Diana

Diana  Technology is seeping its way into our lives more and more each day and I am so grateful that from this course I will be taking away so many new ideas and techniques to incorporate into my future teaching. This course ranged from learning about assistive technologies, to numerous digital programs teachers can use freely, and to digging deeper as to how we can promote using technology respectfully and appropriately. As a class, we saw how using the internet in careless ways can lead to devastating consequences, we followed stories as touching and devastating as Tyler Clementi’s and Dharun Ravi’s, and reflected on the ways in which we, as educators, can be the advocates for change our nation needs so desperately.

Through numerous education and teacher preparation courses, I have been taught multiple times how to differentiate instruction to meet the needs of all students. However, looking back, not many of my classes touched much upon the area of technology. I signed up for this course because I wanted to learn about different programs that I could integrate into my teaching. I found I learned so much more than that. I learned that technology is a way to level the playing field for different types of learners. Assistive technology especially is the pathway for students with disabilities to participate and be engaged in school. It’s amazing to think that by providing such tools, digital or otherwise, can have life-changing impacts on their lives and on the education of our students.

Before starting this course, I was aware of certain programs I could use with my students. I feel very comfortable using Microsoft Office programs, but I wanted to widen my knowledge of technologies that I could use in my teaching. I feel so fortunate to have an entire Live Binders full of tools and programs to refer back to in the future.

This course explored so many different programs and technologies, but more importantly, it weaved in the importance of being a responsible digital citizen and what we can do as teachers to promote appropriate usage of technology for all of our students. We discussed in detail the issue of cyberbullying that has become such an epidemic in our society. We reflected on celebrities such as Ellen DeGeneres who has been such a hopeful voice for a change in our future. We talked about other artists such as Taylor Swift who writes powerful lyrics and sings inspiring songs with messages we should all take to heart.

I believe it is important to remember that kids at any age are vulnerable to peer pressures and are sensitive to how others perceive them. What I’ve learned from our discussions in this class is that we cannot walk around with closed eyes and ears to the bullying that is going on in our schools. There have been devastating cases of children not seeing a way out of their challenging realities, and as a result, taking their own lives from no longer being able to deal with the pain. The stories we have heard of our youth feeling that suicide was the answer have been haunting, especially because we wonder what may have been done to prevent it from happening.

I’m leaving this course with a greater knowledge of technology and its impact on the education of all students. I feel more confident that I will be able to use these new programs in my teaching. More importantly, I feel more aware of some of the consequences of using technology inappropriately, and I know that I will do my part to be an advocate for the change our nation needs.