Lesson One

As I start Educational Technology at University of the Cumberlands I am nervous and excited all at the same time.  I am nervous because this is only my second course in my pursuit of becoming a teacher and I am excited because this course means I am one step closer to becoming a teacher.  I am currently not teaching so everything I learn is to some degree new to me.  I also do not have the practical experience that current teachers have, but I look forward to the day when I can use this information in my classroom.

Reading the first two chapters of our book was a good introduction to the course.  It allowed me to get familiar with the concept of educational technology and how it was applied to the classroom.  The first chapter discussed the National Educational Technology Standards for both teachers and students.  Learning this information will give me the knowledge of what I need to focus on when incorporating technology in my classroom.  Chapter two discussed types of learning and the different ways students learn.  I was already introduced to these theories in my previous course, but our book looked at these learning differences and applied them to technology.  I will again use this information when constructing lessons for my classroom.

I will begin to use the information outlined in the National Educational Technology Standards and the foundations of learning applied to technology immediately.  This information will be used every time I construct a lesson.  I will first consider the technology standards for students and insure that I am meeting their needs in the classroom.  It will also be important to remember the different ways students learn and adjust my lessons to incorporate all types of learners.  I will implement this information in my classroom through different activities and lectures that incorporate technology.  Ideas I may utilize would include videos and PowerPoint lessons to illustrate our topic.  I will also include a variety of activities to incorporate multiple intelligences.  I could have students who learn through musical intelligences listen to music related to our topic or I could have students that learn through logical intelligences create charts or graphs to aid in learning.    

When using technology in general in the classroom challenges will arise such as students who have special education needs and students from different cultural backgrounds.  To overcome these challenges, I think it is important to evaluate each student and structure activities that meet their needs.  Students with special educational needs might need more one on one help.  It will also be important for me to recognize cultural differences and ensure that my lessons are appropriate for all students.  Other potential challenges are having access to the technology that I want to use, and dealing with unforeseen problems.  The best way to avoid these obstacles is to always have a backup plan in case what you need to use is not available or not working.