Blog Post 3

   The technology standards of today are important for not only the student, but the teacher as well. There is a much higher demand for technology literacy than ever before and with that educators are expected to meet certain technology based standards and have specific certifications. Since I struggled in school with learning how to read and had trouble staying focused, I understand that different students have different needs when it comes to learning. I want to give every student the opportunity to thrive and be successful in the classroom. I think the use of apps and the different technology is it a great way to be able to tend to students educational needs. I am a bit unsure about the specific ELA technology standards I would be able to teach most confidently. I believe that every standard is important for  a students overall ability to understand language, writing, reading, and listening which are all  useful skills to have both in and outside of the classroom. The goal of the standards and for the teacher should be to prepare students for future education and life, so overall I think I could use more knowledge of all the standards.    In chapter 9, there were many aspects of technology, applications and software, that would be useful in the classroom. The book discussed the website Wiki and how it can be useful to the teacher and the students. It teaches student to become "life-long learners", while also allowing teachers to connect with one another sharing lesson planning ideas, videos, activities, and more. I would use an online discussion board or chat room in the classroom. I think that is a great way to give even the most quiet students a way to publicly voice their answers and opinions to the class room in a less confrontational way. Discussion posts would be most beneficial for ages 15+. There are also apps and educational games that I would present to the class like Kahoot. These types of apps are geared more toward elementary students ranging from ages 8-14. I believe it will get all of the students involved and interested about what is going on in the class. The issue with things like blogs or discussion posts is that there is room for inappropriate behavior. As an educator, it is important to set clear rules/guidelines for the class when using technology, and be clear with the consequences of breaking the rules. Technology should be used in the classroom so that students are able to keep up with the technology standards and be a knowledgeable digital citizen.    The Newsletter Design experiment gave me the chance to explore the templates of Microsoft word and use it in a different way than usual. Typically when using word, I am typing a paper that is MLA format.  It was helpful to be able to explore using things like word art and how to create individual columns, which are all functions I rarely use. I liked the assignment overall because it allowed me to be more creative than usual when using Microsoft word and are definitely all skills I will need to become a successful teacher. In education it is vital the information is communicated in an organized  proffessional, visually appealing manor, and this activity was very helpful in practicing that.