Creating a Technology Infused Classroom

Teachers in the 21st Century need to make a shift from traditional ways of teaching, to classrooms that our 21st Century students are demanding. An educator’s responsibility is to prepare students for the future. Teachers must be knowledgeable about the digital age, to be able to teach effectively and ensure that students learn skills that will prepare them for college and beyond. 21st Century classrooms, must become classes that promote critical thinking, problem solving, and decision making (ISTE 2007).

Technology integration is the use of technology resources in daily classroom practices (Edutopia 2007). These resources can include computers, tablets, digital cameras, and social media networks. Technology should be used as a tool and a resource to support learning. Students have access to a variety of tools that match the task at hand and provide them the opportunity to build a deeper understanding of content (Edutopia 2007).

In a technology infused or integrated classroom, a shift takes place, where the teacher acts a learning catalyst. They become a facilitator of the activities going on in the classroom. The students. The students have become independent technology users. The teacher allows the students to use their creativity and be responsible for their learning (NAESP 2012). This shift is very difficult for traditional teachers who are used to being the focal point in the classroom.

A technology infused classroom, should promote discovery and exploration using technology on a daily basis. Every student has access to technology and it is readily available. Using technology should be second nature. It enhances learning, and is not a separate entity. Teachers are knowledgeable about the technology that is used in the classroom. Students are encouraged to collaborate with other students. All work should be meaningful and apply to real world situations.

References
www.iste.org
http://www.edutopia.org/technology-integration-guide-description
http://www.naesp.org/principal-januaryfebruary-2012-technology/technology-integration-new-21st-century-learner

Visual Literacy in the Classroom

Visual literacy and the use of Internet in the classroom can play a major role in the teaching and learning process in the classroom.  Visual Literacy is defined as the ability "to discriminate and interpret the visible actions, objects, symbols, natural or man-made, that he encounters in his environment."(Debes, 1960). Students must be able to make connections with what they already know to new information. They must be able to understand and translate their understanding to others.

Teachers should use visual literacy in the classroom, to help students comprehend and interact with various types of text. Students are able to think critically to determine the meaning of visual images. In my first grade reading class, I would like to present a series of pictures to the students before reading text. I want engage students in visual images to help them think about the story they will be reading.

The students I work with, are beginning readers. Using images activates the brain and gets them ready to learn new information. Students learn in a variety of ways. It is the teacher’s responsibility to learn his or her students. Lessons should be planned to incorporate visual images and the Internet. Another strategy I want to use with my 5^th grade reading class is to have them find images and determine the meaning. I would then have them use the Internet to present their image to the class to get their peers to determine the meaning.

The 21^st Century student is surrounded by visual images all the time. Students are learning things through using the Internet. Visual Literacy helps the student to become critical thinkers and problem solvers. The Internet can be a very powerful learning tool, when teachers facilitate students learning. Thinking about the ISTE Standards, can help me design lessons that meet the standards. It will also help me to carefully plan lessons that meet each learning style of the students. I will be more aware of what the students need to be prepared for the future.

http://ccb.lis.illinois.edu/Projects/youth/literacies/visual1.html