Microsoft Word, Excel, Publisher, PowerPoint. Internet Explorer, Mozilla FireFox, Safari, Google Chrome. Discovery Streaming, Accelerated Reader, HeadSprout, Learning A to Z. The list of computer applications that I use on a regular basis makes my head swim just to think about. There are days I would love nothing better than to retire my computer, my iPad, my cell phone and go on a technology hiatus. I am surrounded by technology and, as I like to say, know just enough about it all to be dangerous!
I have grown up with technology. I had computers in my home before I had air conditioning. I remember DOS-based machines and the advent of Windows. I don’t think my ability to use computers and technology is a significant issue with my lack of technology integration in my classroom. Losing my laptop would be like losing my purse. I cannot imagine teaching without the availability of a computer. My lesson plans are in Word, my grades are in Excel, my newsletters are in Publisher, and I have presentations in PowerPoint. Though there are many tools out there that I am not familiar with, I honestly do not think that I am lacking in any way that impacts my efficacy as a teacher. Quite the contrary, I sometimes wonder if technology and all the distractions that come with it are not part of the problem. I get lost on some tangent when I am trying to get something accomplished.
What I really need is to be more focused in my use of technology and not get diverted by all the shiny things I see. So ambitious or not, I am not looking to “improve” my software skills. There are absolutely applications out there that are not part of my general repertoire and I do intend to continue expanding my technological horizons (if we do not move forward, we are quickly left behind), but insofar as creating a plan of action and having a technology “bucket-list” of sorts, I am not seeing it. I will learn whatever comes my way that appeals to me and seems to have value in what I am doing in my classroom and as a professional. Right now, the Google Apps and Google Docs fall into that category. I am also learning how iPads and iPods can be used with my students to improve their learning. What comes after that? Well, only time will tell. It may be something that hasn’t been developed yet, I really don’t know.
I like your take on technology. You know how to use the latest and greatest things that are available. Your focus is based on what appeals to you and how it can be applied to your classroom. That's what I believe makes teaching exciting. From year to year we find things that we can implement to make our classrooms more engaging for the students. If you do the same thing year after year then teaching becomes boring and monotonous.
ReplyDeleteI checked out an iPad for the summer from my school to learn (or play)how to utilize them in my classroom. Right now I don't think they're all that great especially since you can't use adobe flash to run some of the online animations.