A teacher willing to converse back and forth with students while considering their views, all while integrating technology into the classroom and engaging through computers assists students to grasp and retain the information being taught to them is a foundation for a highly interactive learning based environment.
Tech Tool 1.1 Ultra Portable Laptop Computers
Computers are a major tool in teaching from preparing lesson plans to posting grades online, to typing up work to hand out to students. Just these reasons alone make a computer invaluable to a teacher. Most teachers do not solely work at school, work gets brought home with them, making a personal computer necessary. Most schools provide a desktop for teacher use in classrooms but having your own portable computer to take to and from work to home is imperative. Before choosing which laptop to purchase three factors should be considered, battery life, weight and memory. Once decided which qualities are most important for usage the decision will be made easier.
Chapter Summary Points
- I found it interesting how background, including race, family income and parental education levels all vary the technology and/or internet use of a child.
- I liked the breakdown of new skills, referred to as 21st century skills are being emphasized in schools now. 21st century skills are skills needed to succeed and understand in a highly technological and information based society. These skills are being able to make informed judgments, solve complex problems, think creatively, be able to collaborate and effectively communicate with others and use information in new and innovative ways. All of which are great assets and characteristics to make someone a productive member of society.
- Digital disconnect between teacher and student is something I would see myself being a part of if I were teaching now. That refers to teachers feeling less confident with technology and not using more than basic integration in the classroom in comparison to computer savvy students being able to use systems in and outside of school with ease.
