Assignment #1

Katie Cooper

Geoffrey Price           

Cat 200-003

30 January 2011

The Benefits of Technology in the Classroom

            The use of technology is becoming vital in every field.  A particular setting technology is used in, is school classrooms.  Educational technology is the use of technology in the classroom.  Furthermore, it is when a teacher incorporates technology into her lesson plans.  Educational technology plays a major role in teaching and in learning.  It is important for teachers to use technology during class time to provide their students with an easy learning style.  Technology is also important during the learning process, as it helps students learn new and easier ways to do things.  The amount of money a school has is one of the biggest factors determining their level of technology.  For example, if a school had plenty of money then it would encourage new levels of technology.  However, schools located in a more rural area, with less money would be less likely to encourage technology due to lack of funds.  I have relatively good experience working in the classroom, have seen a great deal of technology incorporated in the classroom, and believe the use of technology should be integrated into teaching and learning.

            Throughout my life I have known I wanted to be a teacher.  Therefore, I have participated in organizations that allowed me to work in elementary school classrooms.  When I was in fourth and fifth grade I worked with kindergarteners each week.  In middle school I participated in a group that went to a nearby elementary school each week, and worked with preschool students.   I really enjoyed these opportunities, and decided that I would like to continue working in classrooms in high school.  My junior year of high school I helped in the special education room, and my senior year I joined peer helping.  As a member of peer helping, I was assigned to work with children in different elementary schools.  Two days of the week I went to help in a preschool class, and the other two days I worked in a first grade class.  Therefore, I have a large amount of experience in the classroom, and am grateful for those opportunities.

            The amount of technology I have seen in the classroom has greatly increased since I started school.  When I began school, the only type of technology the school had were computers and overhead projectors.  Throughout elementary school, the teachers would write the notes on the whiteboard or use the overhead projector.  The lack of technology continued into my middle school years.  However, when I got to high school the level of technology had drastically increased.  Each classroom had a projector, an elmo, an airliner, and a set of classroom clickers.  Therefore, I have seen a wide range of technology in classrooms.

I believe technology should have a major impact on peoples teaching and learning styles.   I feel that teachers should have a strong grasp on technology, so they can use it in their classrooms.  Teachers should use technology when conducting their class experiments, history assignments, and other class projects.  Teachers should use PowerPoint presentations to provide and easy way for their students to learn.  I believe seeing visuals on the projecting screen would help children concentrate on what they were learning, and provide them with an interesting style of learning.

Participating in school classrooms has given me good experiences, I have seen a great deal of technology in classrooms, and I believe technology should be integrated into classrooms.  The use of technology in classrooms opens a window of opportunities for teachers and students.  Schools should continue the use of technology in classrooms.