Lessons Learned

I learned a lot from the readings and videos! It was very helpful to get a lot of different viewpoints about the negatives and positives about technology, and the tremendous influence it is having on the educational world. I learned that technology has become a huge aid to teachers in staying connected and sharing ideas. I can see this being a great help and resource to me in the future. It is wonderful that you can go online and within minutes find a lesson plan that has been tried and successful in just about any subject. It is easier to share ideas and advice. In one of the readings I found that 94% of students 16-18 use the internet! That is an incredible amount! I cannot believe how much it has changed in even the past ten years. It is very uncommon for anyone to not have a computer in their home.
Another essay brought up the issue of how ‘internet language’ is mixing with ‘school language.’ As in, students are being sloppier with their writing and are getting used to using acronyms because of all of the typing they spend on the computer. My concern is that student’s skills in actually being able to sit in class and write out an essay with pen and paper are being disabled by their use of word programs that self correct their mistakes. I am afraid that in my classroom I may notice the somewhat of a disabling effect technology could have on students and their skills. Also, from reading I realized that students really already expect to use technology at school. They enjoy using it to help them in their educational experience. Technology is, and will continue to be a major part of learning. It has become an accessible resource for everyone!