Quality Teaching

I believe that a quality teacher is one who puts extra efforts in ensuring the understanding of their students. A quality teacher is also a positive role model, who inspires their students to learn and accomplish goals. If I wanted to know how well I was doing as a teacher I would ask my students to tell me 3 things that they found to be the most important to them, that I had taught them. If each student is able to list and explain at least 3 things I will know that they had learned at least something. I would also ask my students if they felt comfortable in my classroom. I think it is extremely important for a classroom environment to be safe and comfortable. This encourages the students to share and participate in lessons and activities. I think it is important for students to have goals, both personal and educational. I will encourage this throughout my teaching. Therefore, I will ask my students what their goals are, or were for the year and if they accomplished them. If I was able to help them accomplish at least 1 of their goals, I know was was successful. I will ask my students if they like being in my classroom, or if they like coming to school. I want to be sure that my students are getting something out of my class, and more importantly enjoying it. Lastly, although "teaching to the test" is frowned upon, and I dont plan on doing it, I would still ask the principal or higher administration what my students' standardized test scores were. I would like to know if my teaching is successful in allowing them to move on to the next grade. I want to make sure that I did my job for the year and I think that knowing these scores would help.

Technology Integration in Lessons

As a student in the College of Education at NAU, I have written and taught many lessons. After learning about all the positive benefits that the integration of technology in the classroom have, I can only imagine of how much better my lessons would have been if they had involved technology in them. Back in November I had taught a first grade class a lesson on the Mayflower. I think it would have been really beneficial if my teacher had a smartboard. I would have used the smartboard to show my students pictures of the gigantic boat. This would give them a visual idea of how large the ship really was. I would try to find a virtual tour of the Mayflower to show them. I think that this would have really engaged the students and allowed them to understand the information better. It would have provided them with a life-like experience that they could relate to and therefore, make the lesson a memorable one for them.

Technology Integration

Technology is a huge part of society today. Growth in technology use is rapid, and new technologies are being introduced daily. Technology is being used EVERYWHERE, including classrooms. Classrooms are using technology everyday. Whether it is a smartboard or a calculator, some type of technology is being used. Although technology is a large and growing part of our society, I believe that some uses of it in the classroom can be potent to students' learning; therefore, it is the teacher's responsibility to make sure that the integration of technology in their classroom is beneficial. I believe that teachers should use smartboards to provide interactive learning with their students. If they are learning about a different country or an unfamiliar place, why not show them by using videos and pictures located from the internet and displayed on the smartboard. If students are learning math, why not let them come up and interact with objects on the smartboard, that display a math problem. I think all technology use in the classroom needs to be monitored. The last thing we want is our students just sitting on a computer playing games all day. Technology can be used to engage the students, I think projects that require online research and web surfing are also a great way to do this. This not only engages the student in what they are learning about but it also gives them the opportunity to learn how to use technology in a hands-on manner. Visuals play a large role in children understanding when they are learning something new. Technology gives teachers the opportunity to incorporate those visuals into their lessons and ensure their students' understanding. I think technology integration in the classroom is a very positive thing; however, teachers need to take the time to ensure that their students are getting all of the benefits from it throughout their education.