Technology Autobiography

When I elected to take this course last fall I was a little weary of what I was getting into. I wasn't sure how much work it would consist of, which was important since I would be student teaching. I was not sure if the technology would be way over my head and to be honest I just wasn't sure how I would use this class. After many praises of the class from fellow classmates, and the recommendation of Amy Berry, I enrolled.

Wow! That's about all I can say. I came into class with some background knowledge of simple software like word, excel, and PowerPoint. I knew how to operate the technology in the classroom like the document camera and the projectors. If you would have asked me what a podcast and a wiki were I would have laughed.

Now, I feel like I know what it means to integrate technology into my teaching. Technology is not about using computers and having cool tech savvy stuff in your classroom. Integrating technology into the classroom means making meaningful technological lessons that enhance student learning. If there is one thing that I took away from this course, it is that technology should never be used just to say that you used technology. Planning a lesson solely to say you used technology is an injustice to students and yourself. When we use technology in the classroom, it should be because it makes the best sense for the lesson we are teaching. There are so many tools that are available that we as teachers could use technology all the time for meaningful reasons.

Our biggest hurdle is getting the buy in from other teachers that technology is not the bad guy. We have to sell our colleagues on the fact that technology doesn't have to be difficult. Using technology can be fun and an engaging way to involve our students.

I have learned several new ideas for use in my future classroom. The possibilities are endless.
For a person that only had basic technology skills on back in August, I feel that I could walk into my future classroom and create some real meaningful and valuable lessons that use technology as a delivery.

Every week as I would read about different tools, I would say to myself "I could really use this. I think this must be the coolest thing I've ever heard of." It just kept getting better every week. I have learned how to use search engines (five months ago I couldn't tell you what a search engine was) I now use search engines on a regular basis. My favorite would have to be souple where I can find PowerPoint presentations on any topic I desire.

Thank You to all of my past classmates that recommended this course. I am so glad that I took your advice and enrolled. I have learned how to integrate technology into my lessons so that my students are engaged and learning. I to will recommend this course to my peers.