My technology experience started all the way back when I was in elementary school. I was in kindergarten and I remember once a week my teacher used to bring this cart full of Dell lap tops into our classroom. we were all fortunate enough to each get our own, we were able to build shapes and play educational games on it. I was very lucky to go to the schools that I had attended because they were able to provide technology for us even at a young age. Even if we did not use it all the time.
When I went into middle school is when we started using computers more often. The library was full of computers. During our classes sometimes we would even go to the library so we could go on the computer to do research for a project or we had to do a power point. Most of the teachers I had in middle school knew what they were doing and were nice enough to help me research information when I wasn't sure where to look.
When I was in high school technology was a lot more integrated in the classroom more than it ever was. My school had just received "smart boards" they were very fancy. It looked like a white board but it was all touch screen. Teachers used it to show power points, to get students to go up in front of the class and demonstrate how to do a math problem on the board. All my teachers used it for everything and all the students wanted to write on it. It was like a privilege for students to use it. Not only did we have the smart boards but we also had working computers in the library and in the special education classrooms as well.One of my favorite activities working on the computers was when i was in a psychology class and my teacher had us take quizzes about what was our personality, it was pretty cool.
What I would want for my future students would be able to have both the technology based learning but also still getting the hands on learning that I feel some students loose to using only technology. I would love to have at least two computers in my class room for if a special education student had a disability and that they learned better being on the computer. Also, being able to use it as a reward or free time. I also wouldn't mind allowing students bring in their own devices but only when it is needed and for educational purposes. I would not want my students only relaying on a computer. I also wouldn't want the students just on their computers throughout class.
That's awesome that you had the opportunity to use computers during kindergarten. I remember in my kindergarden class we only had a massive desktop that all the kids had to share. We did had smart boards but most of the time they were just lingering around my school, I may have seen one teacher of mine use it once. I also think that its a great idea to have technology and hands on learning in the classroom at all times. It's good to switch things around from time to time. Most importantly not having the students get to intwineed and depenedent with their computers. Do you think within the next few years people will expect and depend on young children to learn how to use technology instead of a more hands on approach to learning?
ReplyDeleteThe fact that you used computers as early as kindergarten is amazing. I was not introduced to computers in school until late middle school. You were able to get an early start on technology and how to use it. That must have benefited you a lot when you entered middle school and high school. My high school had smart boards also, but only in a few classrooms. All of us students were excited to use them too! It seemed cool and new. But I am sure now everyone has smart boards in their classroom, which is a good thing because it is a good tool.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that you should integrate both technology and hands on in your classroom. If students are only able to use technology to do basic education then they will rely on it too much.
Do you think starting to use technology at the early age of kindergarten was helpful or hurtful to your educational experience? I feel like that might have been very helpful to you, for I was not even introduced to a computer until the third grade and that sort of set the tone for my view of technology. Also, I love how you included the part about special needs students ( I alwasy seem to forget about that possibility) and how you would like to engage them with technology. I have just a little concern with your comment regarding students bringing their own personal device to school, how would you monitor there usage with such devices? would you allow them to to use cell phones/ipods/ipads whenever or only during a monitored instructional period? Because I think that is a cool idea, yet scary with the possibility of students abusing such privilege.
ReplyDeleteI like that you not only wanted to use technology in the classroom, but that you also wanted to keep some hands on learning experiences. I think that this is very important because every child learns differently and although technology can be very helpful and useful to some students, it can be very hard for some students to understand or to learn through technology. As someone who is going to school to be a special education teacher, I like how you included the part about how technology could help a student with a disability. I have seen first hand how helpful technological devices can be to these students. In a general education classroom, how would you incorporate technology without the possibility of the children in the classroom abusing that privilege? Do you think that there is always that possibility that technology can be abused?
ReplyDeleteI find it really interesting you used technology in your kindergarten classroom. When I was in kindergarten I learned and built all of my shapes from other tools, such as paper, blocks, etc. While I think it isn't a bad idea for students to be allowed to play educational games on the computer, I don't think it's the best to teach them how to build essential learning skills on the computer at such a young age. In middle school, I had just about the same experience as you did, one computer lab, and we used it for powerpoints and research. I completely agree with you that yes, it's a good idea for students to learn some technology but that they lose a great deal of hands on skills at the same time. I would rather have my students use hands on materials and then learn technology more when they're older.
ReplyDeleteThats awesome to see that as a kindergardener, you had the opportunity to use laptops for learning opportunities. I was also privileged enough to have that opportunity too, and as a kindergardener it was so cool to be able to play on laptops/computers during class. Not a lot of people have that opportunity in school, especially as kindergardeners. My high school had smart boards in the library and classrooms as well, but they were literally never used. So its nice to see that smart boards are being used in classrooms. I never thought about using smart boards for math classes, but I bet it was really helpful to see things be drawn out and explained on smart boards. I bet it also encouraged students to participate as well.
ReplyDeleteI think that it is awesome that you were able to use laptops at such a young age. Unfortunately I did not learn how to use a computer until the fourth and fifth grade. I think that it would have been more beneficial to my learning if I knew how to use a computer at a younger age. We did not have any laptops in my kindergarten, and learned nothing related to technology. It is really cool that you were given that opportunity. I also really liked how your school used a smart board. My high school bought smart boards my sophomore year, and I was shocked at how much easier it was to understand notes and other learning materials. It looks like you had a really positive experience learning with technology!
ReplyDeleteUsing computers at an early age probably helped you learn quickly and have more experience than most of us now! When I first had an experience with smart boards, I thought they were fancy also. I feel as though we had a similar experience with the smart boards, because I would see power points and math problems on the smart boards as well. It was a good way to change things in the classroom with a different technology 'tool.' I like how you commented on how you want technology in your own classroom. I agree that the students shouldn't rely on technology, and it is good how you want two computers located in your classroom, and how it could be used as a reward for the students.
ReplyDeleteWow! Your experiences with technology in were much more advanced than mine. I went to kindergarten separate from my elementary school. We were not introduced to technology of any kind. It is so awesome that you were introduced to technology so early. In elementary school we were allowed to use the single computer in the classroom as a reward. There was a computer lab in the school but we rarely used it. By middle school we were in a computer lab once or twice a week! We used Microsoft word and typing programs. In high school we began to use the library and numerous computer labs for research. I first saw a SmartBoard this year however, so it is very neat that you got to use one in high school. I agree that technology integration is extremely important in the classroom especially in special education classrooms. Great post! :)
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