Reflection of technology’s impact on education and society
Technology is constantly growing and improving to make us rapidly move further into the 21st Century. High technology changed our life, thinking, and impacted the whole world. We rely on technology and cannot escape it. Since technology is part of life and impacts our education, work, and society we must adapt. We as teachers have to develop our own technology skills as a professional teacher to provide our students 21st century technology knowledge and skills, to help them in lifelong learning and prepare for future college and career in the real world.
Today’s students have grown up utilizing technology before they even get into the classroom (Richardson, 2010). Many students use technology for learning more information and some students use technology as a social tool like Facebook, Twitter, and blogs over the internet. Dodd (2012) stated Twitter is not only a viable option for those teaching older students, but primary as well. Once educators understand the power of Twitter for their own professional needs, the next step is to think about how it could be best utilized in the classroom. I did not have professional technology skills before I took this course and my school does not allow students to use social media in the classroom. However, after I read resources and through activities, I learned how to create a twitter account, blog posting, social bookmarking and use wikis to create lesson activity from this course. The resources provide me some ideas for how to use Twitter in my classroom and model the responsible usage of social media.
McCallum (2012) stated technology make a work hard from the start, its’ a lot easier to do it right from the beginning than trying to make it up in the end. It is so true that I spent considerable time to navigate and to learn how to create my blog and use twitters. McCallum also stated never be afraid to try new things, to support his idea; engaging web 2.0 tools to change the rules of the game of school (2012). I follow his idea from his presentation and his article because he opens my eyes and my mind to see different effects with the same game. As teachers to ensure that this takes place is by examining how web2.0 tools can be efficiently integrated into our teaching. Dabbs (2012) stated the use of Web 2.0 Tools to support instruction is vital. How we use these tools is going to make a critical difference in how we measure our students’ success and how they are supported to meet 21st century skill sets. Not only I learned to incorporate Twitter into my classroom, I learned to use blogging, social bookmarking, wikis in this course as well. These technology knowledge and skills helped me to develop myself as a professional teacher. Tucker (2014) stated students must have the 21st Century Learning and higher-order thinking skills to compete in a global society. The transformation to a learning ecosystem will create traits and skills such as cooperation, sharing, reflection, publishing, and learning. Teacher’s role should change to facilitator to provide students professional knowledge and specific skills they can use in 21st century real life. Web 2.0 tools benefits me teaching and students learning.
Dabbs (2012) stated as educators, the use of Web 2.0 tools is transforming our work, and more specifically the way we support students in the classroom. As schools bring more technology into their classrooms, teachers will in turn strive to put more technology in their students’ hands. I am open to trying to use twitter in my classroom, make lesson plan with wikis, post articles on blogging and social bookmarking. Students are also to learn 21st century skills of collaboration, communication, problem solving, self-direction, teamwork, creativity, social responsibility. Students through these skills apply what they learned to their college and workplaces in the real world.
The roadblock is technology equipment lack or availability in my school. Darling-Hammond, Zielezinski, and Goldman (2014) stated that it is important for the curriculum and instruction to “enable students to use technology to create content as well as to learn material” (p. 15). Engaging the students to use technology to create their projects motivate students learning. However, some classrooms do not have technology equipment, technology does not always work or is not always readily available for the students to use. I hope school will improve technology equipment and network problem to provide students a good learning environment. Due to technology or network problem sometimes have to force changing lesson plan, I select google apps, google docs, and google drive as tools to assist students with 21st century skills to create project in the class. I use podcast, wikis and social bookmarking as well. I apply these technology tools to provide students professional knowledge and skills to facilitate changing classroom of 21st century; as well as to meet ISTE standard for students and teachers. These blogs postings, google docs, and podcast meet International Society for Technology (ISTE, 2015) Students Standard Two: Communication and Collaboration by communicating information and ideas effectively by using a variety of media, and develop cultural understanding and awareness. These google doc, bloggings, bookmarking, and podcasting also met ISET (2015) Students Standard Four: Critical thinking problem solving and decision making by using multiple processes and diverse perspectives to explore alternative solutions. I am sure that these bookmarking, blogs, podcast, and wikis would meet ISTE (2015) teacher Standard One: Facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity to promote support and model creative and innovative thinking, engage students in exploring real world issues, and promote student reflection. Also meet ISTE (2015) Teacher Standard Three: Model Digital Age Work and Learning by demonstrating fluency in technology system and transfer current knowledge to new technologies and situations.
Clemmons (2013) stated classrooms in the 21st century is undergoing a rapid transformation into new learning environments that are highly flexible, configurable and collaborative. Dr. Thornburg addressed technology use in the classroom is important because it allows the many teachers created lessons to be student centered, building critical thinking skills that increases students learning (Laureate Education, Inc., 2015a.) Learning the 21st-Century skills needed for college and career readiness is important for students to learn from teachers. In order to deepen my knowledge of the teaching and learning process with respect to integrate technology into the classroom. I will continue to develop myself as master learner. I will continue to grow to learn new technology knowledge and new skills though I gained many technology knowledges in this course and understand the ISTE teachers and students’ standards help me transform my teaching practices and take me moving forward in order to reach higher levels of college and career readiness. I will continue to develop myself as master learner, impact students and motivate lifelong learning. Teachers that integrate technology into the classroom will develop students learning achievement as well. Once teachers know how to use the right methods of technology, these tools can have profound effects on our students to prepare them for the 21st century real world in the future.
