Friday, March 11, 2016

Technology Reflection

Without a doubt, education has begun to morph to keep up with the changes of the twenty first century. Schools are starting to incorporate more of what students see on a regular basis outside of their classrooms, technology. Both students and teachers use technology in many aspects of their life, whether it is for social media, or to quickly look up the answer to a nagging question. Our technology has become an additional appendage to our bodies, and we are always connected. However, many schools are still seeing technology as a distraction to students and force students to "unplug" during the school day. Thankfully, there are schools who are taking advantage of the wonderful opportunities that technology can bring about, which will better prepare our students for the world outside of our school walls.

Technology Integration Specialists (TIS) play a key role in the success of a technology program in a school. Technology Integration Specialists work with administrators, teachers, students, and support personnel to ensure that they know how to best use technology tools. These specialists help to upkeep professional development in the building and are able to help people with all different levels of comfort and expertise with technology. Technology Integration Specialists may hold several different workshops, large group, one-on-one, facilitated peer groups, etc. to ensure that technology is being used correctly as a tool.

A common misconception about 21st century learning is that kids need to be using technology in all of their classes all of the time. However, it is important to remember that, "21st century learning is about the experience, not about the tools you are using. The experience defines the tools, not the other way around" (Warlick, 2010). Educators must understand that not only should students be exposed to how to use the technology, but they must know how to use the technology to apply their understandings or create a product to show their knowledge.


References
 Warlick, D. (2010, August 16). Technology for 21st Century Learning: Part 1 : 2¢ Worth. Retrieved March 11, 2016, from http://2cents.onlearning.us/?p=2712 
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2 comments:

  1. Colleen BerginMarch 13, 2016 at 9:46 AM

    Stephanie,

    I wholeheartedly agree with your last paragraph. I am hoping that once we get past the all the fascination of technology in the classroom and looking to integrate it in any way possible, we can start integrating technology in a way that expands, enhance, and engages students in the best way possible.

    I have a TIS in my building and she previously was a teacher. However, her area of expertise does not cover all content teachers so she is not as indispensable certain content teachers as she is to others. I think it is important that there are TIS throughout the district that have experience in a variety of content and that teachers are not limited to just the TIS they have available in their building.

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  2. UnknownMarch 13, 2016 at 8:44 PM

    The quote from Warlick (2010), "21st century learning is about the experience, not about the tools you use" is extremely meaningful. Using technology just to use technology isn't teaching 21st century skills. Technology is a tool. 21st century skills include collaboration, innovation, creative thinking, problem solving, and communication. Technology can provide a platform for those skills but if it's just being used to play educational single-player games, or as a word processor it's not being used to facilitate 21st century skills. As you said, it is important for teachers to understand that students need to know how to use and apply their knowledge of technology and demonstrate 21st century skills.

    Warlick, D. (2010, August 16). Technology for 21st Century Learning: Part 1 : 2¢ Worth. Retrieved http://2cents.onlearning.us/?p=2712

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