An Issue Related to both Teaching and Technology

       Classroom teachers are embracing the use of technology to enhance their classroom teaching more today than ever before. But in order to effectively use the technology in their classroom they must prepare themselves for some of the challenges they will face in accomplishing this goal. Some major issues classroom teachers identify when they discuss the challenges of infusing technology into their teaching are the availability of Technology Hardware, Technical Assistance, Software Applications and the time to Integrate technology into teaching.
Our public schools are a mixed bag when it comes to what type of computers and other technology devices are available to the classroom teacher. There is also the question of how many computers will be available for teacher needs. Are the computers in the classroom or in lab situations? All of these hardware questions and more can only be answered when I actually have a classroom in a school district. Until that time I need to learn a variety of different technology tools, prepare myself for the possibility that I will have to group children on computers and learn other strategies for making the most of the fewest available computers. Rare is the school district that has enough technical resource specialists to assist teachers at the building level, let alone in the individual classroom. As a result, we as future classroom teachers need to familiarize ourselves with simple trouble-shooting technology tasks. Knowing how to connect peripheral devises and load software packages are but a few of the many simple little skills we can master in order to help ourselves keep the technology tools going in your classroom.  There really are an unbelievably large number of software applications available to the classroom teacher. The bad news is that they all require some time to master their use and format of operation. Some good advice is to select a few multi-use packages and master them well.  People generally learn computer applications more quickly and completely when they have a specific purpose in mind. If we can remember this practical idea when we have our own classroom we might avoid that all too familiar student response, "Why do we have to learn this stuff? We will never use it.   Even if you have the hardware, trouble shooting skills, and knowledge of how to use the software, it still takes time and experience to effectively integrate the technology into your teaching.  While we are developing the skills associated with becoming a good teacher, we need to bring our technology integration skills right along. When you are learning how to plan for effective teaching, build the technology into those plans right then. A yearly planning calendar might just as well be developed as a computer document instead of written in a 3 ring binder. If our goal is for our students to communicate the results of their work and effort, have them use the computer to enhance their presentation. Be a technology advocate from the beginning of your career. It truly is more difficult to relearn old practices in new ways than it is to learn the new way in the beginning.