After enjoying my undergraduate technology class with Dr.
Holmes so much, I have high hopes for this semester. Although I firmly believe
in having a balance between traditional and technology-inspired learning, I
know that it’s crucial to understand what our options are as teachers in terms
of technology infused lessons. Even though I love a lot of traditional lessons,
I’m definitely open to learning about any technology that could enhance
learning. Having a one-year-old nephew who knows how to work an iPad is proof
that students are rapidly changing, and we as teachers need to be able to
respond to that change.
While student teaching in a 9th grade biology
classroom last semester, I saw many times where technology could have been extremely
useful in helping students understand the material even further. As such, I
would love to learn more about both creating and finding SmartBoard programs. I’d
also love to learn more about online resources that are free to use and easy to
search through for educational videos and programs related to science. Hopefully
as the semester goes on I’ll discover even more about the possibilities of
technology in the classroom!
I think the point you bring up about even young children today being able to use ipads and other forms of technology is really important for teachers to understand. Unlike many of us who didn't have a computer for most of elementary school, students today seem to be born with the knowledge on how to use all this technology. As teachers, we need to be sure that we are doing everything in our power to attract and keep the attention of our students.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that their needs to be a balance between technology and the "traditional" way of teaching. I do not believe that technology should overpower the teaching in the classroom, it should be used more as a tool to enhance it.
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing that your nephew can work and iPad and I can barely figure out how to blog. I also agree with the need for a balance between technology and more traditional methods of teaching. That being said, it is clear that todays student wants as much technology as possible.
ReplyDeleteI'm really curious to see how the teacher was able to utilize tech in an innovative manner in a biology classroom. The only way I saw it used during my time as a student was via clickers.
ReplyDeleteI'm also very interested in how tech can help students understand the material even further.
ReplyDeleteYour nephew is living proof of the new age of technology! When I was student teaching in the Fall of 2011 we used the SmartBoard most often in Math, but not a lot in science such as Biology. I hope we learn ways we can use technology in science because I'm sure the students would love it!
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