Give a Little Get a Lot

Welcome readers to my last blog post of this class! I am both sad and excited for this post. Like always we will look into the give and take relationship of technology in the classroom.

                                            “Give a Little Get a Lot”

When I think about technology in the classroom I find it compares to relationships in our lives. How you might ask? Well think of someone who you often go to for assistance in your life. You value this person, and it’s evident by how many times you visit them for help. But with every relationship this relationship between you and your helper is a thriving relationship because in some way somehow you are giving back to them. This type of give and take relationship is healthy and as far fetch as it seems this relationship exists in technology too. No I’m not saying you have to call your computer every night before you go to bed and tell it you love it. But what I am saying is that you have to be willing to give the time, effort, and space in your classroom to be a healthy functioning device in your life.

Time is important with all things. However if you invest it wisely in the learning about the internet technology you could use in your classroom then you and your students benefit from it. Likewise effort has to be made to understand the extent and limits to the internet technology you are using. If you know the limits to the technology then you can better guide your students. Lastly you have to be willing to make space for internet technology in your class. You have to be a bit creative with this. Making up lessons that combine with internet searches or projects that require online assignments are a must to fully integrate such technology.

On a personal note, main concern I have with integrating internet technology is how quickly I can become frustrated with operating such technologies. I believe I have even expressed this feeling in some of my earlier posts. But I know I am determined. I often challenge myself to do things I don’t want to do. Learning patience with technology is one of those things. However that how I plan to compensate for my frustration to have patience, and to be willing to put in the time, effort, and integration needed to make my classroom technology savvy.  

-Katelyn Hammons