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Reflections on Teaching with Technology |
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As a part of my job and in my everyday life I use technology on a regular basis. Whether it be obsessively checking my e-mail, looking up information on the internet, creating a PowerPoint presentation, or writing a paper using Microsoft Word. Technology has been thoroughly integrated into my life. So much so that I find it hard to let a day pass where I don't turn on the computer and either surf the net or read my e-mail. This is why it only makes sense for me to incorporate some forms of technology into my teaching experiences. If I find technology so useful to me than I should also teach students, even if it is only by example, how technology can be useful to them. Using technology, such as PowerPoint, is an effective way to present the materials because students are actually able to read the instructor's information and the materials can easily be download to a course site so they can concentrate on the information rather than worrying about writing down everything the instructor has on the slides. This form of technology also allows for more direct contact with the students since the instructor does not need to be facing the board or an overhead to write the information. I have also found that other forms of technology, such as blogs or wikis, allow students to feel like they are participating and contributing to the class. They may add a definition to a wiki or write an article review on a blog which illustrates what the students are thinking about the materials and give them a chance to express their opinions, especially since there is never enough time in a class for everyone to express their thoughts. One important note about teaching with technology is to always have a back up plan because technology is not perfect and it has been known to crash. It is always a good idea to test your technology in the classroom before teaching to make sure it works and to have another activity or another way to present the material planned in case the computer crashes or your jump drive dies. In addition, some forms of technology may not be appropriate for every course or classroom setting. It is important to tailor the technology you use to the experiences and capabilities of your students as well as your own capabilities and limitations. Technology needs to be used in only the appropriate settings for it to have the greatest benefit and impact.
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