The Role of Technology in the Classroom (Virginia Heffernen option)

1. During my school years, I was taught how to use many different technological programs. In my early school years, we learned how to use programs like power point and word to create documents and slide shows. Later in high school, I learned how to use blackboard and excel. Blackboard allowed us to view assignments and create class discussions online. My teachers also used Facebook, to communicate to students by having a class Facebook page. In AP English literature we also used Kindles instead of paper back books. I believe that blackboard prepared me for tech requirements in college. Blackboard is very similar to Moodle, but I never had to submit assignments online. I believe that my teachers could have created more assignments and class discussions for us outside of the classroom. I believe that blogs are a good way for people to share their views and also create many different ideas to discuss in class. My teachers could have put more emphasis on different forms of technology. Power points were ALWAYS used to teach information. I believe that their could be other programs to help teach information besides Powerpoint. If I had to write a email, I would suggest that the teachers create more online work to create more outside of the classroom work. I believe that the math teachers should look into programs like Aleks that give additional help to their students. I believe that this type of program creates more repetition and practice for their students. By having more online work, time could be saved in the classroom for other curriculum.
2. I will be a teacher who majors in English and history. I want to use many different forms of technology to make my curriculum exciting and fresh. If I teach middle school or high school, I will probably have a program like Moodle or have my student create blogs. I will be creating worksheets and I will have to write papers. Oakland will prepare me by giving me the knowledge of how to make professional documents. I will be using power points to discuss information. Hopefully, I will be able to find many different forms of programs which could help make discussions exciting and different. I believe that the technology I have used at Oakland has given me an idea of how to create different forms of lessons. I want to use different programs to get every student involved and engaged in the curriculum.
3. I believe that I do write more relaxed in a blog setting or in a email setting. There is not as much pressure to create the perfect text. By having a blog, you are able to be more relaxed to express your views and opinions. Blogs are more unprofessional rather then having a paper. By writing a paper in a document, their is more pressure to create the perfect paper and perfect grammar. 
4. I will be becoming a English teacher, so I will have to think about how to create lessons that will help prepare my students for the future technology advancements. I will try to introduce my students to as much technology as I can. The fact is that their will be more and more advancements in technology in the future, so I will have to be up to speed on the latest technology. If I am up to date on the technology that my students are learning then I can create curriculum that involves this technology. If Facebook is still around, I will use this social media format to create a online classroom to tell my students about upcoming events. 
5.  I agree with the author about how we shouldn't force students to learn the way students have always learned. We should encourage students to learn in different ways that can interest them more then writing another term paper that they have been doing forever. I do think that we should still encourage old fashioned teaching but introduce new teaching styles. I think that kids still need to be encouraged to read but maybe get them things like Kindles that are advancements in technology.