Reflection Blogging 3

The role of technology in the classroom pertaining to teaching and learning is important especially in the 21st century. It is a way to motivate students to be creative and represent information in new ways, other than the traditional pen and paper. Using technology tools as a way a teaching is giving students the opportunity to get information in new ways in order to access the higher level thinking skills. Students need to be taught how to work with different technological tools so they are able to take these necessary skills with them through the remainder of their schooling and their future career.
I would consider a variety of tools to use inside the classroom, more specifically those that get the children working interactively. They should be given the chance to express their creativity by using different applications to make slideshows, videos, music, blogs, websites, etc. I believe these things will come in handy once they are older and have to perform similar tasks.

On a day to day level technology can be used to assess information that the students have learned. For example, you could give them an assignment that you've planned and in order to make sure they understand the material you could have them do a short quiz or assessment on an iPod, iPad, computer, any handheld device. This can determine whether you need to spend more time on that lesson or if you're ready to move on to the next. You can also use technology as a way to manage behavior and create a rewards system. Though I honestly feel like if they are given the chance to work with technology there shouldn't be that many students who would be willing to get into trouble.

Hopefully, when I have my own classroom I will be able to create an application that the students can access to give feedback to what they have learned giving them an opportunity to reflect. It would be wonderful to have something the students/parents can access when they aren't at school just to make sure they understand clearly what the teacher is asking of them. It would also be a good way for parents to stay involved so they know how their child is doing in class as well as what we are learning at the time.