The increased use of technology in society and in the classroom - Week 1

As a student teacher I see the increased use of technology by children as a positive step forward as it allows them to learn and develop the skills needed to succeed in our increasingly digital society. Many jobs in today’s society require employees to have a good understanding of technology, in terms of being able to use a computer and the internet. Therefore children should have the opportunity to explore and gain an understanding of the technology available to them as it will benefit them greatly in later life.
I also view the use of technology by children in the classroom as a positive step, because it can be used as an engaging and stimulating approach to learning. For example, interactive games, online stories and relevant online videos can all be used to engage pupils in an exciting and meaningful way.  I have observed a maths lesson introduction in school with a year 6 class who had to complete an interactive maths game on the whiteboard, in teams before the timer ran out. It was evident that because it was interactive and accessible, all the children in the class were participating and they were enjoying their learning through technology.
Although many people would argue that technology should be resisted within the classroom, I feel it is an important aspect of learning because as previously mentioned, it has become a huge part of our society. However, children are exposed to a lot of technology outside the classroom therefore as teachers we should also be encouraging children to explore and engage with activities that do not always require the use of technology, for example reading a book or writing a story. I have observed children in a year 1 setting who were just as engaged sharing a story from the book corner with a friend, as they were listening to a story being read to them online. The use of technology needs to be appropriate and monitored within the classroom to allow children to have a balanced curriculum.

Personally, I feel that the biggest challenge for me in terms of this module is going to be the use of technology to create things, for example the comic. I have had little experience of using technology apart from creating things using standard word documents and powerpoints etc. However I am looking forward to gaining experience in this area from the practical seminars.