Digital Blog Post #A

            In the past years technology has evolved more and more allowing for everyone to work more efficiently. One of the many places where it has most evolved for better is in the classroom. Things such as computers, smartboards, tablets, even cellphones which most teachers are not a fan of have become a must have technology in the classroom. These must have technologies are providing teachers with different wats of presenting their students with information. I could give countless examples that I have experienced in my own schooling, the most recent would be in my current college math class; my professor teaches his lessons on a smartboard where he pulls up his PowerPoints and writes on as he is teaching, at the end of class he saves this version of the PowerPoint and posts it online for anyone who may need to reference back to it.

            Another concept that I found interesting is the use of technology based textbooks in the classroom. This gives the teacher the ability to use tools such as video, audio and other visuals in the classroom. These visuals can be extremely helpful in the education of some students since they have been proven to keep them more interested and focused. An article from Scuredge Networks elaborates on 7 fun ways these technologies can enrich learning in the classroom. http://www.securedgenetworks.com/blog/7-Fun-Ways-to-Use-Technology-in-the-classroom-to-enrich-learning

            The third concept that interested me was “Outside the classroom use by teachers”. This concept was mainly focused on research, grading and attendance, home-school communication and educational networking. I feel this is a concept that has recently become more popular among teachers and is essentially needed with parents nowadays since most are on such busy schedules and do not have the time to come into the school. Having this virtual communication makes it easy for parents to keep up on what is happening in school, how their child’s grades are and for older children their attendance. While I was in high school this concept was used more and more throughout the years, for example my mom received emails every time I did not go to school, she also received weekly updates on my grades and could be contacted by any of my teachers this way. As a student I really disliked this system but now being on the other side of the situation I can see how this could be really helpful.

References:

-       Maloy, R., O'Loughlin, R., Edwards, S., & Woolf, B. (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education Inc.

-       Networks, S. E. (n.d.). 7 Fun Ways to Use Technology in the classroom to enrich learning. Retrieved September 07, 2016, from http://www.securedgenetworks.com/blog/7-Fun-Ways-to-Use-Technology-in-the-classroom-to-enrich-learning