Beliefs about teaching with technology

I believe that technology is extremely useful in education. Because students now are so exposed to computers and other forms of technology, using technology in the classroom can help students who do not normally respond to other forms of media, such as textbooks or videos or blackboard/whiteboard teaching. I’m still amazed and intrigued by just about anything that’s put on a Smartboard, and I’ve used the technology many times before. I can’t imagine how a student would feel seeing information move on a board like “magic.” It would certainly capture my attention and make me interested in the subject, even if it’s something I didn’t think I wanted to learn about.

Technology can also be useful in learning by research. I know when I was in school I hated going to the library and looking up books and using encyclopedias. Now, students can log onto the Internet and research anything and everything, and, provided they know which sites to trust and which not to trust, they can get very valuable information. Technology can also foster interests that aren’t there without even trying. One of my favorite things to do is to “click through” on Wikipedia. I’ll start on a page I wanted to look at (say, Florida Marlins), and the next thing I know I’ll be reading about how mustard is made.