Technology in the Classroom

In today's classroom, technology is more important than ever.  So much of our world takes place on the computer.  More people get their news from the internet now than they do from the TV (forget about newspapers!).  It would be a shame to go through 12 years of school without learning how to function in our computerized world.  For me teaching Kindergarten, it is so important to expose children to technology right from the start.  For those students that have computers at home, they need to start being able to learn and explore their world through the use of the internet safely.  For those that don't have computers, it's my job to make sure that they know how to navigate the giant world of computers.  They are going to be expected to live and function on the internet for the rest of their lives, so it's my goal to get  agood foundation in that. 

At the beginning of the year, we start small.  I will do a lot of modeling how to use the computers.  For now, we don't go on the internet.  I show them how to "double-click" on icons to get them to open (much harder than it sounds).  I also show them where the mouse is - you would be surprised at how many kids don't know this.  From there we would slowly gain confidence in using icons that are already on the computer and learn how to open and play a game on our own.  

By the second semester, I will begin modeling how to go on the internet to do research.  Of course, since we are still just learning, I will primarliy use Webquests or very structured websites that I have looked at ahead of time or created myself.  We will learn how to click on links and follow directions that are on the sites.  We will also learn how to get back to where we started in case they have gotten off track.  

Hopefully the foundation that I have built in Kindergarten will lead to successful technology use in the grades to come!