Technology and Language Arts Education: An Introduction
We live, undeniably, in a century full of technological advancement. Within the past twenty years, technology has become the major boon of society, offering us better ways to connect with others, organize ourselves, communicate, and to achieve daily tasks. Devices and networks such as cellphones, personal computers, tablet devices, Facebook, Twitter, and Blogger provide us with new outlets for self-expression, and new outlets for creation. This world of technology is so fast paced that once a device is out on the market, it almost immediately becomes outdated because new technologies are being developed that rapidly. Technology, however, allows us to have the whole world at our finger tips, including an invaluable wealth of information and programs teachers can implement and use in their classrooms. While this all holds true, the public educational system of the United States is further behind in technological integration and intervention than any other government program. Why is it, then, that we are not encouraging the broad use of technology in the classroom?
As teachers, it is our responsibility to provide our students with the best possible environment and tools in which our students can grow. In our current environment and society, this means incorporating technology in the classroom in as many applicable and beneficial ways as possible. This can be difficult, however, when the overall educational opinion of technology and social media integration in the classroom is apprehensive at best. Also, teachers must focus all of their time on covering State Standards to prepare students for their state's standardized tests, and many states do not include detailed technology standards within the context of Language Arts education. Through this website, I plan to offer you, English teachers, specific ways in which you can incorporate technology and social media into the classroom while still completing State Standards. Specifically, I am going to focus on Indiana State Standards for sixth grade Language Arts teachers, but any of the suggestions I offer can be adapted to best fit your needs. At the end of this website, a contact form has been provided for you to give me feedback based upon what your needs are in the classroom and what I can do to improve this website for you. Through this website, I will explore:
*Current methodologies and approaches to technology in the classroom, including why schools are apprehensive to include social media and technology as part of their curriculum, as well as why Language Arts is the perfect subject matter in which to implement technology
*Basic practices and tips that any teacher, regardless of specific state standards or content area focus can implement in his or her classroom
*Standards Linked Lesson Plans designed by me specifically for Indiana Sixth grade Language Arts teachers. These plans involve linking existing state standards with technology integration suggestions.
As teachers, it is our responsibility to provide our students with the best possible environment and tools in which our students can grow. In our current environment and society, this means incorporating technology in the classroom in as many applicable and beneficial ways as possible. This can be difficult, however, when the overall educational opinion of technology and social media integration in the classroom is apprehensive at best. Also, teachers must focus all of their time on covering State Standards to prepare students for their state's standardized tests, and many states do not include detailed technology standards within the context of Language Arts education. Through this website, I plan to offer you, English teachers, specific ways in which you can incorporate technology and social media into the classroom while still completing State Standards. Specifically, I am going to focus on Indiana State Standards for sixth grade Language Arts teachers, but any of the suggestions I offer can be adapted to best fit your needs. At the end of this website, a contact form has been provided for you to give me feedback based upon what your needs are in the classroom and what I can do to improve this website for you. Through this website, I will explore:
*Current methodologies and approaches to technology in the classroom, including why schools are apprehensive to include social media and technology as part of their curriculum, as well as why Language Arts is the perfect subject matter in which to implement technology
*Basic practices and tips that any teacher, regardless of specific state standards or content area focus can implement in his or her classroom
*Standards Linked Lesson Plans designed by me specifically for Indiana Sixth grade Language Arts teachers. These plans involve linking existing state standards with technology integration suggestions.