My+Technology+View

I am in no way technologically advanced. I, however, am an advocate for technology of all kinds in the classroom. I believe students are engaged, enthusiastic, and eager to learn when technology is involved. I think more students can be reached with technology, and in order for them to be successful in life they must be technologically saavy. In my history as a student, my exposure to technology was limited. I was shown how to create an e-mail account, excel spreadsheet, and a few other skills that really didn't get me far. I always caught on fast when taught, but I wasn't eager to explore. As a teacher, I now understand how essential it is to know how to engage my students through technology. When they use technolgy, their interest levels peak. They become involved, they actually watch and listen. They want to do it themselves. When technology is not involved, they try to hurry and get the lesson finished, so they can get on the computers themselves. I think many people need a wake up call. We can't just sit back and wait for computers to lose their popularity. That's not going to happen people. We must join the crowd or get run over in the stampede. The technology stampede is moving in fast, and to be an effective educator we must embrace it. I feel my students will be handicapped in the real world, if they are not exposed to technology on a consistent basis. They must be exposed to more than just "math games" or word processing. This will not get them one of thousands of new jobs created when they are ready to enter the workforce. If I want to do the best thing for my children, I must educate myself. This is the only way they can come back to me in 20 years and say, "Thanks Mrs. Walker, here's a thousand bucks for helping me out."