Technology in the Classroom

Just the other day, my friends and I were talking about the advancements of technology since I started school. I remember the awesome smell of copies from the ditto machine and sometimes I feel a little nostalgic for the purple ink I so closely associate with the earliest years of my education. But by the time I was in the fifth grade, there were macs in my classroom because of the twenty-first century classroom movement. By high school I was making yearbook pages with Adobe Pagemaker and made finding interesting things on Ebay a bit of a hobby. Technology is an important part of my life and was an important part of my education.

I love the possibilities that technology and the Internet bring to the classroom. I find that my students are eager to use it, and technology can be quite the motivational tool. When I use a powerpoint, the level of attention of my student increases dramatically. They become excited when I use those things. Even more they enjoy using technology. While part of the appeal is being able to use the internet, they legitimately enjoy using computers. But as an educator, I have a hard time finding and abundance of online materials that can adequately supplement what we are doing in the classroom. Not to say that there aren't a number of resources available, I just personally have a difficult time finding materials that work well with my lesson plans.

But that is the appeal in Sesame Workshop. It captures the ability and the spirit of today's children. I loved that they provide an example that really captures what the internet has to offer: a child learning how to play the guitar from youtube. I also love the website's integration of materials for the parents so that there can be reinforcements at home. The best part is the website's ability to let students to be able to apply their technology skills by making videos and allowing them to interact with other kids online in a safe environment.