Teachers don't have time for complicated. They need ways of teaching that is simple to put together, yet effective and simple to learn from. That is what makes using word processing, spreadsheets, and presentations a perfect option for busy teachers. This is what Roblyer (2016) refers to as the "basic suite".
Most everyone these days will recognize at least one of these tools. Teachers probably would find it difficult to teach without using a presentation tool at least once through the day, and a student experiences word processing programs almost immediately in elementary schools now. This is because it is simple, effective, and available to most everyone. Robyler states, "Perhaps no other technology resource has had as great an impact on education as word processing." There are numerous advantages related to presentation and alignment, spell check, revision history, and graphic insertion. These make teaching and learning quickly effective and engaging. It is also stated that, "A teacher can use it to support any directed instruction or constructivist activity." This makes it flexible, and highly valuable. As students are introduced to this technology, and gain confidence through practice, they are becoming technologically prepared to excel in the current, modern society and job force. Spreadsheets are used throughout the education world from creating and managing budgets to organizing a gradebook. They are a major time-saver. They help answer questions regarding numbers and data, graphs, and statistics. When students begin asking questions and exploring with information, they can learn to effectively navigate spreadsheet software to gain deeper understandings. Presentations are a powerful tool that has proved its effectiveness in a variety of ways for many years and generations of teaching. As the teacher/learner relationship evolves, so does the power of presentations and different delivery techniques. It is most effective if used in the correct way that aligns with appropriate pedagogical practices. When there are a limited amount of words and bullets, engaging pictures or videos, lending itself to a variety of learning styles, interactive components, and slides are created with a high degree of visual appeal, a presentation can be extremely powerful. However, the best way they can be used is when the creative power is given to the student to show learning. Robyler (2016) states, "Having learners become the designers and experts of content, in the end presenting their work to the class, can serve as a powerful technology integration lesson for any domain of learning." The focus on these tools has led to the creation of many practical apps for teachers and students to use. Things just keep getting better and better. I have loved exploring the various apps associated with Google such as Google Docs, Google Slides, and Google Classroom. Students have the ability to create, collaborate, and engage with their learning like never before. As the teacher, I can see their revision history and know exactly what has really been or not been done. I can leave a comment on their work, and so can their peers. I can give more immediate feedback during their learning process which is a valuable tool for students when focusing on improvement. There can never be a lost paper, or something left at home, or any dogs eating their homework. I can't imagine teaching without the basic suite of technological tools, and I love learning how to more effectively use them. Roblyer, M.D. (2016). Integrating Educational Technology into Teaching. [Kindle Edition]. Retrieved from Amazon.com.
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I've always loved using and integrating technology into my teaching and curriculum. It seemed to come more naturally to me than other teachers, and I noticed right away how my students engaged with it more willingly than other styles of instruction. I knew there was a right and a wrong way to go about teaching with software programs, but I didn't always understand where that line was.
"Computer science remains one of the fastest growing industries across the world and preparing the future workforce is critical for economic success (2017)." The NMC/CoSN Horizon report 2017 K-12 edition helped open my eyes to the true value of coding as a literacy. I knew of a few teachers who taught coding in their computer lab time and I had thoughts like yeah, that's fun and all, but there are other ways to use that lab time that's more meaningful to my teaching. I'm ashamed of myself now. If my main teaching goal is to prepare my students for a successful future as a contributing member of society, and it is, then surely introducing and encouraging students to play with coding helps reach that goal. My teaching philosophy has always centered around a Constructivist approach, with hands on learning and exploration, with group collaborative projects, with self-discovery and intrinsic motivation. Sure, there are times when this seems hard to accomplish all my teaching criteria through that lens, but there was something in the report that took hold of my heart when it said, "Developing the future workforce is important, but coding literacy at its base level can also help students build transferable skills. Using tools such as the programming language Scratch, students have an avenue for innovation, invention, and creative expression." Wow- teaching students creative expression through coding too? I'd never thought of it that way, but now it rings so clearly in my mind. This goes hand-in-hand with another class I'm currently taking that is solely focused on using Minecraft: Education Edition in the classroom. There is a coding aspect within the