Shannon Kievit

1-19-18
EDC 370
Reflection Paper
Reflection on 21 Things
Overall, I am glad I had the opportunity to complete the 21 Things for the 21st Century

Teacher technology training. The modules within this program introduced me to a variety of

technology tools and applications that can be employed within the classroom. This program was

extremely beneficial because it allowed me to receive some instruction and formal training in

technology. Using and applying technology has, and continues, to be an area where I am not as

strong, but after completing this training, I have been introduced to many tools that will be useful

in my professional career as an elementary teacher. While I still do not consider myself an expert

at using or integrating technology, I have gained basic, preliminary knowledge about instructive

and assistive technology and applications for the classroom. Above all, completing 21 Things

has allowed me to discover the types of technology available. From this point on, it is my goal to

dig deeper and learn more about the technology that I am most excited about integrating into my

teaching.

After completing 21 Things in its entirety, the two things that I am most excited about

utilizing in my classroom include creating QR codes and using text-to-voice tools. Throughout

this course, I learned that QR codes are simple to make. During the program I successfully made

a QR code that was linked to a website. In the classroom, I see many different applications in

which QR codes would be beneficial. For example, a QR code could be used to help students

access an online link. Instead of typing a lengthy URL, students could scan the code. Especially

for younger students, scanning QR codes eliminates the long, tedious procedure of typing a
website address. Another effective tool when typing URL’s is an URL shorteners. This tool

shortens the URL and increases students’ ability to accurately and timely type a website’s

address.

I first saw QR codes in the classroom during my kindergarten placement. In this

classroom, the teacher used QR codes to help students access a recording of her reading a book.

In concept, this idea is similar to listening to books on tape. Students would scan the QR code

using the class iPads and follow along while listening to their teacher read aloud. In

kindergarten, children are beginning readers and greatly benefit from being read to aloud or

listening to text read aloud while following along. It is time intensive for the teacher, and other

adults in the classroom, to read individually with students. When students can independently

access the teacher reading aloud via a QR code, it reduces the time required by the teacher to by

physically present with students.

Another tool that I will integrate into my classroom are text-to-voice tools. These tools

convert text into a computer automated voice. Similar to the concept described above, a text-to-

voice tool enables students to listen to text being read aloud instead of reading independently.

While a text-to-voice tool achieves a similar effect as using QR codes to access a recording of an

adult reading aloud, the voice reading is a computer-generated voice and does not sound like a

‘real’ person reading. For beginning readers, it would be most beneficial for students to listen to

an authentic recording of the reading because the voice sounds more familiar. Contrary to that

idea, there is validity in students becoming familiar listening and responding to computer-

automated voices. Students who receive online testing accommodations will need to be familiar

with listening and responding to a computer-generated voice. In my future teaching, QR codes

and text-to-talk tools are the technology applications that I am most excited about integrating

into my classroom.

The computer-generated voices could be considered a weakness when integrating

technology because it sounds unfamiliar and unnatural. With younger students who are still

developing comprehensive reading skills and an understanding of language, it would be

important to make a distinction about computer automated voices and explain why the voice

sounds different.

Another potential weakness that I see in using technology in the classroom comes in the

sense of rural areas verses schools in urban areas. While this does not present a weakness or

affordance for students in terms of their understanding, rural and urban schools have distinct

differences that result in disadvantages for students. For example, I have experience with a

school district in a small, rural Michigan town. This school has had to troubleshoot many hurdles

as the school has worked to integrate technology and become more tech savvy. One example is

administering M-STEP, an online, statewide assessment. This particular school did not have

enough bandwidth running to the town to support the number of students who needed to be

online at the same time for testing. Thus, the computers in the school were dysfunctional and

kicked students who were testing off the system. This made online testing impossible. The

alternative to online testing was taking the test in a traditional paper-pencil format. While there is

nothing wrong with traditional test methods, students were aware that other students from other

schools were taking the test online. The students at this school felt penalized and

disadvantaged—like they were from the ‘poor, small school.’ It is not fair for students to feel

penalized for something that is beyond the control of them, the teachers, or the school district.

While I think technology has great benefits that allow for enriched educational opportunities, it
cannot be forgotten, that even in today’s technologically advanced world, not everyone has

access to the most upgraded technology.

When thinking about my own teaching philosophy, it is my goal to integrate technology

into my classroom. While this seems daunting to me because I am not the most tech savvy

person, I find it important that my students learn how to use and navigate technology effectively

and safely. In the modern world known today, it is an expectation that students grow up equipped

with technology skills. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to complete the 21 Things training

because it allowed me to be introduced and become more familiar with technology tools that will

benefit my teaching.