Ms. Findel

The world we live in is changing rapidly. The technological age has approached us fast and has no plans to slow or stop. Technology is a part of our everyday lives and it is becoming more important and necessary for students to become fluent in 21st-century skills that will ensure their success in a world where these changes are constant and their learning never stops (Partnership for 21st Century Skills, 2009). Many teachers of today’s young students earned degrees at a time when educational technology was at a very different stage of development than it is today, and many have inadequate experiences with using digital technology (Koehler & Mishra, 2009). As future educators, we must be educated in the use of these advances in order to incorporate digital technology into our classrooms in a developmentally appropriate way.

As teachers attempt to use more technology in their classrooms, they must be sure that their use of technology is both meaningful and appropriate. The key to the appropriate use of technology, according to Punya Mishra, is understanding what the tool can and cannot do (Mishra, 2011). Incorporating technology into the classroom doesn’t mean that the teacher replaces teaching strategies with the use of devices. Integration incorporates the student’s best interests and their developmental skills and needs into the use of the technologies. When used wisely, technology and media can support learning and relationships (NAEYC and the Fred Rogers Center, 2012). “Effective uses of technology are active, hands-on, engaging, and empowering; give the child control; provide adaptive scaffolds to ease the accomplishment of tasks” (NAEYC and the Fred Rogers Center, 2012) such as critical thinking, creativity, communication, collaboration, construction, and expression (Mishra, 2011).As teachers attempt to use more technology in their classrooms, they must be sure that their use of technology is both meaningful and appropriate. The key to the appropriate use of technology, according to Punya Mishra, is understanding what the tool can and cannot do (Mishra, 2011). Incorporating technology into the classroom doesn’t mean that the teacher replaces teaching strategies with the use of devices. Integration incorporates the student’s best interests and their developmental skills and needs into the use of the technologies. When used wisely, technology and media can support learning and relationships (NAEYC and the Fred Rogers Center, 2012). “Effective uses of technology are active, hands-on, engaging, and empowering; give the child control; provide adaptive scaffolds to ease the accomplishment of tasks” (NAEYC and the Fred Rogers Center, 2012) such as critical thinking, creativity, communication, collaboration, construction, and expression (Mishra, 2011).

Technology in the classroom should be developmentally appropriate for the children being taught. All children grow and develop differently. When using technology in your classroom, it is important to keep the developmental guidelines for your student's ages as well as the developmental growth of each individual student in mind. Classrooms need differentiation in instruction and that includes technology. “Appropriate use of technology and media depends on the age, developmental level, needs, interests, linguistic background, and abilities of each child” (NAEYC and the Fred Rogers Center, 2012). Children need time to explore tools and apps before being able to use the tools to accomplish other tasks (NAEYC and the Fred Rogers Center, 2012). It is the teacher’s job to use developmentally appropriate teaching practices to properly select the technological tools and media for the classroom. Teachers must be willing to learn and explore the tools and applications for their classroom before implementing them into their classroom to check for meaningful and appropriate use (NAEYC and the Fred Rogers Center, 2012).

Even in my ideal classroom, not all students are the same, not all come from the same background, home or culture. I believe the best learning environments are those that are diverse. Students have a more concrete learning experience about themselves and others and the diversity around them in and out of the classroom. I am aware that resources, funds, and materials are not always in the teachers favor, but it is important to keep in mind that even though plenty of up-to-date technologies would be ideal, minimal and slightly outdated technology can contribute to an effective and meaningful use of technology when incorporated into a well thought out and planned lesson by the teacher.​​