Technology in the classroom

Hello readers and welcome to my Blog Techno Teacher. I left “in training” in the title because I am still studying to be a teacher At Evangel University. I am currently enrolled in my fourth semester and entering my senior year. You my dear reader you have found me while I am immersed in an Education Technical course where we explore the many vast wonders of technology and how it can be used as a tool to help further the education of our students.

Won’t you join me as I continue on in this journey?

The first subject amongst the carefully entangled wires of our relationship with technology is that of a personal matter. How Fearful am I of Technology. To answer this I should explain a little more about myself. I am a functional geek within our widely diverse society. Yes I’m serious. I even actually just got back from having dinner with my group of friends at our local McDonalds. Where we were all dressed as the characters from Lord of the Rings. Hey don’t laugh, we got free hot fudge Sundays out of it, and made a lot of little kids happy. Back to the point. To be more specific I am knowledgeable about geek world technological equipment. Anything from the deep space of the Tardis, to the dysfunctional function of the Navicomputer on the Millennium Falcon, I can tell you how and if they work. But when it comes to real world technical equipment I find it less fantastical. Sure I can access the internet, and use most common tools for school such as, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Movie Maker, Etc. but when it comes to virus protection or operating a projector I just about die, let alone trying to figure out a smart board. After deeper contemplation of these maters I lost my “Bad feeling” about it, “Sorry for the star wars joke” and realized that my fears with these common tools were due to my lack of practice with such items. The only way to overcome these fears were to be able to practice with these tools more.

Then that got me thinking more, do our students also have fears with technology based on the fact that they too haven’t yet had the chance to practice with the correct equipment? I am almost positive they do. However there are possible barriers in our school systems that could hinder their chances at overcoming these fears. The biggest thing that stands in our student’s way is the lack of funding in some school to have such equipment to use. Let’s face it, if the equipment is not available then it is neither understood nor conquered.  Another barrier is the lack of technically educated educators. The rise of user friendly technology seemed to sprout out of the frost soaked 90’s and eagerly stretched its circuit board peddles to the rise of the soft spring sun of the 20th century. Quickly leaving many great educators out of the loop. They now had classes full of students born to this technological life style, who were quick to adapt and always looking for the new trend with technology. Yet they found themselves struggling. Of course like all educators we never stop learning, and many teachers proved this by taking courses and spending the time needed to acquire the knowledge they needed to operate such equipment.

Like those teachers from the time before technology was a hand held device, I too want to learn and adapt. My personal goals for this course is to not be afraid of something that sounds too different, or less fantastical. To strive to do my best for the future of my students, and to boldly go where several teachers have gone before, BUT now I too get to go.

Peace my friendly readers,

Katelyn Hammons.