Teaching+with+Technology+Week+1+Update

The readings this week were insightful. I particularly enjoyed the readings in the book __Web2.0 New Tools, New Schools__ by Gwen Solomom and Lynne Schrum. I felt the book stated honestly how, as educators, we need embrace technology in a way to enhance the learning for our students and keep up with the world around us. I think the book touched on the necessity of the process, in which we educate students, needs to keep up with global market. Information on the web is no longer held by a few but instead can be altered by the masses. The students, we teach today, are much more comfortable with this fact than the educators. I think the reasoning behind this is twofold; comfort and awareness. Students are quite comfortable with technology. They have grown up in a world surrounded by technology; therefore the technology is common place for them. The students see the web as a place to connect with others and gather information. Adults, on the other hand, have grown up as the technology is rapidly changing. Adults have learned to adapt and are aware of the need for technology. I think adults are also aware of the dangers the technology can bring. Due to this I think it is imperative that educators teach the student how to use the technology. As quoted, “This means that we harness the technology and use it to help students learn thinking and analytical skills. They may know the tools better but we have to help them use them wisely.” 1 I believe in this statement as an educator, we must engage students in learning so that they can use the technology to help their future.  I also enjoyed the reading about the constructivism theory of learning. This theory believes that the learner brings knowledge and builds on what the learner already knows. As a teacher, I believe this to have been evident in my classroom. Students tended to understand when they could relate the topic to something they already understood. I also saw that when students were involved in learning through a project, which they had some control, their learning was taken to a higher level. Even though the project-based learning did take more time, the students understood the information much more thoroughly. Integrating technology can help students become more engaged providing a higher level of learning throughout the school year and students life. 1. Solomon, Gwen and Schrum, Lynne. __Web 2.0 New Tools, New Schools.__ Eugene, OR: ISTE, 2007