Blog Post 1: Technology Strengths and Weaknesses

        Technology has become not only an important but an imperative skill in today’s world. Whether one works as a cashier or an engineer, technology has its role at work. Therefore, I knew that as an aspiring teacher-librarian I needed to stay up-to-date with technology; especially its uses in education and research. This has proven to be a daunting task. As the work piles up, I find that I am falling behind the new technology.

       My technology strengths are that I am willing to experiment in my classroom, and I try to give my students as many new experiences as I can. I constantly remind them that technology is now a part of life, so they make the connection with they are doing in class to how they will likely be using technology in their careers and lives. I am the first to hand technology over to my students. Even if I am a little uncertain, I let my students take the leadership and become responsible for their learning. My school has a 1:1 technology program in which every Math and English/Language Arts and Reading classes have either iPads or tablets for each student. Students receive personalized intervention through online programs, and I able to track their progress constantly. I also use the tablets for research and resources such as dictionary.com.

       My weaknesses with technology are that I am constantly working so that it has become hard for me to try new products or programs. I hear about great programs or tools, but as a first-year teacher I am still trying to get the hang of every new lesson plan and skill that I have to teach. I spend most of my time deciding how to teach and manage my classroom that sometimes I forget about the technology aspect. I do use my Smartboard for projecting assignments and interactive power points or games, but I know there is so much more I could do. Also I have run into the problem with technology breaking down, and a lack of technology experts to help me fix them. Therefore, my Smartboard has become just a projector.

       I think that overall my strengths lie in being able to explain how and when to use technology and even incorporating it within my lessons are not so difficult when they work, but my real weakness is how to get the products up and running. I need to learn how to troubleshoot and fix my own problems rather than just letting my students lose out because I do not have time to submit a work order for our Smartboard or five broken tablets. Once I get my technology in working order, I need to make time to learn more about the educational resources like Edmodo and Schoology so that I can make them available to my students. I am excited about using a blog during this course because I hope to create a classroom blog for my students. It is just one way of adding to their educational technology experience while I have the time to do so.