All's well that ends well...

...my class as come to an end, so this is my last blog for a while. There are just a few things to say, to wrap up this course and this blog for now. For starters, one of the main things I need to say, is that I was very technology scared at first, since I am not the most technology savvy person. After taking this class, I have learned to appreciate technology, since I learned so many different ways to use it in daily life in the classroom. Technology can be used by the teacher to simplify things, like bookmarking websites that simplify things, or mind-mapping websites, that can serve to create plans and outline. Students can also use technology to simplify their lives, by using things like video editing programs, different ways of sharing documents, or using different programs to create things like word clouds and mind maps, to plan essays and projects. Teachers also have to make sure that they know how to use the technology they are using in the classroom, since not being able to use technology properly will cause students to lose faith in you.
As responsible teachers, we also have to take the time to teach students how to use technology properly, which includes digital citizenship and how to use the technology itself. This means that teacher have to plan lessons that go beyond just the basic course curriculum, it has to look at things like digital citizenship, respectful use of technology, both in posting and using material and protecting themselves online, both from things like viruses and cyber-bullying. Students also need to be taught how to use different pieces of technology, it cannot just be assumed that they know how to use all the different pieces of technology. This means looking at what technology is available to you in the classroom, that your students can use, and practicing with it, so you can explain any issues that may arise when students are using it.
Teachers also have to be prepared to keep up with the times, so that we are aware of what types of technology is available to students, so that we can at least discuss it with them proper use of what is available, or being responsible with their technology and their time. We also have to keep up in order to stay relevant; students don't like teachers who are stuck in the stone ages, showing films strips when a DVD would work just as well. This does not me that teachers have to go out and buy every new piece of technology that comes out, we just have to be aware of it, so that we are actually current and relevant to our students.
To conclude, technology has become an integral part of the classroom and daily life, so teachers cannot just ignore it, instead we need to use it, since it can help up in many ways, simplifying our lives.