Educational Technology, Summer 2018Not only is technology evolving at a rapid pace, but the way individuals and workplaces use technology on a daily basis is also changing rapidly. Technology is becoming a necessary tool for communication and learning for most people in the modern world. Ultimately, as a teacher, my goal is to improve my classroom teaching methods by integrating technological tools that add to the curriculum and prepare students to be technologically aware, but hence the student's success or understanding of the material student depends entirely. My vision is to integrate technology into my students' lives, while avoiding overwhelming them (and myself!) by using technology simply for its "novelty." By using technology judiciously, and primarily as a learning and communication tool, my hope is that students will be able to function effectively and efficiently in a technological world and use technology without allowing it to overwhelm their daily existence and /or inhibit their academic performance. and social interactions. My mission is to provide students with an education that prepares them for their future, enables them to communicate and function in society, and instills in them the critical thinking skills necessary to use technology in socially and academically responsible ways. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The use of technology to enhance classroom teaching is becoming more and more widespread in recent decades, and teachers are expected to integrate educational technology into their lesson plans in order to improve student learning . Therefore, it is necessary for teachers to keep up with technological developments in the classroom, as well as with the technological know-how of their students, who often rely heavily on computers and other technological tools (Merç, 2015). While I believe that the integration of technology is of the utmost importance, I also believe that it is absolutely necessary that the use of technology is judicious and entirely relevant to the curriculum. While I will not integrate new technologies simply for the purpose of “using” them, I will certainly choose to use technological tools that enhance my materials and make the curriculum more accessible to students. The tools that I believe are most relevant to the interdisciplinary program, that are most easily accessible to students, and that are used consistently without apprehension in the classroom are email, text messaging, Google Classroom, Google Slides, Powerpoint, Google Earth, Interactive ' Smart'boards and Kahoot. By using technology as a social tool, teachers, parents and students can communicate and collaborate quite effectively and efficiently. I would like to teach my students technology skills that will allow them to function, operate, and communicate with their teachers, peers, and (later) employers, and email is definitely one of the tools I will use. Email is a readily available and simple to use tool that teachers can use to improve communication between parents, students, and the school community. Email is a quick, convenient and effective form of communication that can be used with both parents and students, and in recent decades the technology has been accessible to many people at home or at work. Emails can be sent discreetly to inform a parent of problemsbehavioral or emergency situations involving a child and are often less disruptive to the classroom, work, or home environment than telephone calls. Emails also give parents time to process the written information before completing a response. Email communication has been suggested by researchers as a way to improve students' academic progress in the classroom and also to create conditions that aid the completion of homework and other classroom tasks. It has also been suggested that communicating via email can also help teachers address behavioral issues by providing immediate contact with parents that allows for continuity of care and transparency/collaboration. (Chernyshova & Kosaretskii, 2014). Text messaging is also a valuable tool that teachers can use to improve communication between parents, students, and the larger school community. Just like emails, text messages can be sent quickly and discreetly, with minimal disruption to class time and learning activities. They also provide faster response times than email generally and are accessible to more parents and families than email/Internet. Although communicating via email can be very effective in the classroom, some families do not have access to and/or are not accustomed to using this form of communication. One fact that teachers need to remember is that the vast majority of parents and families in low-income school districts do not have Internet access at home and/or outside of work hours. More households have access to a cell phone capable of receiving and sending text messages than the Internet and email (Chen & Pakter, 2013). For families who don't have access to a cell phone, there's also a program that gives cell phones limited minutes (and unlimited texts) to suggest to parents, called Safelink. All that is needed to be eligible for these phones is an acceptance letter for food stamps or one for the free school lunch program, and families can receive a free phone for texting and a limited number of calls each month. Some students love electronic textbooks and reading material. Other students have an affinity for social media, while still others prefer online lectures, videos, or podcasts. The bottom line is that while the majority of students today are proficient in using technology, not all will find the same technology resources engaging and useful for their learning. Therefore, it is incredibly important to include variety in the technology used in the classroom. One of my favorite classroom tools, “SMART” whiteboards, are used in many modern classrooms and consist of a whiteboard, computer, and projector that use touch controls to operate. SMART Boards are, in my experience, a highly effective tool for implementing whole group teaching and maintaining student engagement across lessons/teaching styles. While I'm still learning to use all the features of a SMART Board, I find them especially useful for presentations and group work. Information is visibly accessible to students, it's easy for teachers to use the touch screen to move between slides without having to leave the front of the room, embedded videos and activities are easily accessible without additional technology, and you can integrate material from Internet for lessons and activities without changing instruments. Please note: this is just an example. Get a customized paper from our expert writers now. Get a custom essay Teachers.