Technology in My Classroom

Technology in My Classroom

I’m pretty tech oriented, but I have to admit that its use in my classroom is sadly limited. Through a little “wiggling” and finagling, I currently house one of the smart boards and all that goes with it, in my classroom. I arranged my entire room to make this thing fit where all could see it, yet I don’t feel that I’m getting all out of this extraordinary unit that I might. That’s one of the reasons that I’m in this program.
I make use of the internet, taking my students deep into space using Hubble Space Telescope, and various NASA pages, spend time looking at the rovers on Mars and the vehicles probing the depths of the universe. We journey through our solar system with the author of “The New Solar System”, using his “nineplanets” page. We venture into Earth’s interior, figuring out why we have plates, earthquakes etc.
Students are amazed by the images, events and the functions of this board. Most have never seen the views they are witnessing. Many repeatedly ask, “Is that real or made up?”, when dealing with the views of space. Students that are generally non-participants request to write one of their answers to a brainstorming activity on the smart board or use the mouse to point to a constellation, but there has to be more.
At this point, most of my use of technology is for teacher centered lessons. While this is of great use, enabling the introduction of the latest news/events and giving our little school access to hugely expensive equipment from around the world and beyond, it isn’t allowing the students much room to explore or dictate what they’d like to know more about.
Students use the internet to research several topics throughout the year and can get emailed copies of notes, reviews, study guides etc. The topographic map unit uses an internal network based course that leads students through the techniques and “how to” before it is introduced in the class, making this a quicker unit than possible in the past.
On the general daily function end of technology, I use a network based grading and attendance program. I email student progress, print out student grades weekly for inspection by students, interact with parents through the email. I keep my lesson plans digitally and send them electronically to my principals. I develop PowerPoints that illustrate my topics and display some amazing views and have fonts that are much neater than my board writing for definitions and notes. My tests and assignments are digital, frequently changing and have different versions for my learning support class. Most work is “re-invented” or altered for each year. Nothing earth shattering here.
My uses of technology are basic, its potential great and my ability currently limited. I’m hoping that through my chosen course of study, I can develop the structure to fully incorporate technology into this Earth and Space Science experience and that I have the will power to fight the powers that control technology in my school for the permission to utilize what I’m learning. I also intend to continue modifying my teaching practices with my given curriculum to take advantage of new and powerful technologies as I learn of them.

Mark Hopkins