Olivia Marchelska

Technology Class

Homework

Blog on Chapter 1 and Chapter 2

            Chapter 1 of the textbook “Transforming Learning with New Technologies” is entitled “Becoming a 21^st Century Teacher” focuses on what teachers need to create to allow students to gain valid learning experiences that are both engaging and educational. I enjoyed reading this chapter because I personally view myself as an old school teacher, however I am open to learning different ways I can incorporate technology in my classroom and hope to do that in the future. One important thing the chapter focused on is that there are many technology tools that will help a teacher accomplish something. For example, inside the classroom a teacher can use internet to research, PowerPoint to express ideas, different educational software, teacher-made blogs, and more. These tools will help present an academic and interactive learning environment for the students in the classroom. There are also technology tools that are helpful outside the classroom such as grade/attendance recordkeeping, professional correspondence, research, home-school communication, and more. These tools allow a teacher to be organized with outside items and make it easier to manage their professional responsibilities. There is a new term that is used in the 21^st century to express the different skills, and it is TPACK, which stands for Technological pedagogical content knowledge. Technological knowledge focuses on understand how to use different technology tools and resources while being able to apply it correctly at work and everyday life. Pedagogical knowledge focuses on the teaching methods and practices that include overall educational purposes, values, and aims. Lastly, content knowledge is based on the subject matter that will be learned or taught. In order for teachers to introduce a TPACK environment, they should create a learning environment where there are various opportunities for both teachers and students to understand and apply their technology skills.

            Chapter two is entitled “Understanding Educational Technology Issues and Trends” and focuses on ways that technology may open up for students that will facilitate student creativity and learning. One thing that interested me in this chapter was the ways that technology changes both teaching and learning. The ways included: differentiating instruction to offer students diverse learning experiences, motivating disengaged individuals, creating group and cooperative learning situations, and more. I believe that differentiating instruction to offer students diverse learning experiences offers inclusion. Differentiation allows teachers to focus on essential skills in each content area, be open to individual distinctions, include assessment into instruction, and provide students with several paths to learning. Motivating disengaged individuals is helpful because it allows students as much control over their own education as possible, which will encourage them to work. Creating group and cooperative learning situations pursue outcomes that are beneficial to students themselves and beneficial to all other group members. These are only a few ways technology changes teaching in both enriching and productive ways and I believe that teachers should use these ways because they will expand technology and make it a tool that will allow students to become experienced.

            Both of these chapters offered key points that show how technology changes learning experiences and how it is effective for students in the 21^st century in both school and life.

Questions I Can Ask

1)How will I be able to implement TPACK in my class and have students understand it as well?
2)How can I become familiar with technology tools and get familiar with them myself before using them in the classroom?
3)In what ways can I use differentiation in the classroom while allowing every student a fair shot?