Briefly explain how you would integrate these choices into your teaching and your future students' learning.
As I mentioned numerous times throughout the semester, not every technology is appropriate for every learning situation. As such, which technologies/software are not appropriate for your content area and/or student level. (Discuss at least one.)
Throughout this semester of ETPT I will admit that I thought I was not going to learn that much than of what I've already known. But I was proven wrong; the amount of new materials I have gained from this class will better prepare for me my classroom integration with technology.
I am planning on becoming a Special Education teacher with focusing on students from the ages 14-18, at this level I already know that they have established a sense of maturity and will have a better understanding of new technologies. With being a Special Ed. teacher my content area will be whatever that student needs help in, I have to have a good knowledge of each subject to help the students. And one of those is technology. In ETPT we have learn numerous amounts of new wave technologies but not all will be suited up for the type of learning environment I want to create in my classroom.
One of the new technologies that I will integrate is the SMART Board. I feel that this technology has a lot of great educational benefits and along with fun ones too. If the school I teach at has this new age of technology I am very certain that it will help my students out. Not only is it hands-on, which I feel helps kids out with learning but it keeps them in tune. It’s a very intriguing piece of technology and kids will keep motivated to keep on learning. SMART Board is great with math, I know from experience. While tutoring at Toledo School of the Arts, I had gotten firsthand experience to see how the kids use the SMART Board and how they interacted with each other. I don’t know how but it has this way of keeping the students engage with wanting to learn more.
Another technology that I would integrate into my classroom is definitely a multimedia project. Either have my students make one or use it for studying purposes. I know that while I was in school, playing Jeopardy was a fun way for preparing for a test. And if I tell my students to create one, it would to test their knowledge of how well they comprehend what they are learning. Writing a paper of what you learn tends to get old and honestly holds back from the student can create. I feel that a student’s creativity shines through when you don’t create barriers for them. The project will show what the student has learned and how much they have really retained.
And the last technology I will use in my classroom is a classroom blog. This the students can keep in touch, but with an educational approach to it. It gives the student a sense of maturity and independence. Instead of asking the teacher for help, the students can use the blog to ask questions from other students. And also the students can give each other positive feedback on how someone did on a quiz or presentation. The blog will be totally private and for educational purpose only.
Technology is advancing every day. So I know by the time I graduate from college that I will need to advance my skills as well. But the more advance I become, the better off I am integrating technology into my classroom, to give my students the education they deserve.