Human Resources. (n. d). addressed the professional practice SMART goal model is an outcome rather than activity focused and must be developed in conjunction with two student learning growth objectives. SMART goal = teacher effectiveness = students’ achievement. In order to help my students to gain knowledge and skills for future; meantime deepen my knowledge of teaching and process of learning. I set two long term SMART goals to transform my classroom environment.
SMART goal 1 for helping students. This is two years’ goal SPECIFIC helping students gain professional knowledge and skills for 21st century real world. I would transform integrating technology knowledge and skills in the classroom environment. This two years’ goal is MEASURABLE, the date starts from new semester beginning by utilizing technology as tools like blogs postings, google docs, wikis, and podcasting, integrate into my classroom and MOTIVATE students in maintaining to gain professional knowledge and skills achievement. Students through multimedia technology expand their understanding and involvement with positive social change. This goal could be a MUTUAL benefit to teachers, students, colleagues, parents, and community. This goal ATTAINABLE, teacher provide 21st century skills like collaboration, communication, problem solving, critical thinking real-world application for my students to meet ISTE Students Standard Two: Communication and Collaboration by communicating information and ideas effectively by using a variety of media, and develop cultural understanding and awareness. And ISTE Students Standard Four: Critical thinking problem solving and decision making by using multiple processes and diverse perspectives to explore alternative solutions. This goal is REALISTIC and RELEVANT. Teacher offered professional technology knowledge and skills to help students prepare for future in their college and workplace. Students learn to utilize multimedia technology to accomplish their projects. I believe it will fully engage the students and allow the students to experience 21st century skills of collaboration while preparing for college and career readiness. This SMART goal is SPECIFIC, MEASURABLE, ATTAINTABLE, REALISTIC, TIMELINE start from new semester to accomplish this goal.
SMART goal 2 for helping myself transforming. This is two years’ goal SPECIFIC in order to deepen my knowledge of teaching, professional practice and learning of transforming, integrate technology knowledge skills in the classroom environment to help students gain skills to prepare for 21st century real world. SMART goal 1 for helping students. This is two years’ goal SPECIFIC helping students gain professional knowledge and skills for 21st century real world. I would initiate integrating technology knowledge and skills in the classroom environment. This two years’ goal is MEASURABLE the date starts from new semester by utilizing technology as tools like blogs postings, google docs, social bookmarking, wikis, and podcasting in my classroom and MOTIVATE students maintaining to gain professional knowledge and skills. I will continue to develop my knowledge and skills as a professional teacher. I will attend seminars, workshops, and professional teachers training to improve myself to transform new knowledge and new skills into my classroom, to provide and offer students an effective, positive impact in their learning environment. Students through multimedia technology expand their understanding and involvement with positive social change. This goal could be a MUTUAL benefit to teachers, students, colleagues, parents, community, and society. This goal ATTAINABLE, teacher provide 21st century skills like collaboration, communication, problem solving, critical thinking real-world application for my students to meet ISTE Teachers Standard One: Facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity to promote support and model creative and innovative thinking, engage students in exploring real world issues, and promote student reflection. 21st century skills of communication and collaboration by communicating information and ideas effectively by using a variety of media, and develop cultural understanding and awareness. And ISTE Teachers Standard Three: Model Digital Age Work and Learning by demonstrating fluency in technology system and transfer current knowledge to new technologies and situations. In addition, create, critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making by using multiple processes and diverse perspectives to explore alternative solutions. This goal is REALISTIC and RELEVANT. Teacher offers professional technology knowledge and skills to help students prepare for future in their college and workplace. This goal meets CAEP content standard as well. Students through research learn a deep understanding of different cultures the critical concepts and principles of content. I utilize multimedia technology to accomplish my goal in my classroom. I believe it will fully engage the students lifelong learning and allow the students to experience 21st century skills of collaboration while preparing for college and career readiness. This SMART goal is SPECIFIC, MEASURABLE, ATTAINTABLE, REALISTIC, TIMELINE start from new semester to accomplish this goal.
References
Clemmons, R. T. (2013). Technology, instruction and the 21st century classroom: Best practices for using the lasts technology to create 21st century classrooms
Retrieved from http://www.edtechmagazine.com/higher/article/2013/05/technology
instruction-and-21st-century-classroom
Dabbs, L. (2012). Using web 2.0 tools in the classroom. Retrieved from http://www.kidsdiscover.com/teacherresources/web-2-0-tools-classroom/
Darling-Hammond, L., Zielezinski, M., & Goldman, S. (2014, September). Using technology to
support at-risk students’ learning. Retrieved from https://edpolicy.stanford.edu/sites/default/files/scope-pub-using-technology-report.pdf
Dodd, C. (2012). Twitter in the classroom. Retrieved from http://plpnetwork.com/2012/04/27/twitter-in-the-classroom/
Human Resources (n. d.) Eugene school district 4J: Professional practice S.M.A.R.T. goal
Retrieved from https://www.4j.lane.edu/wpcontent/uploads/2013/04/4J_HR_TE_Professional-Practice-Smart-Goals.pdf
ISTE. (n. d.-a) Standards for students. Retrieved November 5, 2015, from http://www.iste.org/standards/iste-standards/standards-for-students
ISTE. (n. d.-b) Standards for teachers. Retrieved November 5, 2015, from http://www.iste.org/standards/iste-standards/standards-for-teachers
Laureate Education (Producer). (2015a). Transforming the classroom with technology: Part 1
[Video file]. Baltimore, MD: Author.
McCallum, R. (2012). Changing the rules of the game of school: Engaging web 2.0 tools This slideshow could not be started. Try refreshing the page or viewing it in another browser.
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