Experiences+with+Technology+and+Computers

As a child growing up in the late twentieth century, technology has become more popular and available for personal use. I can't remember a time when I did not have access to a computer at home; while I don't remember my first three years of elementary school, I know that beginning in third grade, our classrooms had computers for students to use. At home, I would use the computer to play games like Oregon Trail. At school, we used computers to play educational games such as Math Munchers and typing programs to teach us how to properly type using all fingers on both hands.

In my later years in elementary school, I joined a group of students called student technology leadership program (STLP). Part of this group was to learn how to connect a computer and all of its pieces so that it is able to be used. We also were responsible for cleaning all of the computers in the building - in between the keys on the keyboard and the ball of the mouse for each computer. One last duty for the STLP group was to put together morning announcements that all teachers would turn on on their classroom TV's rather than just listening over the intercom system. As part of the morning announcements, students from STLP would also be asked to come to after school events and use the video camera to record so that clips could be shared in the morning announcements.

My middle school's technology program wasn't as developed and didn't have the groups to expose students to more technology than the technology classes where students learn the proper posture/hand movements for typing. Every student was required to go to technology weekly as part of special areas. My high school had a great business department that students could fill in their schedules with technology electives. One of the classes that I took in high school involved students using computers to create various types of multimedia. We mainly used Microsoft Word, Publisher, and Powerpoint to create the different multimedia that the teacher assigned. I was also assigned to help with the editing and creating of videos for school events. I helped make the senior video by helping with the edits and adding music to the visual show. I also helped with a few other videos by cutting and clipping videos to create a montage of different events for presentation purposes. Another class that I took in high school allowed students to learn Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Access. This class offered students to take exams at a discounted rate to become certified in these programs.

While I was in school, the Smart Board technology was just becoming popular, therefore I really didn't see them in the classrooms that I was in. My schools weren't able to do a one-to-one program to provide every student with technology (laptop or other device). My schools didn't have enough projector screens available to use technology every day in every classroom.

I see now that I have been in classrooms with up-to-date technologies that it is important to use the technology available to it's fullest potential. Using technology allows the teachers to reach a number of learners because computers can differentiate instructions much easier through using technology. Using technology in the classroom can help to assess students by creating every child's exam based on their previous answer and not giving every student the same exam. Technology can also be used to help students learn in different ways. Some students may need to see an actual real-life example take place in order to understand a topic - it is easier for the teacher to find the videos on sites such as You Tube to show real-life examples to the students that need the additional help than it would be for the teacher to demonstrate every single topic in class time. Students can also use technology as a way to review information before a test.

Being in the digital citizenship course has helped me to see new ways to use technology in the classroom. Students can use programs such as Go Animate or Story Bird to show their creative writing capabilities. Programs such as these will help teachers meet the new common core standards which say that every student has to meet speaking standards as part of the English Language Arts curriculum in addition to the reading, writing, and listening standards.

I honestly believe that teachers do need to be careful in what they have students do with technology. I'm not saying that teachers should fear using technology, but should be cautious and make sure that students are doing what they need to do. The benefits of using technology far outweigh the cons. As time continues, students will identify more with technology and will be easier to access through the use of technology than through direct instruction solely in the classroom.