Technology+Beliefs+Response

Lacey Tait May 16, 2011 Computer Technology In Education 2200 Dr. Hudgins  Technology Beliefs Response
 * 1) I believe computer technology should be used in the classroom because we live in a world that lives off of technology and there is so much information out there and with the touch of a mouse we can have unlimited access to it all. Students would be able to get quick access to information as well. Children are using technology so much outside of school that we should embrace that and help them advance in as many ways as possible.
 * 2) The benefits to using technology in the classroom are that it can save money in the long run which people aren’t thinking about. We would cut back on so much paper from books, assignments, and test etc. Students, like I said earlier, would have fast access to information in the classroom too. We wouldn’t have to keep updating our text books to the newest editions and with the huge span of information access on the web that would help broaden the students minds. I think with a lot of the new smart devices kids get a more hands on and visual experience with their learning which would increase their learning abilities a lot.
 * 3) The drawbacks to having computer technology in the classroom could be that teachers would lose personal contact with the students, and the kids would lose a lot of valuable social skills. Students could become very lazy with their lives if technology becomes too much of an everyday tool, they wouldn’t know how to function without their smart devices which could be bad if the internet went down or we had some kind of power outage. I also worried about what would happen if a student abused/broke one of the smart devices, who would pay for the damage? That issue right there could get really expensive and schools already are short for money as it is.
 * 4) My personal barriers to using technology in the classroom would probably be that I don’t feel like I have enough knowledge on what options are out there with technology and I don’t want to hold students back with my lack of knowledge. But I also have the concern that I don’t want my students to depend on their smart devices for everything. I want them to be able to function and learn on their own as well. So I worry about how I would find that happy medium of technology and basic learning skills in the classroom.
 * 5) Some goals that I can work on this semester to overcome those barriers would be that I can continue to be educated on technology by really taking what I learn in this class to my future classrooms and if I learn how to communicate with others on their opinions about technology in the classroom I can try and find out where that happy medium would be that I want in my classroom. I think if I keep myself open minded about all the pros and cons to technology that I will be able to really gain knowledge and know what will be best for my future students when I become a teacher.