Tech Past:
Looking back over my own K-12 education I realized just how little exposure to technology I really had. My elementary school had a computer lab that was visited as a class fairly infrequently and it was often simply to play the "Oregon Trail" game. In middle school I have almost no recollection of using any type of technology (including computers). Progressing onto high-school, I used a computer lab on a fairly inconsistent basis. I was however, enrolled in a marketing class in which the use of computers was necessary and available on a daily basis.
Tech Present:
Looking back over my own exposure to technology (or lack there of) I realize just how lucky I was to be exposed to technology in my home because I was receiving little to no technological instruction in school. This makes me wonder how my classmates who didn't have access to technology outside of school fared when it came to their own knowledge of technology. For this reason I think it's extremely important to integrate technology into the classroom at an early age (ex: 1st grade) because our society is so technologically driven and it is important to help students get started on the right foot. Introducing students to technology in elementary school enables them to become familiar with it and prevents them from seeing technological equipment as "scary" and something they don't have the skills to use. I also think it's important to integrate technology into all aspects of the classroom rather than designating for example "time for computers". This helps students to connect the use of technology into everything they are learning. Students can use technology to play math "games" that test their addition and subtraction knowledge, they can use a smart-board to practice writing letters and words and they can even use secure, age-appropriate websites to research information regarding a subject they are studying.
Tech Future:
A factor that I see as posing a threat to the use of technology in my future classroom is inadequate funding. It is no secret that funding for education is low and I see this as a problem in being able to provide students with enough materials so teachers aren't having to fight over their use and also in providing students and teachers with technological equipment that is up-to-date and applicable to the students lives.
Sarah - Yes, yes, yes! Your statements about the importance of integrating technology early on resonate with me. We approach so many other skills this way...we don't wait for the kids to reach middle school before we show them how to divide, to compose sentences, or to kick a ball, so why are we withholding such vital technological skills from the little ones? Budget constraints are not an acceptable excuse. Children must have these skills firmly grasped or they won't be able to compete/succeed in today's society (let alone make it through high school or college-level assignments!).
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