journal 4

Courduff, J. (2011). June/july. Learning and Leading,38(8), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/digital-edition-june-july-2011.aspx


In "One size never fits all"' Courduff addresses an important topic. While we can all now recognize the importance of technology in the classroom today, and may even feel comfortable with most technology, that doesn't always mean we know how to apply it to teaching correctly. Courduff points out her findings of this to especially true of students on specialized academic instruction or students with Individualized Education Plans (IEP). She discusses the manner in which teachers learn how to do apply technology in a way which can help these students to achieve their goals and perform better. She cites examples of how the use of technology has aided in helping students with special needs succeed. Two of the examples mention the use of a voice assisted word processing program which allows for the computer to translate voice to text and also for the computer to translate text to voice. These are just a few of the many ways technology can be used in an educational setting, and are examples of how if used correctly with the proper training can be a useful tool.


Though many claim to be technologically capable is it important for even these people to go through training to learn to teach it correctly?


I think it is absolutely important. As it states in the article, just because you may know how to do something well yourself, does not mean that you have the ability to teach it at various skill sets and attention levels. When you are a teacher one of your greatest responsibilities is being able to accommodate every student. In order to do so it important to gain the correct knowledge for each and every situation. For example, a teacher may have mastery of a specific computer program but if they have not learned how to properly break it down into a way in which a child with a specific IEP can understand then both the teacher and student are losing out. The teacher is not able to help the student, and the student is not being helped.


Is the use of too much technology, such as voice to text tools taking away from learning in the classroom?


This is very difficult question to answer. While I think no matter how much technology there is in the world, there is no substitute for teacher and student interaction, that doesn't mean technology is taking away from learning in the classroom. I just think it needs to be used in the correct manner. For example, using the tool of voice to text for a student who is not comfortable with translating thought to words on paper can increase their confidence in the possibility of it happening, as well as providing a model of how it should be, using their very own thoughts. Overall i think in moderation and correct use technology does not take away from learning in the classroom. It adds to it.