KateInnovation

When I decided to complete this unit I had no idea what “Using Computers in the Classroom” would entail.  I guess I have always considered myself fairly up to date with technology and new innovations and have always enjoyed working with computers but this unit has shown me that this was far from reality. Many of the innovations I had not heard of including my own topic I became an “expert” on, Twitter. I had no idea that such tools existed and I realised just how more advanced things had become.

I believe that with any new skills and learning experiences it takes time and practice to get to know something. I know that I was in the “don’t know” category when it came to Twitter and I needed a little push to become more involved and begin using it properly. I felt as though I would never want to use it but it was only because I didn’t know how to use it properly. I have gone from a “don’t know” to a “know” through the guidance of more knowledgeable others mainly Sue Waters. I found that reading about Twitter helped me to gain an understanding of its uses and value.

Then it was up to me to familiarise myself with the ins and outs. It took time and patience but it was worth while. I think with technologies you have to invest time to fully understand the value of the tool and perhaps this is where a lot of us fall short of leaving the “don’t know” category. I know that I myself am guilty of this.

I believe that bridging the gap must involve proper training, such as the tutorials we were part of each week and time to play and experiment and try new things. You have to be prepared to take a risk and find out what works and what doesn’t because if you don’t jump in the deep end sometimes you never learn to swim! Also, as I found, reading about new innovations and finding out what others have to say about them is an essential factor in bridging the gap. This is where our Wiki pages come in. What better way to find out information than straight from a page created by new “innovation experts”?

The type of world our young student’s are entering into demands a certain level of technological awareness and capabilities. I believe that as teachers we need to be keeping up with at least some of these innovations so that we can prepare students for the type of futures and careers they embark on. This unit has provided me with a whole new level of awareness when it comes to using computers in the classroom and I hope that soon I will be using what I have learnt with my own class!