Technology

Technology is the world of our students.  Elementary students have the
ability to read books without turning a single page, search instantly any
thought they may have and get several if not hundreds of possible responses, and
can instantly watch videos of other teachers teaching the same concepts they are
learning at school on with the click of a few keys and a mouse.  Technology
has embedded itself into all of our lives and to teach without using it leads
students feeling disconnected in the learning process.  I am not saying
that teachers must use technology, and I am not saying that learning can only
happen with technology.  I am saying that technology enhances the learning
environment and helps teachers to design lessons that can produce instantaneous
formative assessment feedback, videos created by students or teachers, and
interactive games. 

Technology is a tool to enhance the learning
experience, it cannot replace teaching.  The technology I use in class give
me the flexibility to instantly show student work to the entire class through
the use of a document camera.  I can also obtain instantaneous formative
feedback by using a student response system during class.  This data will
how me how well my students understand the material from a previous lesson or on
the lesson minutes after teaching it.  The last technology I use daily is
the Smart Board and Smart Slate.  This interactive white board has many
great tools and enhances my math lessons, but it also allows me to export my
notes into a PowerPoint or Adobe format giving me the opportunity to upload my
notes to my teacher website on a daily basis.  Therefore, teachers should
embrace the use of technology because it allows teachers to obtain instant
feedback from formative assessments as well as gives them a chance to digitally
save notes.