My Journey of Understanding Technology At the beginning of this class, I walked in with very little knowledge of how to work a computer let alone programs that can be used in a classroom. Now that the class is coming to an end I can proudly say that my knowledge of technology has increased by one-hundred percent. I never thought that I would have confidence on a computer until now. This journey has been kind of challenging because of the lack of knowledge that I had. I learned that I learn new technologies by doing them and seeing all of the different choices that I have with the program. When the task at hand is repetitive it is really helpful because it allows me to get comfortable with all of the functions. Also, working in groups is …show more content…
Working in groups allows me to pair up with someone else who is more knowledgeable about technology and have them show me things they find or know of. The most challenging project that was done this semester was the coding exercise. I have never done coding and so to go piece by piece and have to put an entire program together I had a really hard time. My computer also at first was not working with the program so that assignment was made even harder for me. The technology that I enjoyed using the most this semester was the infographic exercise. I had never heard of infographics before this assignment. Seeing all the information that can be included in them and the creativity that goes along with it made it something I will definitely use in my classroom. One of the things that I loved the most about this project was the ability to be creative and create something that would help my students but also would not look intimidating to them but something that draws …show more content…
Before taking this class, I was thinking that it was ridiculous to include technology because I always thought of kids just playing games instead of doing anything productive. Now that I have seen all of the different programs that can be used such as excel, coding, and Padlet I am more open to using them in the classroom. The reading links we have done have included a lot of the jobs in the future going more towards technology. Because of this, it makes sense that we include technology into the classroom because by not doing that we are only hurting the students and their opportunities in the future. One of my favorite incorporations that I learned about was assistive technology, AT, which gives assistance to people who have disabilities. In the video How Assistive Technology Enables Dreams there was a student in high school, Lukas Bratcher, who is not able to use his arms. However, through the invention of a joystick, he is able to play the baritone because it pushes the valves for him. I was not aware this type of technology was available, but I think it is a necessity for the classroom along with making sure that teachers know how to work with them so that if there is an issue the students do not feel like a burden. Another important thing that I learned about was copyright. In the reading,
If you are studying together it is very helpful, and you will get a lot done. Also, with a group mind, if you are doing a project for work/school there is always somebody there to look over your work, just in case you mess up. Then, if you are doing a project with some a lot of calculations, having a group is very helpful. In case you mess up or just do not see a mistake you made on a calculation and correct it, so you do not have to get some points taken off for getting it wrong. There are pros and cons to this subject matter, but I think the cons outweigh the pros.
Since the integration of technology into education, technology has helped give students advanced opportunities, and a chance at a better education than those before them. Technology in the classroom can be a very useful tool to students, and the job of educators is to ask themselves if new technologies are helping students accomplish something that would otherwise not be possible. The answer to this question should always be yes.
Almost everyone attends a school at one time in their life whether the classroom includes technology or not. Research shows that technology isn’t used as often as one might think. The article, “High Access and Low use of technology in High School Classrooms” illustrates the use of technology by stating that only one in ten of elementary and middle school teachers are daily users of computers (Cuban, Kirkpatrick, Peck). Most schools now have classrooms that use technology throughout the entire class time and even at home to do homework. Although some people might agree with the use of technology in class, it is more harmful to the students than useful. It can cause many distractions, it can be difficult to use and can take away from learning time.
When I began high school I was taking a computer science class. The class presented many difficult concepts, some of which I grasped immediately. Others, such as the concept of object-oriented programming design, took me awhile longer to understand. When the concept was first explained to me during my first semester of computer science, I did not understand it at all. I thought to myself, “I have no idea how to use this, I don’t even know why it useful, oh well, I’ll just ignore it for now.” However, as I continued throughout the class, learning new classes and me...
I always knew that I was interested in learning about technology ever since I saw the inside of a desktop in seventh grade. It was fascinating to learn how different components of a computer come together: if one part of a computer fails or has higher or lower specs than the rest of its components, the entire system fails. It’s like yin and yang.
