Technology as a Tool in the Classroom:

I am amazed at all of the options that technology creates within the classroom today.  Utilizing the Google Classroom extends the reach and connectivity of the teacher and the student community from school to the home.  Kids love to see themselves and making funny videos, so Flip is an amazing application for them and for the teacher to give them a chance to rationalize through vocal thinking about what they are learning.  I am impressed with the ability of students to interact with the world around them through Google MyMaps.  I think that a child's ability to understand and navigate the physical world around them is extremely important.  I am looking forward to discover all the way I can incorporate these tool in my classrooms.

Technology in the classroom is also a great tool to create an inclusive classrooms and provide accommodations and modifications for students with disabilities.  For students you are struggling with reading, a teacher can provide a piece of technology to either larger text, or that can "read along" with the student.  For students who are struggling with writing, technology can be provided that can allow them to type or talk-to-text, or even simply create a video.  Often accompanying these tool are systems that assist with spell and grammar corrections.  These must be seen as tools to success and not "crutches" or "band-aids".

Please feel free to post your thoughts and tools that have worked well in your classrooms so that we can all learn and grow together for the benefit of ourselves and our students.

Mr. G