PHILOSOPHY
Technology can make most content available to almost all learners today. In regards to support and assessing learning in a classroom, technology can be used for any aspect. There are thousands of tools to support learning, such as online collaborative spaces for students to share their thinking and ideas, video and blog creators to help students organize and share their data and learning, and digital checklists to help students maintain task readiness and organization in all aspects of their studies. Assessing students' learning in the classroom can be done though online testing forms, such as Google forms and surveys, as well as tools to support students who may have needs for audio/visual assessments, like audio books, podcasts, and larger font.
The advantages of having a variety of technologies available to the classroom for particular types of learning are that it is now possible to support a wide range of learning styles and meet a diverse group of student needs in the same classroom. The tools available make it so that classrooms are accessible by more students than ever, meaning that inclusive classrooms are better equipped to serve every student's needs. Some disadvantages of incorporating various forms of technology in the classroom are the associated cost and time necessary for complete and adequate training, as well as the availability to students in rural or low-income school districts.
In regards to my future teaching and using technology in my own classroom, I look forward to using many online digital tools to entice my students and keep their attention through new and exciting ways. There is a range of digital supports available for students who may require different behavior supports and I am excited to use them in my classroom to better facilitate communication and teaching with my students. Technologies like advanced timers for task-time, iPads and other tablets as part of a token-reward system, and communication technology to help students express their needs and wants.
