Reflection on Educational Technology

In this class I have learned new ways to incorporate technology into my future classroom. I have
learned how to engage students more, how to make things easier for me as a teacher and for
parents, and how to use technology to help students learn in different ways. I have learned how
to operate many tools that will become useful in helping my classroom run smoothly. As I
learned how to use different technological tools I was very open to messing up. If I wanted to try
something and wasn't sure how it would work I did it anyways and just went back and tried again
if necessary. I guess this says that I take risks in learning and even if it's harder I attempt to learn
all the things that I want to know.
I believe that to be a teacher you need to be open to new ideas in technology. So if something
new comes out it is important for a teacher to look at that tool critically, see if it would be
positive to use in the classroom and if so to learn how to use every part of it so the students can
get the most out of the tools. The art of teaching has several skills attached to it. These are not
skills that we gain over night, but teachers have to develop these skills through extensive practice
and analysis of the 21st century learner. In light of this the words of (Prensky, 2001) are holding
true that Our students have changed radically. Todays students are no longer the people our
educational system was designed to teach. As I did this course for the past two months to
explore the usefulness of educational technology, my darkened state was lit as it was brought to
my attention how technology savvy the 21st century learners are. As a result the educators have to
keep in tuned to effectively teach the students we have today. The educational technology course
has really helped me to get an understanding of what digital literacy really is and adjustments
that teachers will have to make in order to effectively teach the 21st century students. Adjustments

which include the implementation of electronic books dispensing students work via social
Medias and itunes and including simulations in the teaching learning process. Therefore, new
strategies and stringent policies have to be implemented in ordered to satisfy the needs of the
learners. The course has lend me to understand that the technological advancement of the 21st
century learner has a positive implication for the teaching and learning process while the
changes in behaviour has resulted in rigid policies being implemented to curtail the behaviour of
the students. This has lead teachers and us as student teachers to join the educational revolution
that is taking place in our environment.
The Educational Technology course has shed some needed light on the National Educational
Technology Standards for Students (NETSS) which encourages effective teachers to model and
apply the use of technology as they design, implement and assess learning experiences to engage
students and improve learning; enrich professional practice; and provide positive models for
students, colleagues, and the community. These standards have moved us in the direction of the
educational revolution which propels us to expose our students to as much technology as
possible, using technology in making them actively involved in the teaching learning process.
Educational technologies have brought forward the application of the addie and assure models
for lesson planning. With learning being primarily student centered, the assure model stresses
the analysis of the learner, clearly stating the objectives, selection of the material, media, and
methods, the utilization of the media and materials requisition of the learners attention and
proper evaluation. In light of that, technology integration continues to increase in our society;
therefore it is vital that teachers hone their skills which will equip them to become digital age
professionals. Therefore as we went through the process of learning educational technology, this

improves the skills necessary to portray the behaviours of a digital age professional. This was
done through the application of the addie and assure model of lesson planning, while engaging
students in the lesson with interactive videos, web quest, wiki, websites, along with others
technological tools that were introduced to us. Without hesitation it can be said that educational
technology is the standard that the education system needs in order to effective mold the young
children and also educators to become technologically inclined for the future.
The educational technology course has truly been a struggling experience and journey for me
thus far. Upon starting this course I thought to myself, why are we doing another computer
course again when we have just done ICT. But to my knowledge, this course is more advanced
than ICT. I have also realized that this course is a student centred course only. Educational
technology class is a face to face and online course to which we discussed and the lecturer gives
feedback in site. I have always felt that while technology should not replace classroom
instruction, it can be used to supplement classroom instruction. Incorporating various
technologies into classroom activities often enhances the activities and keeps students motivated
and engaged. Furthermore, as we live in a world run by technology, it is crucial to not only
expose students to multiple types of technologies, but also teach them how to use the
technologies to enhance their educations and everyday lives as well. I feel that by integrating
technology into classroom activities and teaching students how to use the technologies safely and
appropriately, we are empowering and inspiring students, as well as letting them take
responsibility for their own learning. Moreover, while I have always felt very strongly about
integrating technologies into the classroom, my coursework experiences as part of my teaching
degree program and out in the real world.