Vision
The opportunity for students and teachers in America’s classrooms has greatly increased in the recent years. These opportunities deal with technology in the classroom. Edutopia (2008) found, “If properly used, technology will help students acquire the skills they need to survive in a complex, highly technological knowledge-based economy “(p.1). In our changing society our students will have to complete task in their future workplaces that will require the use of technology. Berkowicz and Meyers (2014) suggest, ‘These technologies are important tools to further engage our students and encourage them to become better learners overall” (2014). This statement should sum it up for all teachers. Make our students better overall learners so that they enjoy it and this will create lifelong learners. Schools and systems must be able to effectively offer these opportunities to their students. Berkowicz and Meyers (2014), conclude that technology will “Build 21st century skills including critical thinking, sound reasoning, global awareness, communication skills information and visual literacy, scientific reasoning, productivity, and creativity” (2014). For schools to effectively complete the task of implementing technology, they must make sure to integrate it throughout the whole curriculum. Edutopia (2008), gives “four key components that must be supported during integration which includes: active engagement, participation in groups, frequent interaction and feedback, and connection to real-world experts “(p.1). It is my vision to make sure that these components are very noticeable in our school and system. Included in this vision I see students being engaged in more project-based learning through the use of technology in every classroom at our school. Students will take the reins of the learning process and then create a final product to assess their understanding of the content. A great example is, students learning about the forms of government through research and then creating their own governments with constitutions. These governments and constitutions would be created using technology tools like Publisher and PowerPoint. The final product would then be put into a simulator to see whether this government would be successful. Students are learning forms of government and creating meaningful and authentic assessment. To paint another picture, students are in a regular classroom but the teacher is not up lecturing. Students are on laptops using technology applications to create a new invention that will make life easier during the industrial revolution. Once the product is created students will get the chance to sell their invention to a wealthy entrepreneur, but students cannot get greedy because they investor might walk away. This type of lesson will be hands on and still students will have to learn to communicate, use reasoning, and think outside the box. Project based learning will help challenge our students intellectually. I plan to make the use of technology in our school and system part of our everyday routine while effectively aligning it with our state standards. Teachers will be able offer more relevant and rigorous lessons to their students with expanded use of technology in the classroom. I see staff development as a major hurdle and plan to use professional development sessions monthly to make sure teachers are effectively using technology in the classroom.
References:
Berkowicz, Jill and Meyers, Ann (May 14, 2014). Bridging the Technology Divide. Education Week,
Volume 33. Retrieved May 2, 2015 from,
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/leadership_360/2014/05/bridging_the_technology_divide.html?qs=technology+leadership
Edutopia Staff (2008). Why Integrate Technology into the Curriculum?: The reasons are many.
Retrieved March 5, 2015 from,
http://www.edutopia.org/technology-integration-introduction