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Shanghai Shangde Experimental School
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How Does Technology Impact the Way I Learn and Teach?The world we have created is a product of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking. Albert Einstein Introduction Technology has become an integral part of education on the 21st century. There are many educational technologies nowadays that can metamorphose learning and teaching and make it productive, effective, and meaningful both to students and teachers. Learners nowadays must learn multiple skills together with knowledge since information is already available with the existence of internet or other ready available resources made possible through technology. In the field of international education, one can’t also deny the fact how technology has made the world smaller and for English language learners, technology is bridging the gap through better communication and presentation of concepts and applications of knowledge. Wagner (2012) argues that the interest and ability to create new knowledge to solve new problems is the single most important skill that all students must master today. All successful innovators have mastered the ability to learn on their own “in the moment” and then apply that knowledge in new ways. With the help of technology, learning can be engaging and collaborative which help students retain their focus and increase interest in exploring their areas of interests. Wagner considers motivation as the source of all good learning and unpacks it by concluding that intrinsic motivation is fueled by play(experimenting), purpose (wanting to make a difference), and passion (devoting yourself to something you find deeply meaningful). In the field of Mathematics, technology has brought a different level of understanding math concepts through clear visualization and eradicating misconceptions due to poor interpretation especially in graphing visualization and accuracy in calculations. Software and interactive like Geogebra, and graphing calculators like Desmos(online) or handheld instruments like TI-84 calculators, help students to have better understanding of different functions, especially in higher Mathematics. In a current classroom setting, we can easily recognize if technology has been employed and/or embedded, whether it's for classroom instruction, management, teaching strategies, pedagogy, or even in assessments. With these, we are empowering teachers with tools that can transform the learners to excel and develop their innate skills and capabilities. As educators, we are also preparing our students to become lifelong learners and to connect with others around the world, making it possible to collaborate and engage into something meaningful that will benefit the whole humankind. Technology becomes an integral part in the classroom and education as a whole. Although it might come with some issues like technical glitches or teacher training challenges, most of it contributed a lot to students’ better understanding and learning to be critical in choosing which educational technology can be more useful to their daily life. Indeed, it is needed to incorporate technology to prepare students in this 21st century learning and prepare them to be globally minded citizens. Coherence on Curriculum Outcomes As teachers, it is very crucial that we do comprehend what we are supposed to deliver in line with the curriculum outcomes we are expected to follow and students must have achieved. We need to check what our students need, what are available resources do we have, and if we need other support from stakeholders to be able to fully integrate technology into our teaching practices. Every sophisticated and world leading educational system has embedded technology exploration even in the core of assessments. This is very explicit in IB DP Math syllabus, grade descriptors for Group 5, and assessment objectives itself. Also, if one will look into the curriculum expectations based from the ISTE’s (International Society for Technology in Education) outcomes, by the end of Grade 12s, students will be expected to demonstrate a clear understanding of technological applications, and consistently apply appropriate technology to solve curriculum problems. Students are also expected to demonstrate an ability to assess the application of technology to solve problems. To be able to attend to the curriculum issues, educators need to address first the purpose of using technology and how does it help them with their teaching pedagogy to deliver effective teaching instruction on their subject areas. Studies and research on effective computer software including web browsers and mobile apps that can help improve students’ academic performance and critical thinking skills are becoming a trend in education nowadays. With the discovery of new technology and combining it with effective pedagogy that has been proven, students will benefit most of it. What’s does Educational Technology bring? As teachers, we need to check what resources we need to prepare ourselves to be competent so we are able to deliver the expected curriculum outcomes in the most efficient ways. When I watched the video from Edutopia on “Introduction to Technology Integration”, it clearly explains how rewarding it is to integrate technology in our teaching instruction. Teachers can integrate technology that will perfectly fit for diverse students such as blended learning, flipped classroom, differentiated instruction and assessments, mobile learning, assistive technology for students with learning disabilities, development and construction of pedagogy that will addresses different ages or abilities/skills, cultivation of students to produce work outcomes with pride and shows responsibility, acknowledgment of rights for digital citizenship, and creation of visual presentations that enable students to understand better, thus, making our students empowered with critical media literacy skills that they needed. As much as I adhere to basic ways of teaching Math like what I used to learn before, technology has changed my perception in teaching it in some ways. Technology has make it possible for the students to eradicate their fear of learning Math and help them to enjoy and keep interested in learning the lessons. It also gives other opportunities to use what they’d learned from other subject areas and use it in Math or vice-versa. Learning does not happen alone in one course but in reality it involves or applies different aspects of varied courses. Cross-curricular activities are easy and possible together with the innovative teaching approaches associated with recent technology. Teachers can easily access files as well as students. It also increases and improves efficiency, opportunity, and among other things that makes learning meaningful and productive. With the result of new and changing technology, I see that it is important to equip a teacher with the right tools not for oneself but to give students better opportunities to learn more and gear themselves with the right knowledge they need for their future endeavors. There are many resource depots available online that organizes and collects educational technology like effective computer software (including web browsers) and mobile apps that improve students’ academic performance and critical thinking skills that are very helpful for Math teachers as well as other subject teachers. We should treat technology as needed not just to make things easier but rather to make students learn skills at the same time and use the knowledge they learn from us to become more powerful and better global citizens. Digital Development “What does it mean to be educated in the 21st century?” We have to examine the effect of these trends and respond to this question as modern teachers. “The world in which today’s students will graduate is fundamentally different from the world in which we grew up" (Stewart, 2010). Change is the only thing that is inevitable. Stephen Wilmarth insists that new technologies combined with social and cultural adaptations fundamentally change our understanding of knowledge, its creation and authority. The quickening pace of globalization over the past 20 years-driven by profound technological changes, and the accelerating pace of scientific discovery, has produced a whole new world. As we live in this technology era where mostly everything is at the tip of the fingertips, we need to shape the mind of the students with the right technology that are beneficial for them. Few decades ago, the only available technology is just chalk and board for Math. As far I remember, I was taught in Math by lecture alone and basic graphing visualization which are not enough in learning to understand the complexity of math, especially for higher grades. Years passed by, the nature of Math being abstract is becoming less and it is easier to understand concepts through the use of accurate visualization and available technology such as graphing tools, visual/video presentations, simulations, interactive, computers software and mobile apps. Over the years it’s very evident that there were many things has changed especially in education and one the catalysts is technology itself. With the new technology, learning Math has become challenging and interesting than before. Interactive arouse students’ interest to keep interested in learning Math and focus on completing task because they can feel the value of Math in different perception. Graphing technology has unleashed areas where some teachers are limited to show and explain. Technology extends more ideas that just of one teacher can do. Students are able to do multi-task and express their understanding in different forms, not just in paper-pencil activities. With the aid of technology, the pedagogy has flourished and become established. Involving oneself in thorough online collaboration and communication among teachers in the professional learning communities can affirm that it is tangible how technology has aided both learners and teachers regardless wherever they are located. We educators share the same sentiments and are fully aware of what technology can do in our classroom regardless of what courses. Smart Notebook, Powerpoint, Google Slides or Drawings, Prezi, Kahoot, Wikis, Organizers, YouTube educational channels, online tutorials, and Garage Band are just some of these educational technologies that are trending which are proven beneficial. Similar educational technology exists around the world to aid students’ learning. Some powerful software like Moodle that is guided by social constructionist pedagogy delivers a powerful set of learner-centered tools and collaborative learning. Of course these technologies didn’t come without shortcomings and at some cases, you’ll experience some glitches but we should focus more on the benefits it can bring. Summary Educational technology can help us become an effective teacher and a collaborator in the teaching professional community. Computer software (including web browsers) and mobile apps are beneficial in delivering the course content that improves students’ academic performance and critical thinking skills. All of the findings of different research on how technology impacted the way we educate our students reflect how technology had shaped the way we teach and how our students learn in this modern era. Educational technology has become the key ingredient to education’s success, not just in shaping the mind of future generation but also in getting connected with the world. Teachers need to continue to share their ideas on integration of technology on their classroom instruction. Although technology comes with some issues and challenges, we should keep in mind to focus on its use, because it is where students and educators can benefit the most. In lieu with the further research, I would like to reassert the benefits of using educational technology in Math or Science (even in other subject areas) instruction for teachers, as well as class management tools. It includes: 1) Students learn better though accurate visual representations of math and science concepts from media or video clips if needed, or simulations and interactive. 2) While developing math and scientific literacy skills, students will also develop other life skills such as critical thinking skills, media literacy, language, computer, responsibility, and others that are very important to develop in this technological era. 3) There are very good apps that make the learning very engaging and interesting for students. 4) Technology extend what human beings are limited to do like store countless data and information; and drawing and visualizing ideas easily with appropriate tools. 5) With the technology available, it is very easy to review materials from your previous lessons. 6) Giving feedback, collecting and sharing artifacts, ideas, lessons, and resource materials among teachers and teachers are easy with the technology around. 7) Saves a lot of time once a technology is mastered. 8) Students become globally competitive and active. 9) Easy access to resource materials and textbooks. 10) Online materials are teachers’ little angels. Teachers who integrate technology into their class instruction not only make their teaching pedagogy more challenging and effective, but at the same time, they will have the students benefit the most out of it in the future. This is what every school must believe in and the school itself supports teachers as models of lifelong learners. Every staff should have an opportunity to undergo training to different professional learning communities to upgrade or learn something then share it with their fellow teachers when they come back. Modern school provides learners opportunities to be exposed at these educational technologies and learn multiple skills together with knowledge since information is already available with the existence of Internet or other ready available resources. Innovative teaching practices incorporated with educational technology are evident in teachers who engaged in professional development and learning communities and exercises collaboration, thus making themselves as role models to their students. These practices increase students’ academic performance and at the same time, students acquired many skills that are essential for their future jobs and careers in the 21st century. Hopefully, there will be more teachers out there that will continue to work hard, cultivate growth-mindset, and follow their passion in teaching. As what Nelson Mandela quoted “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”. We may have the technology, but at the end of the day, it us teachers who have the ability to make the education of the future generation more powerful simply by the way we learn and the way we teach them to become empowered life long learners of the society. References Fullan, Michael. (2013). Stratosphere:Integrating technology, pedagogy, and change knowledge. Toronto, Ontario. Pearson Canada Inc. Jacobs, Heidi H. et al. (2010). Curriculum 21: Essential education for a changing world. Alexandria, VA. ASCD. Wagner, Tony. (2012). Creating innovators: the making of young people who will change the world. New York, NY. Simon and Schuster. Websites https://www.edutopia.org/technology-integration http://www.teachingmathinchina.weebly.com/ |