I believe that technology should not drive curriculum but be used as a resource to support curriculum. Technology and resources are available to students 24/7. These resources should be streamlined in a manner that is consistent, user friendly and creates a learning tool for the student. Students SHOULD be encouraged to explore and PLAY online.
Throughout my professional experience I have been exposed to many forms of technology, and even worked for a technology company that created equipment to capture objective measures of therapeutic exercise. I have worked on technical mechanical issues within a bike shop where the best resource available was YouTube. I have been challenged with academic issues that I could not identify in a book, and I have even become an extremely accomplished spearfisherman, and didgeridoo maker and player through the use of technology. Technology is an amazing resource and can allow an individual to become proficient, and even connect with others on topics that may not be readily available offline. Technology puts the knowledge of our entire existence at our fingertips. Education has and needs to continue to make a shift from rote memorization, to supporting students in identifying, utilizing and connecting with resources.
Within technology there are many areas that could be identified: school devices, personal devices, restrictions, Learning Management Systems, blended learning, online learning, social networking, big data management, enterprise architecture and many more.
I would like to identify the importance of consistency and support within technology. In a previous placement the students had access to various forms of technology, and the staff relied on their computers for planning and communication. This setting had an IT staff member that was present maybe once every two weeks. He continuously seem to play “catch up”, as he would simply identify slow or non-working computers and “fix” them. This staff member was not helping teachers to identify new strategies, and technologies to enhance the classroom, but performing a form of triage. Also, schoolwide there were no academic programs, LMS, or apps identified and used consistently. For this reason the transition between classes seemed a bit difficult.
In my most recent setting there are two technology coordinators, who not only ensure devices are working well, but also identify and communicate new strategies, technologies and techniques to the classroom teachers. Also, the organization has adopted a blended strategy into its mission, and the entire campus has committed to using the LMS Haiku. This consistency ensure all students understand and are accountable to the technology expectations. Lastly, the use of technology as a daily resource and tool removes to “novelty” aspect of technology, and allows students to remain on task more consistently.
Throughout my professional experience I have been exposed to many forms of technology, and even worked for a technology company that created equipment to capture objective measures of therapeutic exercise. I have worked on technical mechanical issues within a bike shop where the best resource available was YouTube. I have been challenged with academic issues that I could not identify in a book, and I have even become an extremely accomplished spearfisherman, and didgeridoo maker and player through the use of technology. Technology is an amazing resource and can allow an individual to become proficient, and even connect with others on topics that may not be readily available offline. Technology puts the knowledge of our entire existence at our fingertips. Education has and needs to continue to make a shift from rote memorization, to supporting students in identifying, utilizing and connecting with resources.
Within technology there are many areas that could be identified: school devices, personal devices, restrictions, Learning Management Systems, blended learning, online learning, social networking, big data management, enterprise architecture and many more.
I would like to identify the importance of consistency and support within technology. In a previous placement the students had access to various forms of technology, and the staff relied on their computers for planning and communication. This setting had an IT staff member that was present maybe once every two weeks. He continuously seem to play “catch up”, as he would simply identify slow or non-working computers and “fix” them. This staff member was not helping teachers to identify new strategies, and technologies to enhance the classroom, but performing a form of triage. Also, schoolwide there were no academic programs, LMS, or apps identified and used consistently. For this reason the transition between classes seemed a bit difficult.
In my most recent setting there are two technology coordinators, who not only ensure devices are working well, but also identify and communicate new strategies, technologies and techniques to the classroom teachers. Also, the organization has adopted a blended strategy into its mission, and the entire campus has committed to using the LMS Haiku. This consistency ensure all students understand and are accountable to the technology expectations. Lastly, the use of technology as a daily resource and tool removes to “novelty” aspect of technology, and allows students to remain on task more consistently.