Today’s session on
Educational Technology reminded me that technology is much more than devices
and apps—it is a tool that emerges from different disciplines such as
communication, education, and psychology to support teaching and
learning. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75ggbt5I3bA Ed
Panama. We discussed both the positive and negative effects of
technology, including the importance of using artificial intelligence
responsibly and ethically. Our group shared concerns about the misuse of AI and
agreed that both teachers and students must be responsible digital citizens.
One interesting point raised was that many students are masters of using their
cell phones, yet they often struggle with basic laptop skills, which highlights
the need to continue building digital literacy in our classrooms.
I reflected on how
technology has transformed education in recent years. Our school uses laptops,
and some teachers are fortunate to have Promethean Boards and Smart TVs. I personally
use a Smart TV in my classroom, which has become a valuable teaching tool. I
also appreciated the resources shared by our presenter, including The Busy
Teacher, Educators Technology, and ILA, a resource I am already familiar with
and often use for literacy support.
One of my biggest
takeaways was reflecting on my own growth with technology. During the pandemic,
many educators had to quickly learn how to use platforms such as Google Meet
and Zoom for teaching and meetings. Although the transition was challenging, it
became an opportunity for professional growth and collaboration. Looking back,
it was truly a blessing in disguise that helped many of us develop skills we
continue to use today. As I reflected on my journey, one thought stayed with
me: “Although I started as a technology novice, the pandemic helped me become a
more confident and capable digital educator.”
Jane P.
5th Grade
Teacher
Hi, Jane! I am super happy that we are classmates again! We can all learn a lot from each other, especially as we embrace the technology lessons from Dr. Matilda N. Rivera! We're going to produce an awesome blog!
ReplyDeleteThe pandemic made us all tech savvy whether we liked it or not. hehe. Can't wait to see our finished blog! :)
ReplyDeleteI agree with this: “Looking back, it was truly a blessing in disguise that helped many of us develop skills we continue to use today.”
ReplyDeleteI also saw many teachers become more fluent with technology that they had previously avoided before COVID. It helped them catch up and become more familiar with different instructional strategies and digital learning models.
A blessing in disguise is so true and fun. I remember students at the high school level who had never had an email struggling to generate one so they could remain online instead of return to face to face. The most fun is when the students put their body of the email in the subject line; this happened a lot. Most student were able to understand the reply that clarified the error, body in the main box and only the title in the subject line. Some students had to be called into the office and guided step by step through the process. This in itself was another venue to connect with this demographic of students. Some of these specific students had to start with how to use a laptop; turn it one, sign in, open the browser, username and password. At the end of it the learning process, the gratitude expressed for unlocking a new 'technological skill' was immeasurable.
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