Blog Post #2

    Microsoft Word, though a very useful application, is not one I have much experience with. In Elementary school, MS Word was the main application we used for projects, however at that time computer projects weren’t nearly as common as they are today. I made fun powerpoints and wrote a few silly stories using MS Word at home when I was little, but that’s about the extent of my experience. When I reached Middle School I started having to turn most of my work in online, however, Google Docs was free for all students in the county and you had to pay for MS Word. So I made a switch to Google Docs and haven’t looked back since. I am extremely comfortable with Google Docs due to using them for so long. But now that I’m taking this class I guess I’m going to have to refamiliarize myself with Microsoft Word. 

    The ISTE Standard that I think is the most important is Learner. Teachers themselves are educators, they are teaching students who are then the learners. However, a person's learning is never done. In order to grow and evolve you must learn. For a teacher to keep their class engaging for students over the years, they have to learn and adapt to the students needs and interests. So a lot of this looks like learning new technology and incorporating it into your classroom. Being a learner and a teacher also means that you can grow your PLN. Researching topics you're interested in is a form of learning and a great way to expand your personal learning network. Being a learner and a teacher also means that you can keep up with new research on child development and teaching techniques and helps you become a more educated educator. 

    Digital natives and digital immigrants are two very different groups of people. Digital native are people who grew up in the digital age, surrounded by technology. Digital immigrants on the other hand, are people who had to learn how to use technology later in life. I think digital natives is an accurate term for today’s youth. Half of them grew up with a smart phone in hand and youtube on in the background. The children in classrooms today usually know more about technology than the teachers which can make for an interesting experience. I was having difficulties playing music while teaching a dance class once, and a girl in 3rd grade grabbed my phone and had it figured out with a few simple taps of the screen. I was a little embarrassed at that moment, but it made me realize how knowledgeable this generation is. They are so familiar with today's technology and know how to utilize it to their benefit. This is a skill that everyone needs to learn. I consider myself a digital native since I grew up surrounded by technology, but it’s constantly evolving and we need to evolve with it. Teachers in classrooms should embrace the digital age and use it to their benefit. With a little bit of learning, teachers will be able to incorporate all sorts of new technology into their classes in ways that could benefit both them and the students. The gap between teachers and students' knowledge in technology is only going to grow as time goes on, unless teachers learn and grow with it.