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EDLD 5364 Reflection of Week One in Teaching with Technology:
This week we listened and read about different theories on how teachers teach and how students learn. We looked into the future with the Cyborg theory and how it could be used to enhance human brainpower and thinking skills. However, I still am reminded of a statement I read this week concerning technology and learning: “Several groups have reviewed the literature on technology and learning and concluded that it has great potential to enhance student achievement and teacher learning, but only if it is used appropriately.” Bransford, J.D., Brown, A.L. &Coclking, R.R. (2000) A great number of teachers believe that because the students have access to computers, that will make a impact on their achievement in the classroom and learning. Last week I sat in a professional development course and listened to how a new social bookmark tool could enhance all student learning, and that the kids were already using these tools. I took this information back to my classroom and started to use the tool in a group project. I was surprised and disappointed to discover that all my kids did not know this Web 2.0 tool, and moreover, had never used any tool like it. The class then had a conversation about these assumptions of technology prowess and how these “mis-assumptions” happen quite a lot at our school wherein teachers expect that the students have already had experience with a tool the techer learned about in a professional development class when, in fact, the student had none. We need to understand that technology tools have the potential to enhance student achievement, but the teacher needs to help the students build a foundation of use concerning the tool and how it will enhance their achievement and in the classroom. Teaching with technology is a powerful tool, but it is still just a tool. The teacher must continue to justify how this tool can enhance a student’s performance and not just “use the toy/tool because it’s there.” We need to understand that if we are going to use a technology tool, we need to build in time to teach the proper use and importance to a student’s learning.


 * Bransford, J.D., Brown, A.L. &Coclking, R.R. (2000) How people learn: Brain, mind, experience, and school (Expanded edition) Ch 9 pp 194-218 Washington, D. C.: National Academy Press Retreieved on Februray 21, 2011 from http://books.nap.edu/openbook.php?record_id=6160&page+194 **