Category: Technology in Classrooms

The ISTE Standards for Educators website provides a comprehensive guide to understanding the many important elements in becoming an effective educator. The standards are separated into seven sections which give detailed requirements listed in each section’s indicators.

Among the standards that I would need to improve on the most is the third standard: Digital Citizen. I feel that in order for a teacher to successfully inspire their students to contribute responsibly in this digital age, extensive knowledge on online privacy and safety, intellectual property, and online resources must be achieved.

For someone who for the longest had absolutely no interest in maintaining an online presence until recently, this standard as well as the other six seem a little daunting. However, I understand how beneficial it is to adopt these standards as an aspiring educator and transcend the restrictive traditional methods of instruction that no longer encompass everything a student needs to be prepared for. By utilizing technology in the classroom, educators make learning material more accessible for everyone.

The first standard: Learner, is one that I will be participating in frequently. I understand that teachers are educators, but they are also constant investigators. Educators can only keep their students up to date if they familiarize themselves with current research on making sure that learning is always taking place in the classroom.

This week I learned the importance of using technology in the classroom. The first technology resource the class is learning this week is blogging. One of the benefits of teachers using blogs, which I am still trying to get used to is being able to:

1. Communicate with parents and keep them up to date about assignments and events.
2. Post assignments and when they are due for students who may have missed class.
3. Engage students and allow them to express their ideas of a topic with each other and learn proper internet etiquette.

As stated by Jacqui Murray in the “13 Reasons for Using Technology in the Classroom“, the common core standards now requires that technology is paired with instruction. This gives students more freedom and control over their learning experience. It allows teachers to be more creative with assignments and projects where students can build on their strengths.