5364+Teaching+with+Technology

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**Week 1**  Students approach all learning with their own bag of tools. This bag of tools contains things like prior knowledge, experiences, and feelings about learning. There is no special brand on their tools, for they are unique to each individual student. How they approach and manipulate new content depends on the contents of their individual toolbags.

Basically, the constructivism theory embraces what most teachers consider to be good, sound teaching practices. If the students are allowed to use their tools to interact with the content and their classmates, they are more likely to be successful than the student who **r** **eceive** **s**  the information passively. Teachers of today's learners must reinforce the concept of "learning how to learn" more than ever before. The students in our classrooms today will need to be able to adapt quickly to new ideas and technologies for the jobs of tomorrow.

**Week 2** **Technology allows today's teachers to tailor their content and delivery to meet the needs of all of their students. Students who ****may be unable to learn in a traditional setting can often excel when given the options that new technologies can offer these students. ** **Diversity can no longer be a reason for teachers to not have high expectations of all students. It should, instead, be a motivator of teachers to create ways those expectations can be met.

Research supports the use of technology in classrooms as both a learning tool and a motivator. Studies have shown that students in all areas, including at-risk and learning disabled students benefit. The use of computers has shown to improve learning time, depth of learning, standardized test scores, motivation, and self-concept in students. Improvement of any kind in groups of students should be argument enough for the use of technology. As the required standards become more arduous for students, the need for alternatives to the antiquated pencil and paper methods of learning are increasingly needed in today's classroom. Technology can provide these alternatives. **  

**Week 3** **<span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 15px;">Every person perceives information in a different way ****<span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 15px;">. Each of our students has a unique approach to their learning. Brain research has provided information on the processes we use to learn new material and ways to stimulate those processes to increase knowledge. By using activites which support the diverse recognition, strategic and affective networks of the brain, teachers can accommodate a wide range of learners.

Online resources can add to the toolbag of the teacher who is incorporating technology into their lesson. Interactive books, graphic organizers, web 2.0 tools and many other avenues provide an unlimited pool of resources for meeting the individual needs of our students. There is no longer an excuse for not having the software or the resources to integrate technology into our daily lessons, nor is there an excuse for teachers not being able to meet the diverse needs of their students. **

**Week 4** <span style="color: #f59714; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">**<span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 15px;">Collaborative learning, both students collaborating and teachers collaborating on behalf of their students, allows students to benefit from the knowledge and skills of others while sharing their own strengths and knowledge. This model allows for students to experience their learning rather than just sit back and have it delivered to them by the teacher. We remember experiences as opposed to information that is sorted out and selectively delivered. Teachers that collaborate in cross-curricular lessons are creating more of an interest and alternate ways for students to explore and express their knowledge. The teachers also benefit by having support and possibly learning about subjects they may not be aware of.

Project based learning goes hand-in-hand with the collaborative learning model. This alternative to the traditional classroom engages students in topics that hold their interest and allow for individual expression of their knowledge. This model is the ultimate situation for technology integration. Daily work can be documented in blogs, wikis, Google docs and other collaborative avenues. Lack of adequate technology can be overcome by the use of Web 2.0 tools. The possibilities are endless when projects are involved and are only limited by the students' imaginations. **

**Week 5** <span style="color: #800000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 17px;">**How should the classroom of the 21st century look? Students involved in project based learning, using social networking sites and media to collaborate, and working in groups that are "smarter than the smartest person in the group." (Gee, J.P. 2009) Electronic portfolios should replace the old folders full of papers that limit what a student can show about their learning. The electronic portfolios will allow them to produce products that will more fully express their knowledge. These portfolios can be more easily accessed, shared and passed on throughout their school career and beyond. Students, parents and teachers will be able to see their growth more easily and will become more authentic assessments.

There are so many possibilities open to us as teachers. Finding a way to get the needed technology into the hands of our students will be the first step to building a classroom where students can thrive and become immersed in their learning. I look forward a day in the near future where this will be the norm and not the "pilot" classroom.** <span style="color: #800080; display: block; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 140%; text-align: left;">