Coming into this course, I thought I was reasonably knowledgeable when it came to computers. But looking back now, I see that I wasn’t. If I’ve learned anything from this course, it’s that learning never stops. You can’t know everything there is to know about computers. I feel a lot more comfortable and confident after going through this class in regards to my technological knowledge and “how to”. However, I’m not going to say I know everything there is to know about technology. There are always new forms of technology coming out and new programs to use. It’s my responsibility to keep an open mind and be willing to adapt to changes within technology and maintain that desire to continue learning.
You know, I’ve always admired the teachers who had used technology in the classroom back when I was in grade school. I got to see first hand how technology could make otherwise boring subjects fun, while at the same time, help me learn. I am just amazed by how far technology has come! There are just so many resources at the hands of teachers, ready to be used. I see technology in the classroom being a very, very important tool for teachers now and throughout the near future. However, I do still see and realize that technology is not everything. It’s important to be able to balance the old with the new.
There were various issues raised throughout the semester about the use of technology in the classroom that my peers brought up, that I never really thought of before. One concern is the amount of funding given to schools for these types of things. In a lot of the classrooms we’ve observed at, classrooms have limited amounts of computers available. In some classrooms, there may only be one or two. Kenneth said, “There is always an underlying question of where is the money for this technology going to come from?” I’d like to see a little more funding going towards these various types of assistive technology in the near future.
I also fear that teachers may not fully understand the technology they’re using. Teachers should be well versed in what they’re doing so they can at least answer students’ questions. Danielle wrote, “How would you feel if you were working on an assignment and got stuck, and your teacher doesn’t have the slightest idea of how to help you?” Christine also said, “some teachers today still do not know how to operate even the simplier programs on a computer, but then expect their own students to turn in an assignment that they may not even be able to master themselves.” So many times I’ve been in classes (even at the college level) where my teachers/professors don’t really know how to use any of the technology that they normally do. They know how to do the things they need, but nothing more. And the moment something goes wrong in their routine (e.g. the projector won’t work), the whole lecture is scrapped. Teachers must understand the things they choose to use to the point where they’re comfortable.
The technology that I enjoyed learning most about were the Inspiration program and towards the end of the semester, the Kurzweil 3000 program. Both of which, I was unfamiliar with before the readings. What draws me to the Inspiration program, is its versatility. It can be used in so many different ways, each designed to benefit the student. Kurzweil 3000 pretty much speaks for itself. I was unaware that technology has come this far. There are so many different uses and features in this program. Each designed to help students’ achievement. I’m not sure how many classrooms currently use this, but I can’t see a future without this program being in the majority of classrooms.
The most challenging assignment was also my most rewarding. The Inspiration project was probably the toughest for me just because I had never used the program before. Most of the other assignments used programs I was relatively familiar with. But I learned a great deal from the Inspiration exercise, which is why I said it was most rewarding. It’s really a great program, and I’m glad I got the opportunity to use and get comfortable with it.
Throughout the course I learned that the only way to really grasp the concepts of how technology works is by using it. It’s one thing to read about how to use a particular program. But through using the program in a hands-on way, you make mistakes, you find out what works and what doesn’t, and other times you explore features you wouldn’t have otherwise.
As I’ve stated before, I plan on using the Inspiration program in my future classroom. I think it’s a worthwhile investment that will benefit the whole classroom. I also like the idea of video lessons/blogs. They may take a bit of time to create, but (through personal experience) bring the message home in a new, and most times, an effective way. Using Microsoft Excel can also be quite beneficial to the classroom. It can be used in a variety of ways for all sorts of subjects. Anything that presents material in a new or different way to students, is good enough for me!
Overall, I definitely think this class was beneficial in providing me with many technological skills. I thought I knew a lot coming into the course, but I was way off! I realize now that there is so much more to learn and so much more to gain because there are so many different things out there to explore. It’s exciting to know that it is possible to integrate technology into the classroom while also keeping it relevant. I know that I can only go forward from here and continue to learn and educate myself, so I can be the best teacher I can be.