The group project turned to be an amazing first time experience for me on working as a member of a team for organizing an event. I find it safe to say that it would not have been possible if I were on my own. Each effort from the individual group member made it possible to create an event that I could never imagine at the start of the project. Through this project I have learned what actually working in a group is and how amazing things can happen if many hands and heads are working together. This project taught me about how someone whom you cannot expect anything from can turn about to impress you the most. Of course every project has a tough part to deal with and we faced ours too. One of the hardest parts in this
Over the past few years technology has taken on a whole new meaning. We have moved from the days of chalkboards, to whiteboards, to interactive whiteboards. Our students seem to be more computer savvy than their teachers. Home telephones are starting to become a thing of the past, and cell phones have turned into mini-computers. Technological geniuses have even tried to eliminate books by creating electronic books, for example the Kindle and Nook. It has become pretty evident that being technologically smart is a necessity in today's world.
Group work also teaches teamwork, another important skill carried on later in life. Working with others allows students to appreciate different learning styles and talents that everyone brings to the table. When I participate in a group project, I accel in the more academic aspect of it, but
Technology enables students and teachers to have a fast and easy way to acquire unlimited access to tons of information. With all of the useful technologies, the curriculum is bound to change in endless ways, creating more opportunity for learning.
What I learned in the group final project is that I am not the best with working with people. It is not that I do not want to work with them or that they do not want to work with me, it is that my group which consisted of Alexa, Aaron, Ashlyn, Brett, and myself, had very conflicting schedules so it was difficult trying to rearrange times so all or at least the majority of us could meet up to go over our group work. Before starting our group project “The Day in a Life of…”, we were grouped up with our fellow classmates but not on our own volition. I was not put into a group with people I knew or thought I would like.
In less than a decade, computer use progressed from programming classes for a few of the better students, to literacy classes for all students, to the integration of computers and technology into the curriculum. Now, there is a goal for educators to use technology as a tool in efforts to teach more effectively by using a variety of strategies to meet different needs in a diverse classroom. This will take training and commitment to keep up in an area that changes quickly, but the benefits to teachers and students are greater that the effort it will take to stay informed; computers increase productivity of students and make learning a fun experience. They help students become better problem-solvers instead of just rote learners.
Technology properly used in the classroom has many advantages to a student’s learning. Technology can help students become more involved in their own learning process, which is not seen in the traditional classroom. It allows them to master basic skills at their own rate rather than being left behind. Teachers and students alike can connect to real life situations by using technology in the classroom; this can also help to prepare students for real world situations. Technology can be used to motivate students as well as to offer more challenging opportunities. It can also be used as a visualization tool to keep students interested in the subject that is being taught. When technology is used effectively, students have the opportunity to develop skills that they may not get without the use of technology (Cleaver, 2011). Assessing and monitoring students is easier on the teacher because of the ability to use technology in the classroom. When technology is used correctly it offers limitless resources to a classroom atmosphere.
Schools need to incorporate technology education into all areas of their curriculum. Students need to be able to understand not only the how-to of computers, but they need to understand when to use them, where to use them, and why they should be used. Many students only have a basic working knowledge of computers.... ... middle of paper ...
When I first enrolled in Technology and Society, I honestly did not know what to think of this class. I thought I was going to feel awkward because maybe it was going be a class full of nerds, which there wasn’t, and all we would talk about was different kinds of inventions and how they effected society. After completing the course it was pretty much true, the class discussed many inventions and how they have effected society throughout the years, even how society has effected technology. One of the main topics that was covered in the class was how many different definitions there was of what was considered technology. The biggest lesson that was taught was how technology and society have been linked so closely throughout history, and now today you cannot have one without the other.
students prefer technology because they believe that it makes learning more interesting and fun. They especially like laptops and tablets. Subjects that students deem challenging or boring can become more interesting with virtual lessons, through a video, or when using a tablet. Technology occupies an important place within students’ lives. When they are not in school, just about everything that they do is connected in some way to technology. By integrating technology into the classroom, teachers are changing the way they used to teach (lectures six hours a day) and providing students with the tools that will take them into the 21st century. One of the characteristics of the modern classroom is collaboration and technology helps to empower it. With classroom technology students can collaborate with other students and their teachers in and outside of the classroom quickly and easily.