Digital Blog Post #B- Chapter 2

While reading chapter two there were three concepts that stuck out most to me. The first being barriers faced in the schools. Many schools are able to have access to computers, but they may not be updated computers or they do not have enough for the students. I remember being in high school and the teachers struggling to find a time slot to get into the labs so students could work on projects. I went to a very wealthy public school that had many resources and all types of technology at their fingertips. If the high school I attended struggled for lab time, I cant imagine what an low-income school, who might not have as many resources or no computer labs, would do. We need to bridge that dramatic gap between those schools that have an over access to those with no access.

The second concept was on teachers that use technology. I was shocked to read that that only one in five teachers use technology in their classroom (Maloy et. al,. 2013, p 34). With the amount of technology that that is at our fingertips it does not make sense why so few teachers are using technology in their teaching. Some teachers may choose not to because they believe they have the resources they need, but I think you have to take into consideration what your students needs are. Out side of school their lives revolve around using technology, so we should not limit them in schools. While technology is great for assisting teachers, such as for emails and keeping track of student records, it is useful for so much more. I would love to be able to incorporate technology in almost every teaching moment I have.

Lastly, technology is a great way to engage students. Most students are "glued" to their phones or other devices so why should we take away what they may know? When students feel bored, or detached from class they are not going to learn. Group work is a great way for students to feel more attached. It gives students the ability to talk with their peers and to get up and move. With technology, group work is easier. For examples, students can use Google Docs in the classroom then outside continue to work on a project and their group can participate still. The main reason why students drop out of class is because they feel like they are not feeling engaged enough (Maloy et. al., 2013, p 28). As teachers that is the last thing we want, for students to drop out. We have the resources to make class creative and engaging so we should use it. 

In conclusion, chapter 2 opened my eyes to seeing how technology is being used in the classroom, or lack of use in the classroom. We have to stay in tune of what is changing around us, and to keep our students engaged and interested, especially when they will be entering a world that is technology driven. 

Resources:

Maloy, R., O'Loughlin, R., Edwards, S., & Woolf, B. (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education Inc.

Rhodes, M (2017, January 19) Blog Post #B. Created with www.ToonDoo.com screenshot

T. (2016, March 28). Retrieved January 19, 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOTEQVYDPpg&t=65s