After being in an Instructional Technology class for over two months I have definitely become more aware of the vital part that technology can play in enhancing students' learning. I strongly believe that technology can be used most effectively to support and assess learning when "teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessment incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the NETS*S" (Educational Technology Standards for Teachers). This can be done by designing and adapting learning experiences for your classroom that incorporate technology, which will promote student learning and creativity. As a teacher, I will constantly be searching for new technology based resources to provide multiple strategies and types of technology in my classroom. This will enable a classroom of students to have and pursue individual desires and curiosities in regards to their educational goals, learning, and progress. I believe technology can be used most effectively in the classroom when it is customized and personalized to the students' diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities to use digital tools and resources (Educational Technology Standards for Teachers). I will provide varied assessments, while incorporating technology standards, to inform learning and teaching.
Although there are disadvantages in using technologies for particular types of learning, there are also many, many advantages! A few disadvantages are high costs, students' parents not understanding the technology at home or not being able to provide such technology at home, and malfunction. A few of the many advantages of using technology for learning are that it prepares students for the virtual environment that surrounds our world today, it allows for endless resources and opportunities via the Internet, it allows for unique, tailored instruction for diverse learners that would not be necessary otherwise, and it promotes and demonstrates effective use of digital tools and resources for our future generations.
I plan to use technology in my classroom, especially to support diverse learners, by constantly researching technology, to be aware of my resources, and by implementing these resources into my classroom. I plan to design unique activities such as recording and reading a story as a podcast for my class. I will also use technology by incorporating wikis, blogs, teacher websites, power points, and multi-media projects into my teaching. I will use WebQuests to find activities for my class, or to encourage my own activities for other class. The options are endless; that is what is exciting about using technology to enhance student learning!
