Thursday, November 18, 2010

Technology in our classroom!

As each new generation enters our classrooms, teachers are constantly faced with the challenge of having to keep up with effective teaching methods that will best help our students succeed.  Today's generation has been named as the "technology generation"; technology is becoming a visible part of children’s lives.  From classroom settings to home use, computers are now a part of how children learn, play, and communicate.  Because this type of technology is already very present in our student's lives, it doesn't make sense why teachers should not try to include it in on our curriculum.  

While some of these devices and applications can get to be on the more expensive side, there are other ways around it.  Computers are a very basic way of integrating technology into a classroom.  Programs can be downloaded and videos can be shown for student interactive use and differentiation.  Another very basic idea discussed in some articles in which teachers can incorporate technology into the classroom is through the use of digital cameras.  Students can explore work and then document it by taking a picture of it to use for future studying purposes.  In the same manner, some students may not have the same background knowledge of particular content that is being taught, and the displaying of visuals taken with a digital camera can help enhance student learning.