Ben Tompkins_Article Reflection

Title: "A Look at Recent Findings on Technology in the Classroom" by Drew Hendricks

Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/drew-hendricks/technology-education_b_2867458.html

Reflection:

The article A Look at Recent Findings on Technology in the Classroom by Drew Hendricks focuses on the one main reason we need to implement technology in the classroom. That reason? Simple: everyone is different. We say it all the time, but what are we doing to reinforce it? The article states that there are no "cookie cutter" lessons or a "one-size-fits-all" education that will work for every student. We constantly talk and preach about how to differentiate in the classroom. You want to know the easiest and most effective way to differentiate in the classroom? Begin implementing technology. The article goes on to state that technology allows us to cater to each student's individual needs. We're actually able to accommodate every student in a way that was never available to us before.

Sounds good, right? So, what's stopping us? Change brings the unknown, which brings resistance. We're currently facing a string of challenges with implementing technology in the classroom. First, not every school as quality technology, which ends up causing more of a burden on the classroom. Second, not every teacher or student understands how to use the technology in the most efficient way possible. This point is beginning to change. With awesome classes, such as those offered by Doane, being taught to soon-to-be teachers, we're preventing problems with technology down the road. Third, practice makes perfect, and some teachers just don't want to take the time to practice. I mean, why should they? They've taught for over 20 years, understand the lessons, and know exactly how to teach the content. I would presume it's difficult to teach teachers the efficiency of using technology when they have spent their entire life crafting their teaching methods to be as efficient as possible.

Overall, this article says what all teachers need to keep in mind: technology helps us differentiate. It's not going anywhere either. Technology is only going to become more and more intertwined in our lives, so we might as well sit back and plug in.