Technology Infused Classroom

A technology-infused classroom, I believe, can be viewed in the photograph above this statement. I define a technology-infused classroom as a classroom that is designed to offer and integrate advanced and emerging technologies to today's 'digital natives'.  As stated by Michelle Detering, "To properly prepare students for today's technical workforce it is becoming increasingly important for education in both K-12 and higher education institutions to infuse technology into their classroom." Redesigning the traditional classroom to an emerging technology environment will allow today's student to become competitive and a productive member of society.

I am fortunate that I am in the position of a Career and Technology Education teacher. This allows me the opportunity to implement a technology-infused classroom design for any of my classes from Accounting to Digital Media. The district and myself are constantly meeting and updating our technology tools and software programs in order to provide our students the best learning experience so they can compete in today's workforce. In order to continue implementing technology into my classroom and offer my students the latest technology features, I must communicate with the educational community and the workforce members about the latest requirements and keep myself updated on the emerging technology tools. Students will use technology as a day-to-day feature, but it is my responsibility to educate the students on how to properly utilize technology tools and to learn skills that can be used in the real-world.

VISUAL LITERACY

The definition of visual literacy as described by http://www.wikipedia.org/ states that it is the ability to interpret and make meaning of a visual image. The Internet provides students the ability to view graphics, images, and videos to develop the skill of visual literacy. Teachers and students that have the opportunity to utilize the Internet have the ability to view and interact with many diverse cultures and learn skills by participating and interacting with educational games and videos. This experience allows the visual learner to view culture differences, create graphic organizers and learn skills in the best setting for visual learners.

One particular strategy that I use in my classroom and the students seem to enjoy and relate to is the Visual-Imaging Strategy. After the students have learned and developed Adobe Photoshop skills, they are required to study and interpret a print found on the Internet of a Picasso drawing, then they are required to use the Photoshop tools and recreate the image. This assignment demonstrates the students ability to use the software but also allows them to interpret the different meanings of the print.

The Internet provides such a vast amount of information that a student can gather. My goal for the use of the Internet in my classroom is to have the students develop good researching techniques, appropriate social networking etiquette, and to let them develop skills that are useful in the real-world.

Impact of the Internet

Impact of the Internet