Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Has My Opinion of Technology in the Classroom Changed?

Eleven weeks ago when we first began this course, I was completely unaware of the many changes in educational technology.  Learning about all of these new resources and options that are now available to the teachers of today and tomorrow has really opened my eyes to a whole world of possibilities. At first, being the digital immigrant that I am, I was concerned that all of these innovations could do more harm than good when it came to educating today's youth. However, after seeing many of these technologies in action and working with them myself, my opinion has definitely changed for the better.
Of course, this is not to say we should completely leave traditional teaching methods behind. I believe that educational technology should enhance traditional teaching methods, not completely replace them. There is something to be said for the physically tangible aspects of classroom learning. I think having a giant brick of a textbook or turning in an assignment on actual paper makes the learning process more "real" and reinforces the responsibility that students need to feel in order to do well. Consequences are more concrete when there are physical reminders of them, rather than when they are just concepts floating around in cyberspace.
However, I am just now at the beginning of my graduate studies in the education field. I am sure my thoughts on this subject will continue to evolve as I learn more and finally enter the school system and actually begin my teaching career. So, I guess to answer the question, "has my opinion of technology in the classroom changed'? Yes, and it will change many times again.

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