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Role of Technology
I can attest that I really have seen the birth of the technology rich classroom in my time as a student. I can remember a day I can remember back in elementary school a day where only one computer in the library had access to the Internet, a middle school where teachers reluctantly brought technology into the classroom, not confident of its ability to enhance the teaching, and the arrival of the first SMART Board in my high school. Now it's quite the opposite. Rarely do I step into a classroom that does not have wireless laptops and a SMART Board.
Personally, I love to have freedom with technology in the classroom. It makes for a nice supplement to my teaching, and when computers are readily accessible, a lot can get accomplished that will keep my students interested. From a Core Content standard, it is really nice to be able to show an example of an activity or event in video, because it helps to get the kids at least on a lower level of Bloom's Taxonomy. One example in teaching about the Revolutionary War is that the slow reload rate and inaccuracy of a musket was a core reason the militia form of military engagement was used in wars of that era. By showing a YouTube clip of the intricacy of firing a musket, students can understand the weaponry of the times. From there, the students can engage military strategy, and discuss why guerrilla warfare became instrumental to the American victories in the south.
In short, technology is an important part of the classroom. By having quick access to information quickly, learning can now move at the speed of life. The teacher who knows how to use technology in a way that gets their students' creative juices flowing is going to do well
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