There are so many ways that technology can be incorporated into education. It's important that as upcoming teachers we understand that we will be teaching kids/young adults that grew up on all different kinds of technology. There are ways to use technology to teach material in class, see how the students are picking up on the material, and to keep everyone on the same page of what to expect from class on a day to day basis.
The first point that I thought was really interesting in the chapter was the focus that was put on the divide between the "digital natives" andthe "digital immigrants", I think it's a really interesting thought that even though I have grown up around certain technologies, that I could still have to play catch up later if I stop trying to learn new things. Technology is moving so quickly, that if we want to be able to connect with our students, it's important that we know what we're talking about when it comes to technology in the classroom.
The second point that grabbed my attention was the idea of TPACK, (Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge). In my Intro to Education class that I took last semester I actually had to write pedagogic creed, and in writing that and listening to my classmates ideas, I found that there really are a lot of different philosophies and ways to go about teaching. I think it is so wonderful that there are more ways of finding that "sweet spot" in education to make learning all the better.
Last, but definitely not least, was the information about students who don't have access to technology in their homes. I did a research paper on the affects of poverty on education and one of the main points had been that students without access to internet at home, which leads to less resources, didn't do as well in school as the other kids. I think it is so very important to not only teach with technology, but to also teach technology skills and safety in the classroom. I also very strongly believe that students should have access to technology after school hours for projects and homework as well.
In conclusion, technology is advancing so quickly, and we have so many new and exciting resources to incorporate into our teaching, that thereis no reason that we shouldn't take full advantage of it. Students and teachers will only be able to connect better with each other, the more technology that we use in the classroom as tools for education.
Resources:
Maloy, R., O'Loughlin, R., Edwards, S., & Woolf, B. (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education Inc.
Koehler, M. (n.d.). TPACK Explained. Retrieved January 16, 2015.
Advantages of technology in classrooms and schools. (n.d.). Retrieved January 16, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0s5zp99xhg
