Why Technology???

What is technology good for anyway? Why do we need technology? Some days I wish we could just go back to the good old days of handwriting and snail mail. Or a receive a telephone call ONLY while you're at home. I can remember the days of all of those things. There was something exciting about getting a letter in the mail from a friend who was traveling, instead of just bills! I have had to learn so much about technology and really only since I was about 15 or 16 years old. It has all just moved so fast!! Now we can receive a phone call or get a message (mail or text) anywhere. Children don't know how to handwrite, let alone read it. And having a computer or a smart phone is a necessity as opposed to a luxury. I often think of my grandparents and what they got to experience in the face of the technological era. It's amazing how far we've come.

Technology has become so advanced, and every day we hear about something new. My technological experience is fairly minimal compared to some. Just since starting university a few years ago I have had to learn to use devices and apps and programs that I had never imagined I would have to use. I have to use many different forms of technology not only while I'm learning (such as a laptop with even the most basic of apps being new to me) to AI formatting and educational devices. My children are much more technologically advanced than I am. And they are more connected than I will likely ever be! I am sure my students will be as well.

In my 3/4 split practicum class I have already seen some interesting uses of technology. Some I recognize since starting the program such as the SmartBoard. With this technology my teacher was able to have a google meet with the entire school for morning announcements. This allows all classes to be connected, if need be, and I thought it was a very creative way to carry out this daily task. And of course my MT had a laptop to connect. One new device that my Mt introduced to was the use of a microphone that was worn around her neck when she was giving instructions. This microphone connected to one student's hearing aid. What an amazing invention! I'm sure I will see many other forms of technology over the next few weeks and I am looking forward to learning how to use them in my teaching practices!

I wonder what kind of technology I will be introduced to in my upcoming years as a teacher? I also wonder what kind of advances will become a part of my everyday teaching practice? Technology moves so quickly that I don't even know if I could predict what kind of changes will come along the way in my career. As part of my professional responsibilities, according to the TQS, I am required to be a lifelong learner. Therefore this will be an opportunity for me to continuously grow as a professional and an educator, as well as on a personal level. And even though technology can be an amazing opportunity for us to do things in ways we may never have been able to do, I also don't want them to learn to rely on all of these advances. I want to ensure that even though we are learning new technology together, we are not relying solely on the use of it in order to learn. Our brains grow the more we use them! So as amazing as technology is it doesn't always allow people to increase brain brain power.

As a new educator, the use of technology is extremely important to me. We are so connected in our personal lives, but it is also becoming important in our professional lives as well. Just how far I will see technology advance in my career span is unforeseeable. But as long as I remain committed to a life long journey of learning for and with my students I know I will continue to use technology to my greatest advantage.