- Computers are an integral part of the educational experience because we are a society of technology users and it’s crucial that we educate our youth on the basic concepts and principals behind operating technology we use in our daily lives. Computers can be extremely powerful when used to support educational instruction. Educators can use a multitude of technological devices including computers with Internet access, apps, blogs, podcasts and much more to enhance learning within the classroom setting. Technology can also be used to address diversity, foster critical thinking through higher-order thinking skills and to foster creativity within students. Technology also raises concerns regarding its ability to replace the role of a teacher as it continues to advance. Personally, I do not believe this will occur, however technology may replace some of the things teachers do within the classroom. That being said, teachers who do not use technology will be replaced by those who do. Another technology related concern revolves around different areas socioeconomic statuses and whether or not the lower income area will be able to keep up with the higher income areas.
- The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) is the most frequently used non-profit set of standards utilized by students and educators alike. ISTE’s project and set of standards, also known as the National Educational Technology Standards (NETS), are set to evaluate the knowledge and skills that teachers should have and provide current and future educators direction for effective goals for the application of educational technology. The goal of ISTE is to use information technology to support and improve teaching and learning for the future. One ISTE standard for teachers that stood out to me was standard number one: facilitating and inspiring student learning and creativity through my knowledge of the subject matter and technology in order to advance student learning, creativity/expression outlets in both a physical and virtual environment. In order to successfully implement this as an educator a teacher must promote, support and exemplify innovative/critical thinking and inventiveness by engaging them in real world issues and solving genuine problems through technology. An ISTE standard for teachers that is outside my current skill set is modeling digital age work and learning. It is required of the educator to demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technological situations. I am part of a generation that has grown up with technology at its forefront, yet I still struggle with computer competency from time to time. As an educator I feel as though I would struggle collaborating with students and parents through digital tools as technology continues to advance.
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To be a “digital native,” one must be born or
brought up during the age of digital technology and thus be familiar with
computers and the Internet from an early age. Personally, I agree with this
term used for today’s youth because we have been brought up with this
technology and don’t know anything else—we assimilate with the environment
around us and what is utilized within it. There is a large gap in technological
advances from our generation (digital natives) to our teachers and parents
generations’ digital immigrants). Technology in terms of communication and
education has come a long way since those times, thus it is more difficult for
digital immigrants from older generations to keep up with the advancements we
have today. As for digital natives like myself, a new app or touch-screen phone
is commonplace. As an educator I will strive to keep up with the technology of
the times with help form useful standards such as ISTE, etc and to always
continue my learning far after my days as a student are over.
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