Blog Post 1: Technology Strengths and Weakness

Technology is at times my best friend, while at others it is the demon in my nightmares.  Over the fourteen years I’ve spent teaching elementary school, I have come to rely on technology in all aspects of my job, whether it is simply being used to convey information to my students or the students themselves are being hands-on users.  When it works, technology really does make my job easier.  However, I’ve learned over the years to have a backup plan in case something goes wrong (the Internet is down, equipment stops working and can’t be fixed for a few days- or weeks, etc.).  

As I said, I use technology every day in my job, but am I definitely more comfortable using it in certain ways.  I feel that I do a pretty good job of modeling how to use technology as a source of information.  Throughout the year I give my students multiple opportunities to research independently and in groups.  They use computers and iPads to find information online through websites, databases, and informational videos.  My students also use the web to locate more traditional resources like books and magazines that I then check out or purchase for them to use in class.  Another way I use technology in teaching is as a practice tool for skills I’ve already taught.  My students use apps and web-based assignments at home and in class.  Using technology as a way to communicate information to my students and parents is one of my strengths, as well.  My website provides general classroom information to parents.  I update it weekly with links to my newsletter, explain upcoming assignments and homework, and list reminders about school events.  Of course, email is another great communication tool for helping students and parents stayed informed about what is going on in class.

One area in which I want to grow is incorporating more technology into lessons daily, not just as a source of information, but as a way for students to learn together, work collaboratively, and share their learning in meaningful ways.  I think the most effective use of technology is when teachers and students use available resources to meet all learning styles, so that students are learning in the most beneficial ways for them as individuals.  I already hold the belief that students should be involved in assessing themselves and then using those assessments to make goals for their learning.  Right now we are using mostly paper documents for this purpose, but I know there are resources out there that my students and I could use to track this data.  However, I don’t really know what those resources are.  My school recently created a technology team to share how we are using technology in our classroom- what we’ve discovered that works as well as what didn’t work.  I joined the team so that I could learn from my colleagues and hopefully incorporate that new learning into using technology in more innovative ways for both student learning and self-assessment.  I would also like to attend some trainings or workshops specific to using Web2.0 tools with younger students.  Technology is constantly changing, and in order to provide my students with the most beneficial and meaningful education that they can apply to their lives, I need to stay current in knowledge and application of technology in the classroom.