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.