My target grades to teach are K-5, although my licensure covers K-8. When I envision my future classroom I see my students using tech in a valuable way, NOT tech for the sake of using tech.
I realize that at some point I will have to justify my lessons to a principal, parent, or both. My first justification would be the standards. My state has technology standards for students.
Parent: Why are the kids using Google?
Me: We have certain tech standards. One of the areas of the standard outlines these goals: Collaboration and Communication Students collaborate and communicate globally in a digital environment. The outcome of that goal enables students to: communicate the results of research and learning with others using digital tools. To accomplish that goal I integrated the use of Google into our country projects. Students are using Google and other reputable online sources to collect data for their projects. Would you like to come in on Thursday afternoon and help the kiddos organize and evaluate their data? The amazing part of this project will be sharing them with our sister school in Scotland!
While this pretend exchange is simple and not terrribly true to real life, standards would be my justification on an academic level.
On a life skills level, I believe technology use is a skill. The old adage of practice makes perfect still applies. To be tech savvy, students need practice using it. Tech savvy students are empowered consumers of technology. Empowered consumers of technology are smart users of technology.
As a future teacher I view technology as a tool just as I view art supplies as tools to make art a real life creative experience for my students.
No comments:
Post a Comment