Reflective+Journal+of+Personal+Observations

I have always believed myself to be a savvy person with regards to technology, but as the society continues to evolve technologically I can't help but to feel overwhelmed sometimes. As a consumer, I have always appreciated the latest versions of computer programs and entertainment equipment, however I feel that the new advances in educational technology have replaced some of the "old fashion" methods of learning. When I was in school less than 15 years ago, calculators were not allowed in the classroom, especially for basic math. Now I am being expected to teach my students how to use the calculator despite their lack of proficiency with the basic math concepts. How can I teach a student how to multiply numbers without a calculator, when we as a district have cultivated a dependancy on the calculator? Don't get me wrong, I think calculators are a good tool to use to verify your work or expedite a calculation process, however I do not agree that use of calculators should replace the development of a student's basic math skills.

For example, last school year I had several students input information into the calulator incorrectly and because they were not profcient in certain math skills, they were unable to detect the error. Case and point, how do you know if your answer is correct if you rely solely on the mathematical compuation of the calculator? For this reason, I closely monitor the use of calculators during class and depending on the content being taught, students may be allowed to the use of calculators. Now aside from calculator use, the overall implementation of technology in the classroom can be very beneficial if used correctly.

I have a district-issued notebook that I use daily to project content onto a large screen in the front of my class. Almost, immediately I noticed a change in student engagement once this system was in place. In my opinion, today's youth are really into media and video games, so this poses as an "in-between" that maintains their attention.