Reflections on Educational Technology

Educational Technology has been an eye-opening course this semester. While I had always thought of a high school English literature class as a setting that easily accommodates technology, I still wasn't fully aware of just how much I could incorporate into my lessons and classroom to truly drive home the criteria. My chance to teach will still take some time to reach; however, technology is flourishing, meaning that when it is my time I can expect to have the opportunities to incorporate as much technology use into my instruction as possible. I love the Smart board as a interactive and instructive tool, and have even researched into DIY smart boards due to the high costs of commercially produced ones. Projectors are also a fantastic tool to I'd like to use in the classroom, and are often commonplace these days. Computers and tablets within the class will also allow for in-class research and the huge array of software such as word processors and presentation programs, even digital blog development such as the ones we've used in this course.

While the majority of people have access to technology basically everywhere they go, for those who may not have those same opportunities, or even if the class didn't provide the technology needed, local libraries, including school libraries are still available to access most of the software and websites needed to navigate any class and assignment. The class may not be as digitally interactive, but I think that within public means a solution could easily be come to in providing what was needed for the students. I envision a class where most of the student work that needs done can be done within the class itself so I can provide the students with as much one-on-one instruction as possible when they need it the most. This is why I believe digitizing most of the work done is so crucial; I can create lessons they can access when they need it, whether they're in class or not. The use of the QR codes intrigued me, and after learning what they're capable of doing helped with the idea of the lesson being outside the class with the scan of a QR code I can whisk them away to whatever supplemental material I deem necessary or interesting.

Teaching a high school English literature class, full of 14-18 year old students doesn't strike me as a group that would be limited in their knowledge of technology. Though they may be introduced to new software, and research criteria, I am confident that it wouldn't pose as any barrier to teach them how to properly utilize it. A real concern that I have contemplated involved the use of phones within the classroom. Checking into other teacher blogs/vlogs many had a system where as the students walked in the placed their phone within a clear plastic wall hanging and would receive the phone after the end of the class on their way out. If the students followed the policy they were shown as in attendance, and for those who chose not to acknowledge the policy, they would be counted as absent in the class. I felt it was a good policy because the phones were hung on a wall, in clear view, so no one had the worry of a phone getting misplaced, stolen, or damaged. Many teachers had a pretty high success rate with this policy as well, so I assume it would be at least worth a try.

Some of my concerns involving incorporating technology in my classroom mainly boils down to funding. What if the school I'm working with just isn't able to provide this for their students? Lack of funding will not deter me though, if I have to DIY, or do some fundraising to make things happen I would be willing and able to do so. Communities, regardless of demographic, want to see school children doing well, and often times, when called into action, can rally together and help out as long as they know their help is needed. I have grown up pretty familiar with technology; although, I may not be the most savvy when it comes to social media, but when it comes to technology in general I rarely have too many difficulties I can't troubleshoot myself, so I've no real frustrations with technology being a major influence in the class. Some of the main concerns I have as far as technology progressing in education is ways to keep the students focused, and to also teach them how learning goes beyond technology and the classroom in general. Finding a balance between the two will be interesting to explore and I look forward to seeing how the students transform themselves, their ideas, and the world with the help of technology.