the short time that internet technology has existed, it is difficult to imagine what will have been created twenty years from now.
Throughout many of the technologies that were taught in the 21 Things 4 Teachers program, I noticed a common theme: organization. At the end of the day, most of the online tools came down to better, more efficient, more functional organization. There were the obvious technologies that enhanced organization, such as note taking apps, planning boards, and classroom web pages; however, there were also more obscure pieces that fell into this category. For instance, mind mapping and word bubbles are both simply the organization of thought. Any presentation involving pictures was visually organizing a topic for students. Cloud services like Dropbox or other document sharing programs allow for easier digital organization. Meeting planning services, online calendars, and online communication tools are all ways of getting professionally organized. It would appear that the real purpose of technology is to streamline the thought and learning process into a cleaner, steadier pathway.
As organization does make life easier, I will definitely be utilizing these tools as quickly as possible. One thing that I really like is the idea of an online learning space, like the website that I have started creating. I feel that it is ideal for student communication as links and resources can be at students' fingertips at all times. I particularly like Google Classroom for giving assignments and turning them in. I'm also excited to use word clouds, infographics, and Quizlet in teaching Spanish. I had never seen the use to word clouds before; however, now, I see that they are the perfect tool for making a list of vocab words, words to study, or commonly used words. Infographics, like the one in my website, can simplify conjugating processes and present a visual to connect to the steps. Quizlet is fantastic for any subject, but especially for making foreign language word study fun and accessible to all students.
The biggest weakness in all of these wonderful services is that many students simply still do not have 24/7 access to the internet or even a computer. There are work arounds to this, such as having students use classtime to access tools or downloading what is available for at home non-internet use, but it is important to remember that this still puts a burden and barrier to these students' learning. Until all students have full access to web resources, teachers must remember to provide a quality alternative way to learn information at all times.
On the same note, many students do now have full access to technology. That's great! However, teachers still must balance the amount of curriculum that is done through a computer. For some students, this still may not be the best way to learn. In addition, while these resources are new and exciting, teachers must also be careful to use them to enhance student learning, and not just use them because they are fun. The tool must aid the lesson, not the other way around.
A large part of my teaching philosophy is that education, especially at the lower level, must be fun. It has to feel like as much of a game as possible. Sitting in a seat and listening to a lecture is not fun. Learning a lesson through a hands-on experience with tasks, goals, accomplishments, and rewards is. By using technology in the classroom, students are more often independently guided and motivated because they actually get to do, build, create, or explore something. They are actively engaged. They don't feel like they are learning, but they are—and often learning better than if they were learning in a traditional manner!
Overall, technology will always be changing. What never has to change is a teacher's motivation to advance along with it. In a world that values tech skills more with each passing day, it is only fair to students that their teachers prepare them, and are prepared themselves, for this world. It is no longer a question of if a teacher will use technology in the classroom, it is only a question of what and how.
Throughout many of the technologies that were taught in the 21 Things 4 Teachers program, I noticed a common theme: organization. At the end of the day, most of the online tools came down to better, more efficient, more functional organization. There were the obvious technologies that enhanced organization, such as note taking apps, planning boards, and classroom web pages; however, there were also more obscure pieces that fell into this category. For instance, mind mapping and word bubbles are both simply the organization of thought. Any presentation involving pictures was visually organizing a topic for students. Cloud services like Dropbox or other document sharing programs allow for easier digital organization. Meeting planning services, online calendars, and online communication tools are all ways of getting professionally organized. It would appear that the real purpose of technology is to streamline the thought and learning process into a cleaner, steadier pathway.
As organization does make life easier, I will definitely be utilizing these tools as quickly as possible. One thing that I really like is the idea of an online learning space, like the website that I have started creating. I feel that it is ideal for student communication as links and resources can be at students' fingertips at all times. I particularly like Google Classroom for giving assignments and turning them in. I'm also excited to use word clouds, infographics, and Quizlet in teaching Spanish. I had never seen the use to word clouds before; however, now, I see that they are the perfect tool for making a list of vocab words, words to study, or commonly used words. Infographics, like the one in my website, can simplify conjugating processes and present a visual to connect to the steps. Quizlet is fantastic for any subject, but especially for making foreign language word study fun and accessible to all students.
The biggest weakness in all of these wonderful services is that many students simply still do not have 24/7 access to the internet or even a computer. There are work arounds to this, such as having students use classtime to access tools or downloading what is available for at home non-internet use, but it is important to remember that this still puts a burden and barrier to these students' learning. Until all students have full access to web resources, teachers must remember to provide a quality alternative way to learn information at all times.
On the same note, many students do now have full access to technology. That's great! However, teachers still must balance the amount of curriculum that is done through a computer. For some students, this still may not be the best way to learn. In addition, while these resources are new and exciting, teachers must also be careful to use them to enhance student learning, and not just use them because they are fun. The tool must aid the lesson, not the other way around.
A large part of my teaching philosophy is that education, especially at the lower level, must be fun. It has to feel like as much of a game as possible. Sitting in a seat and listening to a lecture is not fun. Learning a lesson through a hands-on experience with tasks, goals, accomplishments, and rewards is. By using technology in the classroom, students are more often independently guided and motivated because they actually get to do, build, create, or explore something. They are actively engaged. They don't feel like they are learning, but they are—and often learning better than if they were learning in a traditional manner!
Overall, technology will always be changing. What never has to change is a teacher's motivation to advance along with it. In a world that values tech skills more with each passing day, it is only fair to students that their teachers prepare them, and are prepared themselves, for this world. It is no longer a question of if a teacher will use technology in the classroom, it is only a question of what and how.