INTRODUCTION
The evolution of our society is highly based on technological innovation. Currently, the development of the information technology sector has created a growing industry that continually shapes our everyday lives. As educators, it is important to be knowledgeable and aware of all technology relevant to the classroom in order to better prepare the students we teach. For our classrooms, integrating technology into daily routines and designing lessons that make use of modern technology will create better-prepared students.
REFLECTION
Reviewing the technology skills inventory that I completed highlighted my strengths as well as showed myself areas in which I could improve. I feel that the survey reflects my technological capabilities in an accurate way. Within the survey categories technology operations and concepts and planning and designing learning environments, several of my strengths can easily be seen. It demonstrates that I am able to use technology on a daily basis with ease and that I am willing to incorporate it within my classroom to meet specific learning or teaching objectives. As a general area for improvement in these categories, I could incorporate technology within my classroom daily to promote more creativity. In the category of teaching, learning and the curriculum, my strengths were shown as being able to use technology resources to enhance presentations, problem solve and research. Using technology to enhance exceptional students learning is an area of growth that is focused on within this category and is important to consider. Within the assessment and evaluation category, one can see that my ability to collect and analyze data, marks and reports is a strength. However, my weakness in this category is my inability to incorporate technology further in assessment and evaluation. It suggests developing more resources and opportunities for students to have technology-based assignments that are strictly done electronically. Although this is a great idea, the financial resources within today’s schools often make this a difficult task. In the final two categories, productivity and professional practice and social, ethical, legal and human issues, I feel that the survey did not represent me accurately. These categories view my only accuracy as being able to use technology to increase productivity. In my areas for growth, it outlines that I do not use technology in an ethical way and that I need to have a more positive view of technology. I am a big proponent of technology, and if the resources were available, I would incorporate it into my classroom. I did indicate in answering the survey that I downloaded music online. It is my belief that the survey then viewed my use of technology as inappropriate, which I feel is incorrect. My personal use of technology does not affect how I utilize technology as a teacher. I am fully aware of its appropriate use within schools and the classroom and would only promote the proper use of technology to my students.
As a future teacher, I feel that I need to improve my instructional skills, and focusing on the teaching, learning and the curriculum category will help me do so. For myself, this category is something I feel should always be developed by teachers. It outlines incorporating technology into the classroom, and using various technologies to enhance all subjects to be taught. I feel that all teachers can continually improve their use of technology and discover the advantages it has to offer. Similar to many teachers, my use of technology can be improved within my lessons. As a teacher, it is often easy to rely on more traditional methods of teaching instead of exploring new ways. Developing and incorporating technology takes a significant amount of time, as one has to create appropriate lessons or adapt previous lessons to include technology. Personally, I have relied on traditional teaching methods rather than putting the effort into utilizing available technologies. It is my hope that choosing this category and providing myself with a goal will inspire me to do more with technology in my teaching. In my experience, students are excited and engaged when given the opportunity to use technology while learning. For many teachers, resources are often the primary reason that technology is not more fully incorporated into their classroom. If teachers were to take the time to explore its potential on their own, it is likely that they would be willing to push administration for more resources. I feel that taking this course will help me to come to a better understanding of the uses for technology within the classroom. When I obtain a full-time position, I hope to be the type of teacher that promotes and pushes administration for increased technology. Understanding the weaknesses in my implementation will help myself to truly develop an appreciation for technologies use and thus, be a greater proponent of technology.
SMART GOALS
Focusing on some of the specific recommendations from this survey allows me to create tangible goals that can be worked towards. The suggested actions that the survey highlights in the teaching, learning and the curriculum category are ideas that can be easily built upon. The first is to deliver a cohesive unit (supported by appropriate technology) that meets both academic and student technology goals. This outlines incorporating technology into all subject matters which allows the students to not only learn about the particular subject that is being studied, but also develop their technological skills. Provide engaging, motivating, learner-centred technology-based lessons is the second suggestion that I wish to focus on. Technology can be used to motivate students to get more involved in subjects that they may find uninteresting. Lessons that involve technology can be easily adapted to students at all learning levels. The third suggestion of implementing inclusive tech-based learning experiences allows for teaching to be easily tailored to students needs. By addressing these three suggestions I will make myself a more rounded teacher.
To achieve the suggested actions that I highlighted above, my SMART goal is to incorporate the Smartboard into my lessons. I would like to use the Smartboard once a day, for at least one lesson. Using the Smartboard will allow me to meet the curriculum needs of any subject matter while developing the student’s technological skills. The Smartboard is very engaging and motivating and its use inspires students at all levels to participate and learn. The specifics for my goal are as follows. Using the Smartboard would involve the whole class and the objective would be to familiarize them with interactive technology. The Smartboard is available in the neighbouring classroom as well as in a common area on the lower level. This would be an ongoing goal, and I hope that after a few years of using the Smartboard, I would have my own within my classroom. It is important for students to be comfortable using this type of technology and for the students to see the teacher as a positive role model while using this technology. By providing a goal of once a day I have created a Measurable and Achievable SMART goal. Using the Smartboard is simple enough and incorporating it into ones lessons is an easy transition. There are many ideas, resources and pre-designed lessons on the Internet that can be used to support instruction on any subject matter. These could be used in the beginning as comfort levels for myself and the students are established with the Smartboard. I feel that my goal is realistic and I am very willing to achieve it. At times, scheduling and co-coordinating the use of the Smartboard to ensure that another teacher is not using it will require flexibility on my part. I am willing to re-arrange my schedule to ensure that my class gets the chance to use the Smartboard everyday. The timing and tangibility of this goal will be difficult. Our teaching practicum does not occur until the course ends. This will make it difficult to implement this goal. However, when I am given the opportunity to implement this goal, I will be dedicated to it. I am very driven to use technologies such as the Smartboard on a greater scale within my teaching. Within the classroom that I currently work in, the students have little exposure to technology. The teacher is a more traditional teacher and does not seem comfortable using the available technology. I would like to provide them with a more interactive teaching experience that uses technology to engage them in their learning, and I feel that using the Smartboard will achieve this.
CONCLUSION
Using the educational technology skills inventory, I was able to view both my strengths and weaknesses as it relates to technology in the classroom. This survey helped me to set the achievable goal of allowing my students and myself to learn about technology and how it can be used in the classroom. Integrating technology into the classroom inspires learning and creativity from the teacher as they plan the lesson and from the students as they learn and actively engage in the lesson. Teachers are always looking for new ways to engage their students and technology can be used as a positive tool that creates excitement in learning.
