Teachers and Technology

This week I have read Chapter 1 in the book and have learned a great deal of information. I never realized how teachers are forced to integrate technology into their day-to-day activities in order to keep up with the changing society. I knew how important technology has become in our lifetime but sometimes I just forget HOW important it is. For example in today's world, everything is automated like the checkout lines at stores, or the little computers located inside the cars. Along with all these technologies associated with life these days, along came the models and organizations that have come up with ways to help teachers conform to this new way of life. In chapter 1 I learned about the ARCS Motivational Model, and although it was developed over twenty years ago, it is still relevant today. This model gives four main areas that need to be address in society today to keep the students interested and wanting to learn. The four areas stress the importance of keeping the students interested and motivated in order to achieve maximum success in the classroom. It also stresses that the digital media used must be relevant and designed to make each student successful. If these areas are addressed in the classroom today, students will be properly taught about the digital media and able to get the most out of each lesson.

An organization this chapter talks about is the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). This organization promotes the use of technology to support and improve learning and teaching. It is a very interesting organization and although the book didn't say to much about it, there is more information available online.

Going to school these days and using computers is almost second nature. Most students, me included, don't realize how much they impact our day-to-day lives. Just a couple of weeks ago I did not have Internet and it was then that I realized how important computers and all they have to offer have become in my personal and academic life. In school, computers have come to mean everything, from sending and receiving emails and memos, to showing students a slide show that accompanies your lecture. The book shows examples of different people within the school board and how they use computers in their normal day-to-day activity.

Since the last class I feel I have learned a lot about something on the computer. After class I came home and started working on my SAM assignment. I thought I new a lot about these programs and the more I did, the more I realized I didn't know. Although some of the objects in the program seem very elementary, I am glad that this is an assignment for me and I am able to broaden my horizon. Microsoft is a new program for me because all growing up I have been taught to use Corel WordPerfect and that is the program I know. Now everything for school much be turned in on Microsoft Word, so it has been an adjustment for me. I believe this is going to be very helpful and useful for me.

In the future I hope to become a Marine Biologist. In this field, one must be very familiar with technology. It ranges from using computer devices in the field to inputting data into Excel to computing statistical analysis on the data you have just inputted into the spreadsheet. I am still learning how to do all these different elements on the computer and am hoping this course will help to speed this process along.