Week 3: Reading and Video Reflection

This week had numerous videos and readings that explained how important technology is to student-centered classrooms where ALL children can learn and grow.

The Kansas Technology Rich Classroom grants helped provide classrooms with the technology that would allow for student-centered environments, and would engage them at their specific level of learning.  These types of classrooms give students the chance to guide their own learning, and be an active member of the learning in their classroom. 

One of the Edutopia videos featured 18-year-old Louis while he shared his daily life, and explained how technology is seamlessly flooded throughout every minute of his day.  This is true about the majority of the youth in today’s schools.  Technology is not just something that they do on the side.  It is and runs their life.  Louis was even able to teach his parents about many things they could do online like paying the bills.  For many students, technology is more than a tool.  It’s a necessity in their every day life.  Very rarely do kids read the instruction manual for anything.  They are motivated to just go out and learn as much as they can about something when technology is involved.  This type of mindset is what we, as teachers, need to take hold of and run with in our day-to-day lessons.  Most of the students walk in the door ready to learn.  The teachers are responsible for making the curriculum engaging and interesting.  Technology makes this easy. 

Edutopia.org (nd). Welcome to the Digital Generation. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/digital-generation-project-overview-video

Edutopia.org (nd). Digital Youth Portrait -- Luis. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/digital-generation-profile-luis-video

Schooltube.com (nd). Kansas Technology Rich Classrooms – Partnership for 21st Century Learning. Retrieved from http://www.schooltube.com/video/36743/Kansas-Technology-Rich-Classrooms--Partnership-for-21st-Century-Learning-Summit-Video#