Reflecting on the Impact of Technology

Technology skills are no longer the wave of the future.  They are the norm of the present and can be the deciding factor of success in higher education or the workforce.  The demands on education have increased in the world of Web 2.0.  Technology surrounds our students daily.  We must take time to advance our technological abilities, as well as find ways to engage our students and integrate these tools in the classroom.  We must not forget that our leadership must extend beyond the classroom as we work to break down the barriers administrators have placed on our education system.  Teachers need the support and the tools to teach 21^st century skills.  We must work together to uncover the possibilities that technology holds for our future in education. Take a look at my journey as I begin to understand the impact of technology on education, work, and society.

The journey through this course has been challenging, but it has given me the opportunity to reflect on my initial skills and practices regarding technology in the classroom. There are multiple answers that have changed with completion of this course.  The teaching practice from which I have seen the most improvement deals with learning goals.  I have enabled students to take responsibility of their own learning by creating a wiki project with specific deadlines and expectations.  As a teacher leader, I have implemented the use of technology in my classroom.  This use will be shared with colleagues as a way to spark their interest in various media tools. I always felt that I could do more with technology in the classroom, and this course has opened those doors.

References

Jackson, Camille. (2011). Your students love social media. Teaching Tolerance, 39, 38-41.
Koenig, Darlene. (2011). Social media in the schoolhouse. Teaching Tolerance, 39, 42-45.
Laureate Education, Inc. (Producer). (2010). Programs 1-23. Understanding the impact of technology on education, work, and society [DVD]. Baltimore, MD: Author.

November, A. (2007). Banning student “containers.” Technology & Learning. Retrieved from http://www.techlearning.com/article/7468