Why should we have and use technology transformatively in our classrooms?

Education is the foundation of everyone's future, regardless if they pursue a post-secondary education. They need the skills and knowledge acquired in order to be successful. Education and the classroom is transforming technologically and will continue for the foreseeable future. I remember when I was in high school and my physics classroom got the schools first smart board. The teacher had been to professional development days to get used to the technology and was mainly learning day to day. It transformed our classroom only slightly but it introduced us to new ways of learning and tools that can be used in the classroom to facilitate our learning.
Technology is not going away and is only going to become more prominent in everyone's daily lives, jobs, and education. With that said, it is our responsibility as educators to integrate the various technologies into their learning experience so that gain familiarity of the equipment and software. This is valuable because not only does it prepare them for their future but also is often more efficient and effective than previous teaching methods and resources.

Additionally, the use of technology should not only be experienced by the wealthy schools but rather every school. The equipment can be obtained via grants and etc that will prepare every student, allowing for them to be competitive with their more affluent peers in other districts. By not incorporating technology, allowing for it to transform every classroom will leave some students more prepared than others, or at a disadvantage.

Technology is used globally, but obviously more or less depending on the region and development. Some regions do not have the resources because they are not higher developed but also because they may not want to integrate technology into their lives. For example, Amish and Mennonites, choose to use technology very limited in comparison to the rest of society. Yet, even Mennonites use quite a bit of technology from industrial barns, tractors, farming attachments, farming equipment, and electricity. Why? Well, because it makes life easier and is more efficient! So why not use it to improve our classrooms? I do not see why we would not.

Digital Storytelling Lesson

Here is a short video about a technology lesson I developed for a 6th grade geography class. This would be extremely beneficial in my future classroom! I could use this to provide students with directions for assignments and even for days that there will be a substitute teacher. This would be valuable for guiding students through projects and for them to create in place of the traditional prezi, poster board, and power point presentation. I really look forward to using this tool in my future classroom!


Mr. Fox's Digital Storytelling

Technology Inventory

At my school placement this semester we have a cart of chrome books in the classroom, an Epson smart projector, an Elmo, and access to a computer lab. The students use the chrome books on a weekly bases in both tech class and on small class assignments, especially Kahoot! Throughout the school there is wifi access but in the classrooms there is wifi specific to that room. From my understanding the chrome books are not heavily monitored but there are some minor restrictions. The teachers can sign up for a cart if needed but some teachers have them permanently in their classroom. The students are not allowed to BYOD and are limited to the chrome books and computer lab. As far as when there are issues, I am not sure who fixes the equipment. I am assuming there is IT support but it very well may not be at this charter school but from another one of the National Heritage Academies. This year they purchased the Geography Alive! textbook for the classroom and it came with software. They have now built their curriculum around the software and is used on a daily basis.