How I will use technology to enhance learning in my classroom
Some people may view technology as a distraction in a classroom but I see it as means to enhance learning through engaging students, bridging gaps, and making content accessible to all. It’s not about the technology itself, but how you use it in the classroom. Over the past few months I have learned a lot about educational technology, and I am confident that using it in my future classroom will truly benefit my students, their parents, and me throughout the school year.
One great tool it can provide is communication; Communication with students, between students, with parents, and with other teachers. Blogs, and wikis can proved great opportunities for collaboration that otherwise would be difficult to experience. In one article on they state that “Technology applications that enable student collaboration tend to result in improved achievement.” After describing a specific software used for student and teacher collaboration they cite that “These students performed better on standardized tests in reading, language and vocabulary and on measures of depth of understanding, multiple perspectives and independent thought than students who did not use the software”(source 1). We can also provide a window into the classroom for parents in ways that simple “letters home” could not. I think parent involvement at home is key to a child’s success, and it is really important to me to be able to incorporate that into my classroom.
Technology can be a great tool to help overcome barriers for some students. Sometimes access to the curriculum is overlooked in certain areas because teachers aren’t sure how to reach everyone. Technology like the ipad for example can help students who may not have been able to do something, do it quite well. There are endless applications to help students with all sorts of disabilities and barriers, that will not only help them reach the standards but excel in areas because of the capabilities provided through technology. There are so many different types of assistive technology, that a creative and persistent teacher could gain access to and use to help students who need them. I would go through whatever mean necessary to ensure that my students are able to achieve whatever it is they set out to achieve, and technology can only enhance those opportunities . It’s not just students with disabilities that benefit with assistive technology. There are many examples of software that can be used in the general education classroom. One example is with math, many student struggle in math and need to experience multiple approaches to gain understanding. One article stated that “students [using the software] had higher gains overall in math on achievement tests than did students who experienced the same curricula and technology in lab settings” (source 2). Not every child learns the same way, and technology can provide an endless selection of resources for students who may need them.
Educational technology can enhance many parts of the educational process for all people involved. It helps students with disabilities reach the access the curriculum, it can help parents get more involved in their children’s education, it can help teachers collaborate, and finally it can be used in the in the classroom for general engagements of all students. There are so many opportunities for students to use technology interactively as they learn. Hands on, interactive learning is the essential for students, and can only enhance what they take away from the classroom. I hope I am able to incorporate technology into my future classroom, from smartboards and ipads, to simple programs like mathboard and quizlet, because I know that it will make learning achievable and exciting for everyone involved.
