If as an educator you are not flexible, you may miss an opportunity to grow professionally by avoiding the use of technology in your classroom. I find myself communicating with the students on various platforms each day. In retrospect, I have learned that even my elementary students are avid users of technology. My students are continuously using technology (their smart phones) to communicate with each other. HISD wants to be a global educator and have students that are ready to take their place in the ever-changing world. As an educator, I want to ensure that I help them make this transition, even if I am still making the journey myself.

In elementary school environments, students do not explore many of the newer apps to discover how to use them. However, it is important that teachers encourage students to explore and be aware of technology. Recently, I switched to using Pear deck exclusively in providing lessons in my classroom. I must admit that I had reservations about making all my assignments in this manner; however, I found out that the students really enjoy using the platform to learn. The point is, technology is something that today's students are growing up with and therefore it is important that educators find productive ways to incorporate technology into their lessons.

Technology is an important part of the classroom and learning environment. In using these new technologies teachers evaluate them to see what works best for them, their students, and the overall objective of learning the curriculum. Educators understand that they must embrace the new and immersing technologies with tolerance that allows for adjustments, and changes as needed to make the learning experience inclusive of all learners. Reaching all students is not a new thing that we face as educators, it is just learning to implement technology in our lessons have required considerations on how to best apply it in the classroom that will benefit all students.

As a teacher, I never considered a student's disability as a barrier for learning. It is understandable that some adjustments have to be made to the lesson. Modifications that allow for the student to learn within their capabilities. Makers of the different software's and other technologies are considering how to make their products truly universal and allows for students to use regardless of their disabilities. Teachers do not have to wait for others to make changes to the learning environment. They are in charge of their classrooms and the learning environment in them. Teachers have the ability to do what it takes to reach each student. That is our mission and should be the ultimate goal of learning.

As an educator, bias must be kept in mind. When teaching students with disabilities and other limitations, the teacher must ensure that all students are provided with quality education. There is no room for bias. Students with disabilities should always be educated in an environment that allows for them to reach their fullest potentials. I have students that I refuse to allow them to expect any less than the best. The laws are clear, teachers must and understand, and students deserve an education second to none.

Follow the money. This statement is being used a lot. You see it used on the news and Internet in talking about various situations with both companies and people. Capitalism is not a bad idea; it is how it is used that makes it bad. Profit margins are always the most important thing to companies and even some people. Have we been relegated to being just a dollar sign. I hope not. In educating our students this idea, follow the money is trying to influence the way we buy products and services aimed at educating our students. Thankfully, there are still some non-profit organizations that provide services and goods free.

I mentioned this in an earlier post. Companies are driven by profit and market shares. Is that fair to the consumer? It depends on who you ask. People are giving up more and more privacy without being aware of it. Companies generate huge amounts of data for money. They sell your information to others. I look at when I sign up on various supposedly free sites and see that they are either asking for donations or selling my data to make money. By choosing to be a consumer of the latest and greatest apps I am in a sense agreeing to the exploitation of my data.

The need to work online, use browsers, and technology is ever increasing., and there is a link that connects all of their threads together. We encounter them each day in using different apps to find, locate, and purchase items. Marketing has evolved and aimed at capturing data to improve sales, market shares, and users. Therefore, many tech companies have made compromises that places the user in the center of a fight for them to use the services provided by these companies versus a competitor. Again, market shares, greed, and profit has replaced traditional business practices that would allow some privacy to the consumer. Nowadays, the consumer is a pawn being used to improve profit margins.

At one point, there was such a thing as living off the grid. However, in today's society, trying to stay unconnected is almost impossible. In addition, people were concerned about their digital footprint. Now it is very hard to stay hidden. These companies are good at what they do. They work right on the fringes of laws that govern privacy and collecting of information. There is support for the gathering of this data, and opposition that says these companies are going too far. It is hard to convince some people that privacy is important. Especially, if there is a dollar sign attached to it. You can call it greed, some call capitalism, others call it exploitation. Unfortunately, this problem will only get worse. There are legitimate reasons to collect data, however, it should be monitored to prevent abuse.

As an educator understanding how technology plays a role in education is essential. Teachers must keep current with new technology. The apps and other applications used in the classroom should be able to allow for learning to occur in a diverse way. Interaction should be a main consideration. Allowing for the ease of usage by students and having user-friendly functions will allow the teacher and the class to make the best use of the technology. It is the desired outcome for students to use many different strategies and ways to learn.

