Discovering new technology to use in the classroom is fun and exciting. However, the practicalities of obtaining the new technology and using it appropriately can be difficult.
One of the biggest limitations to adoption of new technology for teachers is time. Unless a teacher has previous experience with a certain form of technology during his or her life as a student, it will take a large time commitment to learn how to properly use a new form of technology in the classroom. I am only 12 years out of high school, but, as a student, none of my classrooms had computer projectors or smartboards. We did not learn on iPads or laptops. The school did not have wireless access to the internet and students did not have phones with data plans. As a teacher, if I desire to use these things in my classroom, I will need time learn what the technology can do and then how I can implement it effectively in my classroom.
Another limitation is funding. I teach in a private, international school that was founded for missionaries (although we do serve other international and local students). Our funding for technology is very dependent on enrollment. When enrollment is high, there is extra money for teachers to spend on exciing new forms of technology, but this is not always the case.
In my own short career as a teacher, one of the best ways to introduce new technology in the classroom is to attend professional training. For example, I am a math teacher and there are opportunities to attend week long training sessions on how to use graphing calculators, motion detectors, and computer software to engage students in the learning process. Usually these presenters will walk you through many different lessons and allow you to experience the technology as a student. This accomplishes two main goals. The first is that I can see how the technology can be easily and appropriately used in the classroom. The second is that it generates excitement about the many possibilities available to me as a teacher.
Technology has changed drastically over the last decade, especially in the last four to five years. With the advent of Facebook, Twitter, iPads, and other types of technology, our world has changed forever. The days of anonymity are gone; all it takes is a Google search to find someone or something. It is an exciting time for education. We have the world at our figure tips, literally. Our students are able to experience things that we could only read about. As an educator, integrating technology in the classroom can be a daunting task. It does take quite a bit of time to learn how to use different forms of technology (Promethean or Smart Boards, iPads, etc…), and teachers must receive adequate training as well as have proficient time to incorporate technology into their curriculum and classroom. Funding can also be a consideration as technology is expensive and constantly changing. By the time schools implement one particular form of technology it becomes outdated, and another has taken its place. Because of this, schools must carefully choose what forms of technology they integrate in the classroom. As we move forward, we must use all available resources, including technology, so that our students can be a productive part of the global community.
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