Technology, Teaching and Transformation

     In education today, we often consider the use of technology to foster student engagement in content. Students are quick to adapt to new technologies and instructional methods. Educators on the other hand are more difficult to convince to adapt. In class, we have continued investigating a variety of education applications for teacher and classroom use, including Google's applications of Sheets, Forms, and Slides. These tools are excellent applications for teachers to use in class and with students, but they are also time saving organizational tools that teachers can use to collaborate and share content.      Google introduced their collaborative apps when I was in college the first time (!!!!!), and it revolutionized how we completed group projects and assignments. Students now are accustomed to using technology to collaborate. I have, however, found pushback from more seasoned educators when it comes to using a tool such as Sheets or Forms to work on p...

     In Educational Applications in Technology, we have been tasked with investigating a variety of applications and technology resources available to teachers and students. In the process of investigation, I discovered a variety of applications to try in my high school health science classroom.  Classroom Management Applications      I have implemented a couple of new class management applications. The first is Classroom Screen . This website allows teachers to create a free background for their smartboard that has a variety of class management tools. I have used the timer, noise tracker, and stoplight feature. My students appreciate the visual tools to have feedback on their behavior. It has been helpful in keeping students on task.       I have also used an iOS app called Popsicle Sticks . This application can be used just like teachers might use a cup of popsicle sticks with student names on them. I’ve used it to randomly call o...

As a newer educator, I am regularly seeking ways to improve my teaching strategies and best serve my students. One of my primary goals in this course is to become familiarized with technological platforms that streamline classroom processes for both myself and my students. Additionally, in the world we live in, technological literacy is paramount, and I want to use technology to empower my students with the skills they need to succeed in an increasingly digital world. This course offers an opportunity to explore a variety of platforms and tools. By investigating these resources, I hope to identify options that will best meet the needs of my classroom. I am most looking for tools and applications that enhance engagement, simplify communication and organization, and allow for collaboration among students.  The videos from our weekly assignment introduced a compelling argument, "We don’t have a choice of whether we digitally transform, the choice is how well we do it ( Digital Transf...