The use of technology in a classroom can have many different implementations. It can be as simple as using a computer to Google a research topic or it can be to help students communicate in a way they couldn't have before. The bottom line is that technology is a wave of progress that cannot be slowed down. Even with all its pitfalls, technology has too many positives to not use it. Students will always use technology for their own personal fun. They are young and they do not know any better, but if teachers can implement technology in a positive way, then students will have learned that the internet is more than just images and games. Having the practice and knowledge early on in life, students will have relevant skill sets when it comes with dealing with technological issues and problems. There are kids in my classrooms now that can troubleshoot a computer or SmartBoard better than the majority of the school staff. They are such quick learners because they have been dealing with these devices for the majority of their lives.
Assistive technology is another great implementation in a classroom. In students with severe disabilities, the assistive technology that exists today opens up a brand new world for them. I have personally worked with a student who uses an assistive device. The student has Down syndrome and she cannot talk aside from one to two word phrases. She has a tablet with a computer program that lets her "talk" to those around her. It is through this device that she can express herself whenever the staff has missed her point and we are lost as to what she wants to say. I have found that she enjoys it when people can understand her better and there is less frustration on both ends. The technology is the thing that is slowly helping her connect more to the world around her
No comments:
Post a Comment