Post #2

     When it comes to learning, I agree with many philosophies of the best way to attain knowledge; one of the best however, is the idea of learning through experience. It is through these experiences that we learn to adapt to our surroundings. In order to “survive” in education, and especially in life, students, teachers, doctors, lawyers, etc, need to be able to adapt to the technology and its uses.

     Technology hasn’t always referred to electronics however. In the stone ages, fire was the most advanced technological tool. Then there was the wheel, horse and carriage, Model-T automobile, a mobile phone, a desktop computer, iPad, SMARTboard, etc. As there becomes a need for the technology, it is soon after invented.

      If we are preparing students for jobs that haven’t been created yet, and the use of technology that hasn’t been invented yet, then we need to strongly consider the role of technology in the classroom and the world around us. It is undeniable. There is, and most likely always will be, a need for technology in our everyday lives. That is why it is crucial that we as teachers understand the importance of technology and how it plays a role in the success of our students. 

Post #1

     Technology has always been a part of my life, at least for as far back as I can remember. The only thing that has changed is the advancement. While I was in elementary school we used technology every day, whether it was an overhead projector, going to the computer lab to play “Oregon Trail”, keyboarding class, or simply taking an AR test. This was all during the school day though. When I arrived home, especially in the middle school years, my first priority (after my homework was finished of course) was to sign on to AOL Instant Messenger. I couldn’t wait to get home, after spending all day with my friends, to log on and talk to them again. As I grew older, as a student in middle school and high school, I started using technology at home more for school purposes rather than purely for entertainment. This would include research for essays, writing the essay itself, powerpoint presentations, emailing my peers for a project, etc. It wasn’t until college though that I saw a real change. I hardly ever used the library. What was the point? Everything I needed was online! Sure I would go there for a scenery change, and a quiet place to study, but when it came to finding resources for research papers, I mostly used online or electronic resources. Still, this is nothing compared to what I have seen used in the classroom today. I feel that even in my college years, we did not have the technological resources in the classroom that we can find now. I think the ELMO projector was the most advanced piece of technology used in my college classrooms. Nowadays, there seems to be more opportunity for the students to be more engaged and creative with their thinking, with the technology provided. As the years have progressed, the technology has become vast and more advanced. I often get excited and ask myself, “What will they think of next?”