Assignment 2

Hayley Wilson

9/13/13

CAT 200 Assignment1

            Educational technology is a very important part of education. I believe that technology can enhance the way education is taught and learned. To me educational technology is when any kind of technology is used in a classroom setting for a learning experience. Technology plays many roles in education. One of the roles is that students are able to demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology. Another role is that students are able to understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical behavior. Students are also able to demonstrate a sound understanding of technology concepts, systems, and operations through technology in education. A few roles that technology plays in the teacher’s role is that it facilitates and inspires the student learning and creativity through the teacher. Teacher’s role is also to design and develop digital-age learning experiences and assessments. Technology also allows the teachers to engage in professional growth and leadership in the students.

            There are many factors that encourage technology in the classroom. A few of these are being able to enhance a student’s view on creativity. It also is able to equip our students to function in a technology driven society. If there are encouraging things about technology then there will always be some discouraging things about technology in education. A few discouraging things can be that we suppose replace our writing skills with too much technology in the classroom. Our students will always need to know how to write, but if we go overboard on the technology in our classroom we could easily overlook this major skill. This is just one example of how technology in the classroom could be discouraging.

            My background and experience with technology in the classroom isn’t very big. When I was a senior in high school my a few select classrooms were given smart boards in the room. This was a major deal for my high school. A few years before that we were given an elmo to use with the classroom projectors. We had computers in my elementary, middle, and high school. In my elementary school we would have computer time once a week and we were able to play different computer games. I recently observed in a classroom that had a smart board. The teacher used the smart board for different things, but I particularly liked when she would use the board for behavior management. I think technology is a great way to broaden the students learning experiences. I hope to be able to use technology in my future classroom as much as I possibly can.