Technology Tools

Today in the 21st century, technology is becoming more predominant in the classroom. Tablets, iPad, computers, phones are replacing textbooks. Social media has become more of an ordinary, and the way we use technology has completely transformed the way we live or lives. So, it is important to consider technology when educating students within a classroom. Per a study by IT Trade Association Comp “75% of parents/guardians agreed that using PowerPoint and/or iMovie to organize and present information would help their child to retain the information they learned. This was compared to not using technology at all.” (Julie, 2007) It is important to develop students technological skills, so that they are well prepared to enter the workforce. Teachers must learn how to teach with emerging technology in a classroom, as students are using advanced technology to enhance their skills set. As we use technology in a classroom, we are setting students up for success, because in the real world an individual who is tech savvy is not only valued for his/her skills, but also gives hope to each one of us that the student will grow and change the world for the better.

Few examples of how technology might be integrated in a classroom.

1. Twitter

Twitter is social networking site that can be used to share information with students and parents within your classroom. In my classroom, I would allow students to use Twitter to communicate with their teachers of the knowledge they have gained throughout the course. Twitter is a good tool for planning, as it gives a teacher the opportunity to share the insiders of the classroom and upcoming events with his/her students. Since Twitter is an online public website, parents also have access to information shared, hence will keep them in the loop.

2. Pinterest 

Pinterest is another form of social media. This is a great planning tool for a teacher as it helps plan lesson and activities that can be used within the classroom. The teachers within the school may create a collaborative board that would allow all members to share information with one another of the resources they find useful. This is a simple site to navigate and to get great ideas from.

3. Survey Monkey

Survey monkey is an online platform that allows students and teachers to create and answer surveys. This is an effective tool for the classroom as it allows the teacher to motivate and engage students. This tool can also be used to collect general data about students, hence as a teacher I would use this site to get students interest, areas of strength and areas that need improvement surveyed before beginning the course.

4. Google Drive 

Google Drive is a tool, that I use almost every day for in class assignments. This tool is great for classroom collaboration, as it allows students to add on, edit and view their peers work under one document. This tool can also be used as a means of communication, as it allows the teacher to update students of the upcoming assignments, reminders of tests/quizzes.

5. YouTube 

I believe that a student can either benefit from YouTube or can be completely distracted by its use. As a teacher, I would utilize YouTube for its full advantage of the student, allowing them to learn from a medium of media they find addicting and engaging. YouTube can be used to introduce or conclude a unit/lesson. It can also be used to create a summative assessment. YouTube has many great resources for teachers as well, such as lesson plans and planning strategies. Teachers can use YouTube to see a visual step by step lesson plan and duplicate it within their own classroom. I am a professional dancer; hence I would use YouTube videos to teach students step by step dance moves, in that they have access to at home.

Today technology with differentiated instruction helps to accommodate and modify students needs in a learning classroom. Per the Center for Applied Research in Educational Technology (CARET), a project of the International Society for Technology in Education in partnership with Education Support Systems and the Sacramento County Office of Education “Technology improves performance when the application adjusts for student ability and prior experience, and provides feedback to the student and teacher about student performance or progress with the application”(Smith and Throne, 2007) It is important to use technology to provide students with more assistance and guidance. Technology becomes useful when students with learning disabilities, or language barriers are provided with tools that help them learn productively and proficiently. For example, a boy who has a low English proficiency, the use of technology (e.g., tablet) allows him to translate teacher instructions into his own language and gives him the opportunity to search for terms he finds difficult to understand on e-dictionary. Further, a student who has difficulty expressing his thoughts in a classroom discussion may be asked to record his ideas in a recorder for assessment purposes.

To sum up, technology has grown over the years and using it in a classroom for student learning should become a necessity. Every teacher must become tech savvy to provide his or her students with the best learning tools that will ultimately enhance students learning. I personally, will effort to become aware of as many tools to assist my students learning process.

Word Count: 890

Resources

Alex , J. (2007 , April 14). Does Using Technology Help Students Retain Information They Learn? Retrieved March 5, 2018 , from https://ed.psu.edu/pds/teacher-inquiry/2007/alexjinquiry0607.pdf

Smith , G. E., & Throne, S. (2007 ). Differentiating Instruction with Technology in K–5 Classrooms. Retrieved March 5, 2018 , from http://www.iste.org/images/excerpts/diffk5-excerpt.pdf