I must preface this statement with the admission that I am positive my thoughts on this subject will change - more quickly than I can even anticipate. Technology is changing at ever-increasing rates, as is its potential (for both good and bad) in the classroom.
My current vision for technology in the classroom definitely includes ipads. I love the fact that an ipad coupled with apple tv allows the teacher to circle throughout the room. The teacher is no longer limited to the front of the classroom. This alone creates a more collaborative and engaged learning atmosphere.
Further, providing students with ipads allows them to take on the role of the teacher (because their work can instantly become the class's focus). Ipads also allow students to become engaged with different resources that are not available in the standard classroom. It is important to note at this point that I would not want students to have ipads at all times in my classroom. There would be specific times for ipad use and specific times without it when students would be physically engaging with their learning through activities.
This connects to my next vision for technology in my classroom: a careful and specific, but also creative use of internet resources. The internet has a wealth of information, which provide opportunities to engage students with subjects, cultures, places, people, and events that are not accessible otherwise. For example, TED talks can inspire students to look at their material through a new lens.
Mary,
ReplyDeleteI really appreciate your optimism towards technology. I think it is easy to be timid and unaccepting of the lightning fast pace technology is changing the way we look at education and engage in learning. I like the point you brought up about how iPads allow students to take on the role of the teacher through mirroring capabilities; their work can serve as a model or learning tool for the whole class. I appreciate your last point about how use of technology in the classroom should be "careful and specific, but also creative." This is how I would like the influence of technology to look like in my classroom. We don't always know or understand the implications so its best to be careful, yet we also don't know the myriad ways technology can spur innovation. My main concern is with access, but as you pointed out, in your other post, it would be a disservice to those students who can't access technology tools in the home, to not expose them to it in the classroom.