It is the 21st Century and technology is changing rapidly, while it is staying very much consistent in my classroom. I have four desktop computers that may or may not work and a few laptops that are so slow that just logging in takes up much of the 20 to 40 minutes that students have on them. Students are required to complete time on certain programs that have been purchased through the school, so most all of the computer access is spent on these programs. Because of this, there is very little opportunity to teach students while utilizing new technology effectively.
Recently, I witnessed the impact of new technology in the classroom when my students were able to use a class set of Chromebooks. The student engagement and achievement that I witnessed was eyeopening. Every student was focused and determined to to be successful. Students were asking questions and diligently working on their products. Students learned to create and share Google documents, revise and edit peer documents, communicate directly with me, and communicate on Google classroom. While I was impressed by the students' drive to achieve, I also realized that they needed consistent access to this technology. Many students have little to no typing skills, do not understand simple key strokes, and have very little knowledge of word processing in general.
As a teacher, using Chromebooks allows me to engage students, collect and store student work, effectively provide meaningful feedback, increase communication between peers, and provide vital 21st Century skills for my kids. With these Chromebooks, I plan to even the playing field and give my kids the tools to achieve their dreams.
About my class
It is the 21st Century and technology is changing rapidly, while it is staying very much consistent in my classroom. I have four desktop computers that may or may not work and a few laptops that are so slow that just logging in takes up much of the 20 to 40 minutes that students have on them. Students are required to complete time on certain programs that have been purchased through the school, so most all of the computer access is spent on these programs. Because of this, there is very little opportunity to teach students while utilizing new technology effectively.
Recently, I witnessed the impact of new technology in the classroom when my students were able to use a class set of Chromebooks. The student engagement and achievement that I witnessed was eyeopening. Every student was focused and determined to to be successful. Students were asking questions and diligently working on their products. Students learned to create and share Google documents, revise and edit peer documents, communicate directly with me, and communicate on Google classroom. While I was impressed by the students' drive to achieve, I also realized that they needed consistent access to this technology. Many students have little to no typing skills, do not understand simple key strokes, and have very little knowledge of word processing in general.
As a teacher, using Chromebooks allows me to engage students, collect and store student work, effectively provide meaningful feedback, increase communication between peers, and provide vital 21st Century skills for my kids. With these Chromebooks, I plan to even the playing field and give my kids the tools to achieve their dreams.
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