"Rethinking Education" Ch. 2 Reflection

Reading chapter 2 of “Rethinking Education” has actually changed my perspective a bit regarding education in the classroom. Before reading this chapter I had a very strong opinion that technology made a teacher’s job more difficult and that the students would benefit from having a more traditional way of learning. This chapter has given a few examples that have made me think differently. The chapter states that we are using 19^th century teaching style to try and fulfill the needs of 21^st century children. The chapter also gives many examples of how technology can be beneficial for learning both in and outside of the classroom. Technology can be used to getting a tutor. This is a helpful tool but it the methods teachers use to solve particular problems can be very different. Some teachers prefer using one method over another, and likely the online tutor was maybe taught a different method to solve the problem which can clash with the teachers way of teaching. As stated in the chapter is that technology can also give immediate feedback which can help to correct their mistakes right away which leads to a better understanding and a quicker understanding. Technology can also help get a students work out on the internet for more than just the teacher and his or her classmates to see. The student is able to publish their work online for more viewers to see. The book does a good job of explaining how technology can be useful in the classroom and has made me open my mind to the possibilities of a technology oriented classroom.

As a result of this reading I will now consider using technology more in my classroom. This reading has made me think about ways I could, as a teacher, incorporate technology into my classroom in an interesting way. I first thought about pen pals. In the past we have used a paper and pencil to write to our pen pals and the post office to deliver our messages. Technology could make it possible to have pen pals from classrooms all across the world. Teachers could use Skype or even video messages to talk to various classrooms, and free of price. This chapter also made me think more about video games and think about them in a different manor. Although I do not agree with all video games, the text points out a few different games that can actually have the students apply their knowledge to everyday life. Unlike most other teachers I will explain to my students that I do not think all video games are bad, but will help my students pick out the appropriate games to play that can benefit their motor skills and pattern matching, social behavior and others. This chapter has helped me become more open to using technology in the classroom and has helped me brainstorm different ways to incorporate technology in the classroom that will be interesting for the students.