Question #2
I have always considered myself a right-brained person. I love music, dance, art, and literature. Growing up, science, math, and computers were for other people. I was capable of using computers and I enjoyed them, but I preferred to go to a musical rather than sit in front of a computer. It wasn't until college that I realized how wrong I was and the potential technology has for enriching my life and the lives of students.
E-mail and the internet were the first "wonders" of technology that I became aware of as I attended college as an undergraduate. As I have progressed in my education and teaching, my awareness and love of technology as a learning tool has greatly increased. In graduate school I definitely moved beyond simple emails to creating websites, blogging, and online college courses. With the advent of more creative and interactive computer programs and technology tools, education has been greatly enriched.
I am someone who learns by hands-on experience. I need to move, create, discuss, and try in order to understand. I have found that most of my students are active and interactive learners too. Technology is able to create new learning environments. It can bring experiences to you -- whether it be a YouTube video that takes students on a tour of Mars or a blog that allows students from around the globe to discuss topics. Contrary to what I once believed, technology is about creativity. It is about collaboration, interaction, and experiencing life. I want to present students with learning opportunities that stretch them, engage them, and excite them. I have used technology to accomplish this with my students.
Technology is for everyone, from the computer programmer to the kindergarten student. When learners engage in meaningful, real-life projects that integrate curriculum and a variety of learning tools and styles, the needs of every learner can be met. Technology in education can provide this kind of opportunity.
