I have to admit that before my Instructional Technology class began I was little bit skeptical on how the class could take up a whole semester. Don’t get me wrong, I knew how important technology is in our society, but I just didn’t think that there were that many ways to creatively incorporate it into the classroom. Little did I know that things like PowerPoint, online treasure hunts, Jing, jog the web, quizlet, and digital portfolios can not only greatly enhance the students educational experience, but the teacher’s as well!
The first I time in this class that I realized that I still have a great deal to learn about technology in the classroom was when I was working on the PowerPoint presentation. I thought that I knew all there was to know when it came to PowerPoint, but with things like the jeopardy game, I see that there are so many possibilities! Speaking from personal experience, the jeopardy game really engages the students in the lesson and gets them very excited about learning. I see myself using PowerPoint in the classroom on a regular basis. The online treasure hunt is something else that completely submerges the students into the lesson. Doing something like this gets the students on the computer, using technology and learning the lesson at the same time. Because of how involved this use of technology is, I see myself using it as a learning tool a couple of times a month. Jog the web is another great tool that I have learned can really help the student stay on track of the lesson. Every website that you want the students to go to, to learn more about the subject is listed out for them. Now that I have learned how great of a thing job the web is, I don’t see myself not using it as a resource. Quizlet is probably one of my favorite discoveries from taking this class. It was one of the most basic uses of technology, but so very helpful. I personally wish that I had something like quizlet to study for quizzes and tests when I was in elementary school. Most students are going to want to be on the computer during the day, so why not let them and find a way for them to learn at the same time.
Not only did I find great resources for the students, but I found helpful technology for myself as well! Jing has got to be one of the coolest things that I have ever seen and there are so many different ways to use it. Showing substitutes exactly what you want the students to learn via the computer is one of my favorite ideas on how to use Jing. No longer will the substitute be stuck trying to figure out written directions, but they can now visualize what the teacher wants. The educational portfolio is probably one of my best resources so far. I know that this will be so helpful when it comes time to search for my future job. It is so appealing to see my accomplishments and hopes for the future all on one website, and I know that most employers would feel the same. Not only can I go back to get ideas for future lessons from my educational portfolio, but future employers can see that I actually put in the leg work to get to where I am.
I am happy to say that I was proven wrong when I felt that this class would not have enough content to fill a whole semester. Not only was there enough, but I feel like there is still so much more to learn about using technology to teach the younger generations! Teaching students is no longer about lecturing and hoping that the students understand, but it’s about incorporating technology in a way that the student can really get involved with what they are learning
My Blog 