Teachers need to integrate technology seamlessly into the curriculum instead of viewing it as an add-on, an afterthought, or an event. – Heidi-Hayes Jacobs
Recently
I finished up some technology-based classes. For those who know me, it should
come as no surprise that I take classes in technology. I’m fascinated with the
potential. I’ve found I can’t out think, out dream, or out imagine how I could
use technology in the classroom. Taking these
types of classes, I believe, help me
become a better teacher.
What is it about hardware and software
and mechanical gadgets that enthralls me? Several things. One, I can use them to
differentiate instruction for students.Not just modifying down but also
modifying up the scale, offering more advanced students a challenge comparable
to their abilities.
Another reason I prefer to utilize
these tools is that they often lead to engagement. Students need to be 21st
century ready when they leave high school. What does that mean? To me it’s a
fancy way of saying they need to learn how to think analytically, how to work
with others, how to think beyond paper, and how to communicate—verbally and in
the written form. Honestly? I think these are huge, especially thinking and
communicating. My goal as a teacher has always been to get my students to
think, to analyze, to use logic, to pick an idea apart, looking for logical fallacies. As they learn to
think, they also learn to write. Again, using logic, using critical thinking
skills, and writing to defend or persuade. These are the hardest skills I’ve
found to teach but the most important.

I want my students to learn how to
work as a team, looking to others to
augment their own work. One project involved learning to create a digital
magazine. Students worked together, learning that in publishing there’s an
order. When one part of that order stalls, it forces others working on different
parts to stall as well. Students worked as a team, proofing each other’s work,
assisting each other in the layout and design process, and critically analyzing
the artwork needed and choosing what worked well with a written piece. Because
this was a publication that would be available online and in hard copy format,
students took extra pains to make sure what they produced was their best.
Finally, I believe technology offers
students the opportunity to think critically in terms of troubleshooting
glitches. Who hasn’t had a technology malfunction? I’ve had more than my share
and they regularly seem to occur when I really need to get something done. My
tech support (husband) isn’t always
available to help me troubleshoot the problem. Where do I go? Google, of
course. I can usually find answers on the internet. When students encounter
problems, I look at it as a learning opportunity and ask questions that will
hopefully help them understand the steps in troubleshooting problems.
People toss around the phrase, at
least in education, “life-long learner.” Because of the rapidity of the changes
in the technological world, for those who immerse themselves in technology,
they will become just that—learners in an ever-changing world.
I’ll continue to press myself to
learn so I can stay current with my students and the world around me.
Hopefully, making me a life-long learner. If you don’t use technology to
enhance your lessons, consider it. Take the jump. The water’s initially a
shock, but you get used to it. Trust me on this. Just jump in.
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