game that students love so much. The teacher has shown us ways to use minecraft as a medium for group collaboration, problem-solving, and creation. If I'm allowing my students the ability to learn these life-skills in an applicable way for their real future, then I feel like I'm doing my job. So the Horizon report has informed my teaching by changing my views on coding in the classroom setting. It's not just for the future computer science majors, it is for everyone. It will be needed more and more in the future innovative world, and children can begin learning it at age four! Not only will everyone benefit from the ability to code, they will benefit from the repercussions of learning to problem-solve with a team, create an original idea or concept, or take constructive feedback and reflect. Freeman, A., Adams Becker, S., Cummins, M., Davis, A., and Hall Giesinger, C. (2017). NMC/CoSN Horizon Report: 2017 K–12 Edition. Austin, Texas: The New Media Consortium. a In an ever-evolving world, it is more and more important to continue evolving as well. This doesn't mean changing everything that is good, but having an open mind to the changes that might bring the better, more efficient ways of life. Educational technology is a prime example of this. Technology has always been part of education. From a simple pencil, to the original microcomputers, to the newer hand-held devices, and all the ways between, education has benefited from technology. More important than technology, however, is always a teacher. According to Robyler (2016), "We need more teachers who understand the role technology plays in society and in education, who are prepared to take advantage of its power, and who recognize its limitations. In an increasingly technological society, we need more teachers who are both technology-minded and child-centered."
A Constructivist approach to teaching keeps the child's natural curiosity and sense of adventure alive through questioning and exploring topics. Integrating technology into curriculum easily fits itself into this approach to teaching because there are so many ways to allow students to explore topics on their own through technology. Another piece of a Constructivist approach to teaching is the concept of creation. Modern apps through computers or hand-held devices literally allow children the power of creation at their fingertips. Not only do children have a stronger desire to do these activities, there is a lot of extra knowledge a teacher can gauge from these sorts of activities. In such a technological real-world, there are huge benefits to students being introduced to these things at a young age while in school to better prepare them for a realistic future. Using these technologies also naturally creates an opportunity for inquiry-led projects where students can work together in teams to research, plan, and create products. This is very similar to many real-world careers and the skill to work effectively in a team is highly valuable. As life often shows, too much of a good thing is a bad thing and to maintain a classroom solely revolving around a Constructivist approach could prove to be detrimental if the teacher sees holes forming in educational thinking and computing. The Behaviorist approach that aligns with more of a direct way of teaching explicit information can be helpful in assisting technological education in the classroom. For example, setting up routines and procedures for technology safety might be taught more explicitly with steps to follow and no room for exploring. Together, the approaches work together to create a rich, effective learning environment within a classroom. As educators quickly realize, there are some issues and drawbacks to using technology integrated into the curriculum. Not all technology-inspired activity is good for students. Teachers need to be aware of , and take steps to prevent, activities such as cyber-bullying or privacy issues. Teachers can teach students proper "netiquette" or etiquette while online. These things include never giving out personal information to anyone while online, avoiding harsh feedback that they wouldn't be comfortable saying face-to-face, and learning to properly cite information online to avoid plagiarism. Sometimes, having access to technology is also an issue. Not all classrooms have the same access to computers or computer labs. Sometimes, there are server issues which can slow lessons down, or even completely stop them from time to time. Software might not always be available to all classrooms due to funding limitations. Finally, the digital divide is an issue where not all students have computer and internet access at home limiting their ability to complete assignments as homework. Even considering the drawbacks to integrating technology into the classroom, there is still a greater advantage to prepare students for their future by introducing technology into the classroom. Whether the teacher is using it to display information, or present it differently, or the students actually have it in their own hands to learn and create, their futures will benefit. I believe it is up to the teacher to understand the role of technology and how to best apply it in their classroom for their students. It is a teacher's job to sift through the less usable aspects of technology and present the most valuable treasures to the students, allowing them an opportunity to use inquiry to guide and explore for their own learning. Roblyer, M. (2016). Integrating Educational Technology into Teaching (7th ed.). Massachusetts: Pearson |
Sierra MayFourth Grade teacher, twitterpated wife, Mama of 3 beautiful girls! Archives
January 2018
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