Reading Response #1

1) TECH PAST

• Briefly describe your previous experiences with computers in the classroom during your own K-12 education.

I remember computers being used rarely in my younger school years. I only used them to polish my typing skills or to play an educational game. As I reached middle school I began to use the computer more for research, to type papers, and projects. I feel like most of my teachers were too unsure how to directly include computers with their everyday instruction. There was one high school AP class where we were each allowed to use palm pilots at school and at home. It wasn’t all that useful because it was a lot of work to integrate it into our studying. I think I used the computer more outside of class than I ever recall my teachers using it during their instruction.

2) TECH PRESENT

• Describe your current ideas for integrating technology into your future classroom (indicate grade level and/or content area). Specify the purpose(s) of the technology and how the students and/or you will use it.

I hope to be better at including technology in my future classroom than my teachers were growing up. I would like to teach third grade, and I feel most students are ready at this age to navigate through a computer. I would like to use some interactive programs that to help my students practice their math skills. I also think it would be useful to have a class website or blog available. I could post current homework, and have other class announcements available. I also think it would be great for parents to be able to see what their child is doing in school. I feel technological use in the classroom is essential to preparing students for life outside of the classroom. I think it will improve their opportunities in a world that is becoming more dependent on technology. By using more technology in my classroom I can save time, help with collaboration, and more easily have access to students’ progress.

3) TECH FUTURE

• Based on the assigned readings (for Sept. 30th) and your own experiences, what do you anticipate being most challenging about using technology in the classroom?

I think integrating technology into each subject would be challenging in my future classroom. Technology could make it easier to differentiate my instruction, but I don’t feel confident on how to do that yet. It would be difficult to be up-to-date on and proficient on the latest available technologies. I think that it may be hard to make computers accessible to every student in my class as well.

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