Utilizing Technology in the Classroom

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Hello there fellow educators! Are you looking for new ways to enhance the standards you are teaching in your classrooms? It is important to keep up with the times to build rapport with your students and adjusting your teaching methods is a great way to do that. An effective way to do that is to utilize technology tools online. There are so many different resources on the internet that may seem overwhelming to navigate, so I have created this space to share the ones that I have found the most useful in my classroom. 

a1) In the beginning of the year at my school, each student is provided with an ipad that they are able to access and utilize all throughout the year. I ensure that each student understands how to use their own ipad prior to assigning work using it. I also allow them to "sign it out" for the evening from me to bring home if it is needed to access the online work I assign in the evenings. This gives every child equal opportunity to use this technology to access the online tools the teacher is requiring. Not only at school, but at home as well.

Teaching kids at a young age responsibility and ethical practices is essential. They are creating lifelong skills that they will carry with them outside of the classroom. Some of these skills include; treating others property with care and respect, accountability with keeping ipad returned and charged daily, and online safety. These skills are not always instinctual and need to be taught prior to using. I begin each year with a lesson on all of these expectations and make sure to give constant reminders of them throughout the year as assignments are being introduced

Social responsibility is another essential discussion that needs to be addressed before the use of technology/internet in the classroom in order to create a safe learning environment. I debrief topics such as cyberbullying, plagiarism, leaving positive footprints online, and I regularly use the phrase "think before you post". We discuss what appropriate and credible websites look like and the consequences/impact of inappropriate ones. Luckily my school has web blocked all social media platforms not allowing my students to access to those websites, but I still value the importance in teaching these skills to create responsible cyber citizens. When situations of students not following these expectations arise, use them as a learning opportunity for the students to correct the behavior while also making sure the consequences are being reinforced when necessary.




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