Ziarko: Technology in the Classroom

Have you ever thought about using technology in your classroom, but was not quite sure how it would turn out? For many of our students technology, is a second nature. They are handling technology before they are even in school, enabling many to be “tech savvy” at an early age. As an education major and currently employed as a Kindergarten paraprofessional, I have firsthand experience with “old school” methods that still work; however, in todays’ world we need to consider taking advantage of this new, useful technology.
Some things to consider:

• Is it motivational?
• Does it cover most if not all of the multiple learning styles?
• What are some way you can use technology in a classroom?

Kindergarten students are smarter than what most people (non-education majors) would think. Throughout my experience, I have seen iPads used appropriately by the students and enhancing the learning in the classroom, by using them in learning labs, math, science, and reading for extra practice, entertainment, and for creating projects. In Kindergarten, there are “themes” that need to be followed throughout the curriculum (the duration of thematic units vary depending on your school district and its curriculum), our themes last ten school days, two school weeks. Depending on our thematic unit we have designated “app” folders that are labeled with the unit’s names. The students know that when they are on the iPad they are to be on the “apps” that the folder contains. From the beginning to the middle of the year, I have seen comprehension improve and I believe that it has a lot to deal with technology. Technology is a great asset to typical and atypical learners. The Apps contribute to multiple perspectives of the lesson which may be missing in the curriculum. I consider this a great asset to be an “assistant teacher”.

Technology helps all levels of multiple learning styles because it touches visual, kinesthetic, and auditory. iPads can be used, in every subject in different ways. They can be used to demonstrate their understanding by: creating projects of all sorts, completing assessments and homework, playing review games, sharing their ideas with other students globally, or even introducing a lesson through iPads. It creates something many classrooms lack, motivation! This is because children are excited and interested in technology, they know it means fun and entertainment. This also helps the educator to monitor progress more closely, completing assignments on a computer-based way helps the educator be able to compare data to monitor progress (Toppel, K., 2014).
Technology is an important part of the classroom in today’s society. Children are engaged and have ownership of their learning because they are motivated There are more opportunities for them to practice and demonstrate their knowledge in their own unique way then there has been in the past. The world is now at our fingertips!