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“70 % of the jobs available in the workforce are related to the acquisition and manipulation of digital knowledge.”

-Just in Time Web Delivered Instruction T.H.E. Journal. March, 1999.

As I am sure this statistic has grown and more jobs available in the workplace require the use, knowledge, and skills needed to work with technological tools.  As an educator who embraces all that technology has to offer in terms of enhancing a curriculum, it is unfortunate that technology’s role in the educational world has just recently made its mark.  In his Visions 2020 Report, Rod Paige, former U.S. Secretary of Education stated, “Indeed, education is the only business still debating the usefulness of technology. Schools remain unchanged for the most part despite numerous reforms and increased investments in computers and networks. The way we organize schools and provide instruction is essentially the same as it was when our Founding Fathers went to school. Put another way, we still educate our students based on an agricultural timetable, in an industrial setting, but tell students they live in a digital age.”

Although difficult to believe, yes indeed the field of education was one of the last industries to integrate technology into the practice.  Unlike accounting firms, schools with one computer in a classroom were considered privileged.  Since the inception of NCLB, federal grants have allowed for computers to enter into school system budgets. Paige went onto speak of the future opportunities that NCLB would offer for students, families, and communities “and a future where we embrace the potential for technology to influence the way schools teach and students learn.” (Rod Paige, Former Secretary of Education, national technology plan 2005) The fact of the matter is that technology and computers have changed the underpinnings of communication and business.  To ensure that no child is left behind, it is pertinent that technology be integrated into the classroom in that children are enabled to acquire the skills necessary to compete in the digital age.   

Although we, educators and DEN members, are not debating the point that technology is shaping the world not that of its importance on the educational front, we are here to discuss what the benefits of technology are and how we as educators can effectively utilize technology to meet the needs of all learners.  Technology offers educators with the tools to, optimize learning by accommodating a variety of learning styles, track each student’s progress, remediate the needs of struggling students, enhance curriculum and content, and challenge advanced learners.  Technology enables students to become independent learners as they actively engage in the acquisition of new knowledge, receive prompt and adequate feedback, access and manipulate information to better understand their own experiences, and become more engaged in today’s techno-society.   

I consider myself to be a techno-constructivist, ergo I am a constructivist and utilize technology in my classroom in such a way that integrates it into the daily classroom practice in that it “redefines” instruction.  In a constructivist classroom, students become owners of their own learning, they are able to access information, construct their own meanings from it, then create their own products to demonstrate understanding.  When technology is added to this approach, students now understand the many uses technology serves as a means of locating information, engaging in the process of acquiring it, and then using technology to demonstrate understanding.  Online projects, webquests, scavenger hunts, interactive games, virtual tours, webinars, virtual labs and more allow students to discover content in engaging ways which offers ownership.  Upon understanding content, students are enabled to demonstrate understanding by digital storytelling, creating multimedia presentations, pairing voice with that of digital photos, and more. 

Realizing the full potential of technology’s role in the classroom is realizing that it helps children build on their own experience, construct their own meanings, create products and solve problems successfully. The power of technology in influencing student learning is evident in my school and in my classroom.  By providing leadership at the school and district level, I was able to share the potential for the power of technology on influencing teaching and learning. Within my classroom, integrating such programs into the project based lessons I discovered that students were accessing the curriculum with ease and motivation. Technology offers my students the opportunity to explore concepts beyond their everyday world in a way that also allows them to be independent learners and thinkers.   Through the use of data informed instruction, providing a classroom environment that supports and inspires students to achieve to their utmost potential,  and offering students the opportunity to take advantage of the most current technology available I have created a classroom in which all of my students can be successful learners.  Possessing these qualities is wasted if not shared among colleagues as that is what best establishes lifelong learners among the staff.  I pride myself on the ability to contribute best practices with others and likewise appreciate the information presented and shared with me.   The best educational programs, the most advanced technology and the most focused approach to data driven instruction is all secondary to the most meaningful and significant impact a teacher has on the learning of his/her students.  Most important and before any of these other things can occur, you must have a strong and caring relationship with your students.   The primary contribution technology offers is that motivating students to learn and remain active in the acquisition of their own knowledge.