After learning about the different standards that have been set for students, reading differing views of the use of technology in the classroom, and actually using different types of technology, my views on the issue have become more succinct.  At the beginning of my course on Instructional Technology, my views about the use of technology in the classroom were somewhat negative and against its role.  Now that I have had the opportunity to develop my technology skills and operations and use different programs, my views have changed.  Technology is important for making instruction and learning more effective, efficient, and encouraging for all students!

            Students in our society are living in a multi-medial enhances and technological world.  The use of technology will only continue to increase and grow!  By teaching students how to use different programs and by planning instruction that includes the use of technology, more students will be able to make connections to their own lives and they will be able to engage at a much higher level.  Using technology does not just include the internet or word processing.  Instead it encompasses a much larger range of programs and capabilities.  For example, technology can be used to create iMovies, Power Point projects, WebQuests, Wikis, or even EduBlogs.  Having these different types of resources available allows for varying instruction and for reaching all students.

            If students have a hard time communicating verbally or in written form, using technology allows them to portray their thoughts just as well or better than they could using the traditional form of communication.  Using technology as a form of communication allows students to progress at equal rates as their peers. 

            Some individuals may argue that technology should not be heavily relied upon in the classroom because of the varying levels of resources students have outside of the classroom.  That can be an issue since a classroom can have several different socioeconomic classes represented; however, I would argue that by incorporating technology into the classroom students have an equal opportunity to learn.  Outside of the classroom students may not have computers or other types of technology, so if it is included then the lessons should stay in the classroom; the teacher cannot expect students to work on projects outside of the room.

            Technology in the classroom can also increase the productivity of the teacher and make instruction flow much smoother!  For productivity, the teacher can use technology to communicate with students, parents, other teachers, and even community members.  This allows other people to know what is happening in the classroom and it can create an environment that encourages group and collaborative learning!  Instruction can be enhanced by technology to help keep students engaged and motivated to learn, but it can also function as another way to reach students. 

            In my classroom, technology will be included in several ways so that learning is maximized.  My lessons will incorporate technology so students have an alternative way of communicating their thoughts and knowledge.  I will create WebQuests for students so that they have the opportunity to work online and I will also create an EduBlog for my class so that the students in the classroom can communicate with each other as well as with me.  Creating an EduBlog for the students is like an online journal; using technology can motivate students to engage and can function as a written piece of their work.  Overall, technology has far more advantages than disadvantages and should be included in the classroom so students can have the opportunity to become familiar with it and use it to best portray their thinking! 

            The first standard is focused around creativity and innovation.  Students need to be able to create or express ideas as well as exploring complex concepts through the use of technology.  Along with this students need to be able to use technology to communicate and collaborate with their peers.  Technology allows students to discuss issues that may be challenging, but it also allows them to interact with individuals from different schools or even different countries.  By having students use technology they are able to develop a better understanding of the different cultures that exist.  Technology can be used to increase an awareness of other cultures, but it can also be used for research and gathering information; that is the third standard. 

            Researching and trying to discover information is fundamental for a student’s individual progress and understanding.  When students are researching they are able to quickly find information about a plethora of concepts.  This allows students to individually or collectively expand their critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making skills, all which are included in the fourth standard.

            The fifth standard presents the issue of digital citizenship.  Students need to be able to use technology in ethical ways.  Society and technology are very much interconnected and students need to understand and demonstrate the appropriate ways to use technology.  Each student must be responsible and productive when using it so they are able to become digital citizens.

            With the rate that technology is improved and the new devices that are created, it can be difficult to know how each operates and functions.  By using technology students need to be able to, “demonstrate a sound understanding of technology concepts, systems, and operations” (NETS, 2007).  Technology will continue to be a fundamental part of our society and that is why it is necessary for students to meet each of the standards included in the National Educational Technology Standards.  

            Technology is a part of our everyday lives and the technology industry is continuously growing, but many individuals bring up the issue of whether or not it should be incorporated into the classroom.  Carol Tell discusses the controversy in her article The I-Generation—From Toddlers to Teenagers: A Conversation with Jane M. Healy.  Many key components of teaching are examined.  First education is to be about educating the entire child and creating well rounded individuals.  With increased amounts of technology in the classroom it is eliminating the interactions students and teachers have and the relationships are undermined.  The article also discusses how essential it is for students to experience different subjects, like art, social studies, physical education, and writing.  By introducing more and more technology into the classroom some of these subjects and curriculum are being extinguished.  This then makes the student more dependent on technology.  Jane Healy mentions that technology is rapidly expanding and much of the technology that students learn now will not even be used when they are grown up.  That then brings up the issue that teaching technology to students now is wasting valuable instructional time because what they will learn will not be usable later. Healy suggests that using technology is detrimental to the students learning. 

            In contrast to Healy, the article Rethinking Learning in the Digital Age by Mitchell Resnick focuses more on the positive aspects of technology.  He brings up the point of having learning focused around the student.  In stead of the teacher just delivering information to students, he suggests that the classroom needs to be reorganized so that student learning occurs more independently.  He views technology as beneficial because it is a way the students can relate to the material and it is relevant within their lives.  When technology was first introduced it was for the business sector and it now has grown to include a broader range of devices.  Rasnick states that in the classroom technology will be of use to the child if it is a different kind of technology.  By this he means that technology that allows for student creativity and student development promotes learning.  Society is becoming extremely digital and, “new technologies are changing not only what students should learn, but also what they can learn” (Rasnick, p. 36).  The main point of Rasnick’s article is that technology is necessary in education because it allows students to be creative and it increases the amount of possibilities they have to learn.

            After considering both arguments for using technology there are both positives and negatives that are important.  It is important for students to become well-rounded and have the opportunity to experience all types of subjects, but technology can expand what they can do in a single classroom.  I agree with Healy that students need to have a relationship with the teacher and that they need to move around, but I also agree with Resnick in regards to certain types of technology advancing student’s possibilities.  Each of the standards can be met while taking into account both sides of the argument.  Students do need to have a knowledge base around technology, but the amount of time they are in front of a screen should be limited.  Teachers can provide activities that allow students to develop their understanding of technology in order to meet the standards, but instruction should not be solely limited to using computers.  Different types of technology need to be incorporated and the teacher needs to make sure students are being productive, engaging, and managing their work.  

            There are several ways teachers can use technology. When I have a classroom, I think it would be a great idea to set-up a class blog.  Many teachers have used blogging and podcasting, which is a great way for students to interact with one another and to use technology.  Blogging allows students to express their ideas and it allows for expanding their knowledge of ways technology can be used effectively.  As a teacher, I could create lessons in which students had to make posts and then other students had to comment on the entry.  By using blogging each subject within the curriculum can be included, like writing, social studies, science, and art.  Students would also enjoy working with the blog.  Knowing how to effectively use technology will allow for maximizing students learning!