I believe that it's imperative to use technology at schools. Technology is a huge part of our lives. We couldn't imagine going through a day without sending an email, Googling a concept, texting, or doing so many other things that are technology related. How can we teach students about their world if we are not using the tools that they use to communicate and research? Our students are born into a society that is dependent upon technology. They don't understand how we survived without all the technological devices. Therefore, in order to teach them skills that will help them throughout their lives, we need to use the same tools at school that they'll need in the workplace and everyday life.
I couldn't conceive of my life without technology. In my professional life I use technology to communicate with staff and administration at school. I also take attendance, plan lessons, email parents, and perfom many other tasks using my computer. I design flipcharts that correlate with my curriculum and use online textbooks as an interactive way of educating my pupils.
I love to challenge my students with research projects when we get the laptop cart. Sometimes we read a novel and we
"travel" to the city where the story takes place. My students toured the Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Louvre, and the Prado through the Promethean board (Can you believe that we "walked towards the Mona Lisa" without leaving our room? We also joined the Pilgrims in the Mayflower trip to learn about Thanksgiving.
I am amazed at the many different things that we can do with a few technological tools. Students love to learn in an interactive way.
I wish that schools had the resources to train us and to provide us with additional technology in order to deliver curriculum in a creaive way.
In my daily life I use technology to stay connected with family and friends. I use Facebook, but my favorite tool is Skype. I have a sister in Argentina and another one in Spain. My sisters and I meet weekly through video conferences on Skype. That way I can see their children grow up and they can see mine. I also have a phone with all the bells and whitles that would be a complete success if I could only answer my calls!!! Every time that my family decides to trade old phones for new ones, I wish I could take a workshop on how to use it.
Anyhow, for being a person who was not born into technology (my sons cannot believe that I grew up without a computer or a cell phone) I believe I'm holding my own. And I'm proud of it because it doesn't come easy.
Administrating Educational Technology
Viviana Bruckenstein
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I'm a 4th grade teacher at Sunset Lakes Elementary, in Miramar, Fl.
District: Broward 3661
E-mail: viviana@wwamail.com
I believe that it's imperative to use technology at schools. Technology is a huge part of our lives. We couldn't imagine going through a day without sending an email, Googling a concept, texting, or doing so many other things that are technology related. How can we teach students about their world if we are not using the tools that they use to communicate and research? Our students are born into a society that is dependent upon technology. They don't understand how we survived without all the technological devices. Therefore, in order to teach them skills that will help them throughout their lives, we need to use the same tools at school that they'll need in the workplace and everyday life.
I couldn't conceive of my life without technology. In my professional life I use technology to communicate with staff and administration at school. I also take attendance, plan lessons, email parents, and perfom many other tasks using my computer. I design flipcharts that correlate with my curriculum and use online textbooks as an interactive way of educating my pupils.
I love to challenge my students with research projects when we get the laptop cart. Sometimes we read a novel and we
"travel" to the city where the story takes place. My students toured the Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Louvre, and the Prado through the Promethean board (Can you believe that we "walked towards the Mona Lisa" without leaving our room? We also joined the Pilgrims in the Mayflower trip to learn about Thanksgiving.
I am amazed at the many different things that we can do with a few technological tools. Students love to learn in an interactive way.
I wish that schools had the resources to train us and to provide us with additional technology in order to deliver curriculum in a creaive way.
In my daily life I use technology to stay connected with family and friends. I use Facebook, but my favorite tool is Skype. I have a sister in Argentina and another one in Spain. My sisters and I meet weekly through video conferences on Skype. That way I can see their children grow up and they can see mine. I also have a phone with all the bells and whitles that would be a complete success if I could only answer my calls!!! Every time that my family decides to trade old phones for new ones, I wish I could take a workshop on how to use it.
Anyhow, for being a person who was not born into technology (my sons cannot believe that I grew up without a computer or a cell phone) I believe I'm holding my own. And I'm proud of it because it doesn't come easy.