Education Technology in the 21st Century Classroom

Josiah Wallace
EDUC 511
July 14, 2014
Dr. Joanne Gibreath

Education Technology in the 21st Century Classroom

Educators of today have a big responsibility when it comes to preparing students

for the future. With the fast pace of technology advancements in todays society, teachers
must work diligently to equip students with the necessary skills to be successful citizens
of the future. Many classrooms of today look very different than even just a few years
ago, due to the new educational technologies that are widely available to schools. But
technology on its own will do very little to enrich a classroom. It is through effective
teaching practices that educational technologies can be successfully implemented in the
classroom.
With only two years of teaching experience, I am still working to develop my own
skills as an effective educator. There are several key areas that I believe a teacher should
focus on in order to be effective in the classroom. Effective teachers help students
become self-driven in their pursuit of knowledge and help students take ownership during
the learning process. An effective educator is also someone who teaches to the strengths
of his or her students and makes adjustments to teaching techniques to accommodate the
needs of learners in the classroom. As learner needs are determined, an effective
educator gives students the tools they need to succeed. Many classrooms now have
access to the Internet during lessons, and there are vastly more technological tools that
are accessible to learners. It is important that students know how to tap into these
technologies to enrich their learning experience. With specific knowledge about the
technological tools available to them, students are then free to learn in-depth information
about subjects in which they have an authentic interest. As an educator, I hope to inspire
my students to pursue their interests using their developed skills and their knowledge of
the tools available to assist them in their studies.

Education Technology in the 21st Century Classroom

When I think of someone that has truly inspired me, I think of an art professor I
had as an undergrad. Professor Dunn was always positive, and had an open mind when it
came to exploring new ideas. He was always excited to challenge the mainstream way of
thinking and would have us take part in classroom activities that were very nontraditional. For several of our classes we met outside and completed group art projects.
Our main project was to create a personal art journal where we were free to explore our
artistic strengths and have fun being creative. For one of our final classes we each had to
scoop out a large handful of rice from a large burlap bag. Then, we had to walk around
the room and bless our peers by giving each person a verbal affirmation and then
showering him or her with rice. It was a way to help us reach out to others around us and
encourage one another with positive words. When I think of my role as a teacher, I hope
to create an environment where students can openly encourage one another and feel
comfortable exploring new learning processes. I want students to see the value of
learning from one another and being comfortable collaborating with peers on team
projects. I want them to understand the importance of valuing their peers and also
valuing themselves.
An effective educator will also monitor student progress to ensure that each
student is successful in the classroom. Student success wont look the same for every
learner, but there should be clear improvements made when it comes to personal growth.
I believe that each learner is blessed with certain gifts, and I want to see each learner be
stretched as they use their gifts and grow in their knowledge of the world around them.
As an English teacher, I will use various methods to assess student progress in their
literacy skills. This is a key part of my role as an educator as I work to ensure that each

Education Technology in the 21st Century Classroom

student continues to develop their reading and writing abilities. Beyond academics, I
want to challenge each learner to grow as individuals as they encounter challenging texts
and work to express themselves in their speaking and writing.
In addition to my identity as an educator, I am also a follower of Christ. My faith
is a vital part of who I am as a person, and this should also be reflected in my interactions
with students. As a Christian, my utmost desire for my students is that they would come
to know and serve Jesus Christ. In my day-to-day life, I want to show my students the
difference that Christ makes in my own life, and I hope to point them to Him. In an
English classroom, there are significant opportunities to challenge students and their
personal beliefs as they encounter specific issues in classroom texts and take part in peer
discussions. My mission is to direct students to Jesus as they learn more about
themselves and the world around them.
As I work to prepare my students for their future lives in college and beyond, it is
vital that I equip them with the skills to successfully navigate educational technologies.
The incorporation of technology in the classroom is vital as students build their
knowledge of various processes and learn to adapt and continually build their knowledge
of online tools and software. As an educator, it is important that I model this to them as I
prepare lessons and keep up-to-date on emerging technologies.
As I take part in this masters program, I hope to refine my own approach in
incorporating technology in my classroom. This includes building my knowledge of
online resources and establishing connections with others in the educational field in order
to share my ideas and stay current with new educational technologies. I hope to use this

Education Technology in the 21st Century Classroom

knowledge to inspire my students and engage them as they develop their literacy skills in
an online environment.
During this program, I hope to gain insights about specific technology programs
to use in my English classroom. I teach in an environment where students work on
collaborative team projects, so I am always looking for specific processes to incorporate
into units that allow students to explore content while building specific skills. I would
like to explore specific technologies to incorporate into my own classroom, including
programs for video filming and editing, cloud collaboration, and student web-building. I
also hope to explore ways to use phone apps during lessons to allow for students to see
their own tech devices as learning tools that assist them in their studies.
Completing this masters degree would also help me personally as I work to
develop my skills as a teacher. I want to be able to positively impact those around me as I
facilitate 21st century learning environments and help my students become educated
individuals. The success of my current and future students must first start with my own
commitment to being a lifelong learner. The completion of this masters program will
help me to increase my own knowledge of educational technology. I must develop my
own 21st century skills in order to successfully navigate existing technologies and model
these skills to my students.