Technology Integration in the Classroom: A Teacher's Reflection

Introduction

Life has carved a path for my future — one that embraces my love for teaching, my devotion to learning, and my commitment to contributing to a stronger world, today and tomorrow, by embedding self-sufficiency and responsibility in every student.

Durable strategies along this path must therefore accommodate all learning styles: visual learners who seek pictures and diagrams to understand new processes; auditory learners who prefer talking through a process verbally rather than relying on technology manuals; and kinesthetic or tactile learners who need to perform the same action repeatedly until it becomes second nature.

Integrating Technology into Learning

This desire to teach in a way that serves every student adds an extra dimension to my personal directives. Integrating modern technology into the learning process demands this balanced approach as we prepare today's students for tomorrow's leadership roles.

Technological awareness and skill are critical to future success and quality of life. Consider, for example, the process of checking a book out of a library. The card catalog system found in major libraries has all but disappeared; one must now operate a terminal to search digitized catalog files and locate desired materials.

Banks, grocery stores, gas stations, and even the exercise of basic constitutional rights such as voting are all migrating increasingly toward 21st-century technology. Those who cannot navigate these systems will inevitably be left behind.

Successful and Unsuccessful Methodology

Before I can teach students critical thinking skills, technological survival abilities, and open the world to them, I must first cover the basics. Many students have never used a mouse or keyboard, and navigating even the simplest program requires a foundational understanding of how a computer works. By the time this foundational work is completed, there is often little time remaining for state- and school-mandated lessons.

Dedicating a portion of my teaching time to technology has proven constructive in helping students develop patterns of logic, reasoning, collaboration, and broadly diverse thinking. Sharing my technical knowledge with students and colleagues alike has worked to minimize some of the fear surrounding computers and the changes that technology brings.