Assignment 1

I have worked in a few classrooms, some of which were more technologically savvy than others. My classroom at Taylorville Primary gave me the opportunity to incorporate technology with lesson plans and units. I was able to utilize the Elmo in this classroom to present my Social Studies Unit to the students. This technology allowed my presentation to be smooth and keep the students attention. I showed videos, maps on the Elmo’s projector, pictures, and artifacts. I think technology in the classroom is extremely useful if utilized in the appropriate and correct way. I have seen the use of computers, Elmos, projectors, and iPods. There is one thing (I am not sure of the name) that allows the teachers and students to write on the white board that is being projected from the computer and from what I have heard, it is a great tool for learning and engaging students. Technology, when approached in an appropriate way, can greatly enhance the learning experience in the classroom. Videos, documentaries, creating models and presentations online and on computers, and many other methods can allow students to visualize concepts and lessons they may not be able to visualize otherwise. I do think it is important to maintain a kinesthetic-tactile approach to learning for those students who learn best that way. Not every student is a visual or auditory learner and may need a concrete model or object to grasp and manipulate, especially in special education. Learning visually works for many students, but some need an actual concrete example. Incorporating technology in the classroom keeps students interested since our society is now based on a lot of technology. I fear for the disappearance of real books, though. It is a skill we take for granted being able to turn pages the correct way and read a book the correct way. There are some students and children who are unable to do this, so I think Nooks, Kindles, and e-books would be helpful in that sense, but also, students need to learn how to correctly open a book. This helps not only with cognitive skills but motor skills as well. Converting manipulatives, books, and toys to online or virtual experiences could be detrimental to learning for some students. There are some things that deter technology from being used in the classrooms, aside from the ones I mentioned, there are slow connections, systems crashing, computers freezing, and many other technological malfunctions that could occur; Also, some teachers may not want to take the time to learn about all this new technology because they already have so much to deal with on a daily basis. I think that if the administration provided workshops or if teachers arranged meetings to get together to learn about new technologies, that could encourage the use of technology in the classroom. Teachers could also go to other classrooms to see how the technology is used and see how it positively (or negatively) affects students learning.