Reflective Wrap-Up Post

I currently am employed at a childcare center. In the classroom that I work in we have integrated the use of technology in the classroom with having a smart-board, a computer, three nabi tablets, and a classroom monitor. The smart-board in the classroom can be used for videos, music, lesson plans, just about anything. It allows us to be able to show things to the class as a whole and the children have access to the smart board as well under supervision. The computer in the classroom can be used for teachers when it comes to creating and working on lesson plans. The children also have access to the computer to go on sites such as Coolmath, Poptropica, National Geographic Kids, and PBS Kids. The three nabi tablets have variety of interactive games that the children can play. The classroom monitor allows parents to sign in and sign out their children. For the older children, who come during the after school program some may have iPads provided from their schools and they are allowed to use those to complete homework and work on school assignments. The time frame for each child on these depends on what it's being utilized for.

 The age group of children I work with is from the ages five to twelve years old. Some issues that I've faced in the classroom with technology is with that sometimes being all that a child will want to do. They would just want to be on the nabi tablet or on a computer instead of doing something else. In order to help with this issue, having hands on activities going on during the day has helped. Open ended activities where the children are engaged and able to explore. We also have light tables in our classroom which are recently new, which has been something very engaging. For children who want to use the smart-board having an engaging large motor activity such as Go Noodle has helped as well. An issue parents might face at home with technology is with their child wanting to have access to a tablet or iPad during dinner, or not wanting to go to bed because they would like to stay up and watch TV. Student's do not have access to personal technology from home in order for us to avoid the issue of cyber-bullying, and inappropriate videos, it can be hard to monitor what every child is doing if they brought in their own devices. The children who have access to iPad's are the older friends who go to school and it's their school's personal devices.

 I haven't faced any issues with incorporating technology from this course due to the fact of me already working in a classroom that utilizes technology. I grew up with the use of technology. I learned all my times tables and long division through an interactive math CD on my computer. Some things I am wary of with children using technology is how easily it can be to get through parental blocks, cyber-bullying and getting addicted to too much technology use. Technology does have lots of benefits though and I do believe it's a great thing to have incorporated inside a classroom, it has helped me as teacher.