The New Norm: Integrating Technology into the Classroom

When we integrate technology into teaching and learning we provide another way for our students to learn and understand material. We present so many more ways for students to learn and to interact with the world and other people. Our students are using technology daily in their personal lives and will more than likely use it in their work lives, so I believe we need to be using it in the classroom. That’s not to say that the technology we teach them they will be using that exact format or software but we are preparing our students to be digital learners and will be able to adapted and learn any new technology that is created. To not use technology in the classroom is not preparing our students for the real world. Education needs to stay with the times and be using technology in the classroom. The technology tools are there we just need to utilize them.

Cell phones in the classroom? Why not?

I do not mind students to have cell phones in class for high school students. The students are already carrying their cell phones on them and really have grown up with them. To most students it is an extension of their hand. With smart phones especially, there are a lot of functions that can be used for educational purposes. 

Like physical behavior there is a correct way to act and a wrong way to act. By allowing cell phones in the classroom it simply gives our students another resource to utilize, but we must teach them how to use them appropriately. When we teach our students how to use their cell phones appropriately, they will be able to use this knowledge at their future workplace. So we are not only teaching our students how to use their phones appropriately in school but teaching them what is appropriate in the workplace as well.