Final Entry: Integrating Technology

I think it is very important to incorporate technology into the classroom.  It is fun for the students and I think they learn more than just sitting in a chair listening to a lecture based talk all the time.  It creates an alternative for them that is fun and engaging.  If the children see it as something interesting and are engaged in what they are doing, then they will retain more information.  The benefits for teachers is that it creates new ways for lessons to be taught.  A lot things these days are computerized and can be done on computers or digital tools.  It cuts out a lot of the paper load.  The benefits for students is that it is a different way for learning.  We are coming into the age of technology where a lot of the things we do every day are dependent on technology.  Some students, I would venture to say, don't know how to do things without technology.  There are 3 and 4 year olds at the preschool I work at who know how to do things on the computer that surprise me and that I never knew how to do at 3 or 4.  I didn't even have a computer when I was 3 or 4.  Some challenges that technology creates are cost and lack of resources.  Most technology is EXPENSIVE!  And some school districts are at a lack of resources.  Some don't have enough to go around for the school; and that could come back around to not having the funds for it.The important lessons that I will take with me and use are definitely the smartboard lessons and just using technology in my lesson plans in general.  I think that it adds an aspect that is very valuable and helpful.