One on One Computers

We all know technology should be integrated into classrooms. Is 1:1 computers the answer? One on one computers is providing a laptop, tablet, or smartphone to each student to enhance learning. This gives students immediate access to billions of resources and learning websites to help enrich the student's ability to learn. With each student having a device, this also allows access for collaboration among the students. Students are now able to work together on their group tasks where ever they have internet. By giving each student a computer you are allowing them to reach resources not otherwise available to them. This blog: “5 Steps for Implementing a Successful 1:1 Environment” gives step by step advice to schools for implementing a 1:1 environment.

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Professional/Personal Learning Network

A professional/personal learning network is a social media network of people who share the same profession or interests to share with one another concepts or ideas to increase knowledge on a specific subject. For a teacher, this can be very helpful. This helps teachers connect, collaborate, and create new ideas or strategies of doing certain things. You can share resources about crafts, lesson plans, or even strategies for dealing with a crazy class. A professional learning network can help teachers understand that they are not alone and other classrooms are going through the same challenges and struggles they are. “Step 1: What is a PLN?” is a great blog that explains what a PLN is and how to get started.

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Kahoot

Kahoot is a great online resource for teachers that integrates learning with gaming. Anyone, including teachers, can create an unlimited number of questions with a specific picture or video and 2-4 multiple choice answers. The faster someone answers the question correctly the more points they will receive. This creates a competitive classroom setting to see who knows the most and can answer the question in the quickest amount of time. This game keeps the entire classroom engaged with the questions and answers while keeping a fun learning environment.

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Integrating Technology in the Classroom

Technology is growing daily. It is all around us, in our homes, workplaces, and communities. It is changing and growing every minute. How are we supposed to keep up? Technology is a new tool that can help students acquire the skills they need to survive in this quickly changing world. As a future teacher, I know it is important to keep new technology coming in the classroom. This provides students with a new possibility of learning that wouldn’t have been provided 50 years ago. Technology allows students to work independently or in a group to learn a new concept or strengthen a concept that may need more help. Why would we, as teachers, minimize our student's resources to enhance and deepen the learning aptitudes of our students? The article “Why Integrate Technology into the Curriculum?: The Reasons Are Many” is a great persuasive blog about the many benefits of integrating technology into the classroom.

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