Digital+Native

Back to Links Digital Native Technology is becoming a major part of our society each and every day. There is something being improved upon, or something new coming out! It changes at a constant rate, therefore, I believe technology should be used in the classroom as much as possible! Students are going to know how to use them, and if they don't know how to use it right away, they will figure it out because they are born into a technological world. Sometimes I think I'm pretty smart for figuring out technology, then a kid 10 years younger than me, does the exact same thing in half the time I did it! Even though technology is great, there can be downfall when trying to use it in the classroom. Students may become distracted very easily, so keeping them on task will be a little bit harder to do, but if your a good teacher then what does that matter right? Ha! I have been observing at Howard High School the past few days, and I was excited to go for two reasons: 1) to get to know how the teacher teaches, and learn some things from her and 2) to see what kind of technology they use, since it is becoming a big part of our world. Well, I got a shocker when I walked in, the only technology the teacher uses is a smart board, and she only used it to go over sentences. I could think of tons of ways to use a smart board in the classroom if that is the only technology that one has. They still use text books for every class period. There is nothing wrong with that, but if you are going to use a textbook, then make it fun! These classes aren't fun at all! If I was in a school with limited technology, I would try and use it as much as possible and when appropriate. There are a few things that I would hope to have in my classroom when I go and teach. First, is enough laptops to be able to have 3 or 4 kids playing on them at once. Not a laptop for every student, but enough to get small groups to get on them! Second a smart board, or a type of interactive board I can use with my students. Third, some sort of voters. That way students can become interactive by staying in their desks, and still put their thoughts in. Like I said, technology is becoming a big part of our society, therefore, I would try to use it as much as possible when appropriate.