Hello everyone. Thank you for reading my introduction and for checking out my educational blog. I hope that you get to know me a little more through this medium, and I look forward to meeting each one of you.
What are my personal goals when it comes to technology? When I sat down in January of this year and reviewed my goals from 2023 and planned my goals for 2024, I never thought of including any goals related to technology. There were personal, professional, spiritual, and financial goals, but no technology goals. My goal for using technology this semester is to learn how to engage students in this high speed digital age while also not letting technology be the master of my classroom. I know that we all remember the low tech days of our childhood; overhead projectors with clear sheets that were written on then cleaned off, VCR and laser discs, the games Dangerous Dave and Oregon Trail on the school computers.
Suddenly, everything changed. First, DVD players made their appearance in the classroom. Then projectors that connected to the teacher's computer. Then smartboards that we could write on, watch videos from, and listen to music on. In an instant, everyone was carrying computers in their pockets.
I think that it is important to use technology effectively in the classroom, but I am cautious because I understand that "technology is a tool, not a teacher." I don't want to be the teacher who relies so much on tech that I am not an effective teacher without it.
I hope to learn some more skills in this class to add to what I have already learned from my technology classes that I have already taken. I want to use tech to assist my students and keep a good communication line with them. I understand how important communication is to our students. Adolescents are more connected now than ever and it is important that we reach them at their level.
As I reflect back on my previous technology classes, I realize that my goals have stayed the same. I just want to reach my students and be an effective teacher, no matter what tools and technology that I use in the classroom.
(Image from Adobe Blog)