I have used activities in class that were purely student driven. Students were able to empower themselves with knowledge. I often model things for them. Then I let them go at it. Sometimes students are naturally able to lead and guide their peers in learning. I have used graphic organizers to show how to arrange thoughts and information that can be used to further the understanding and comprehension of content. Using strategies and examples help students to construct meaningful parameters to learn the content.

When I look at my students engaged in learning activities in class, I can see that they are actively participating in a process to help empower them with knowledge. I can see effort, purpose, and desire in examining questions, having meaningful debates, and communicating a consensus that supports everyone's viewpoint. Although I am a facilitator, sometimes it is necessary for me to become part of an active discussion.

Cognitive learning starts very early for children. Researchers have concluded that children who have learning interactions with their parents' pre-school are able to develop more cognitive. These skills give them a good foundation to build on as they progress through the early stages of development and school. Children learn from playing as mentioned earlier, as well as, interacting with friends, family, and other associates.

I know that my students are eager to use technology. However, I have to encourage some students to stay focused. When using a website like Roomrecess.com, my students explore the many different games that allow for them to learn. The theory that practicing math through computer games has merit. I have students that enjoy both the learning and the gaming. I often use this as a alternative to lecturing and it works.

In one of my classes, we talked about information that we find on the internet. It was concluded that there is a limitless supply of information that is not accurate and should not be relied upon. We worked on using information that was peer reviewed which showed that others in the field relied on this information.

This is important when teaching students how to surf, research, and visit the internet. Instructing students on how to successfully navigate the internet is part of the learning process.in classrooms. I do not encounter many sites that are not vetted prior to using them in the classroom. We always attempt to use the cites indicated by Technology and approved by the district.

The sure volume of apps is continuing to grow. Designers and users of the apps continue to find ways to use them and make them useful to people in their everyday lives. The internet has transformed the way we live and work; however, it is up to us to take advantage and use this intervention to benefit students and help improve education. In today's classroom we are still attempting to find new and creative ways to use apps and the internet.

I learned that students do not always have the resources at home to do work with technology. During the pandemic, HISD sponsored hotspots that helped to bridge this gap. However, most of those devices have been returned. I also encountered parents and students using the same devices for work and school. As a result, some students were unable to take full advantage of technology.

I like using digital tools now. However, I am still learning. There are so many to choose from. Finding the right one for the project you are working on takes some practice. In elementary school, students are not using a lot of apps to do their work. However, they are using technology to interact with various learning software. I discovered that many of my students have a social media platform. I was a little surprised that they were so active on these platforms.

I used Canva in a prior class. I liked the interface. The app was designed to make using easy for beginners. Designing different things with the application when well. I liked how the graphics allowed you to select from templates. This helped me. Sometimes it is hard start from scratch. I think that Canva is a good app for beginners like me.

I often have problems with instructions when using new devices or apps. I normally improve as I use them more. However, I have to feel my way through them. Some of the instructions are user friendly; others take more effort. I have learned to watch a YouTube video for help. In addition, some of the apps guide you through the installation process. Generally, this helps me to figure out how to navigate and use the app.

I think the technology boom is a great thing. It is transforming the way we interact with each other. I look from a consumer viewpoint and see hundreds of apps to help me throughout the day. I view these apps from an educator's lens and see that they are a new way to teach, interact with students and peers. When discussing technology with my students, I engage them with digital tools such as Kahoot, Pear Deck, Room recess and others. These apps and platforms are transforming both me and my students.

I am not quite sure if I am just old fashioned. I sometimes think my ways are still connected to the 70's. Twitter has become a way of life. But, just like other social media platforms, I still have not warmed up to them. I find that my peers are consumers of this social media craze. I go to professional development and interact with people all the time. However, I still have not found a desire to interact with them via social media. I have nothing against technology and social media, it just that I don't find myself embracing them like my peers.

Although I do not have a PLN, I have learned about them in a previous class and in this book. My interactions with the other teachers at my school allows us to discuss and address some of the things that a good PLN would include. This interaction has allowed me to gain personal growth and improve my teaching skills.

I created a blog in a prior class. I have not actually created my own virtual space. My students are very tech savvy. I am still warming up to social media. I have used video conferencing tools, such as, Microsoft Team. As an educator, I am aware that students are using social media sites in elementary school. It is important for me to discuss all technology with them and encourage them to use them responsibly.

As an educator, I sometimes need to use information during a lesson. However, I have encountered confusion determining the best site to find information that will help with the lesson. In class, we are using technology and educators want to ensure that they are able to guide students correctly through the learning with the correct digital tool that will support the required learning.

In the past, I have had some problems with looking at information that may be older than 10 years. Most of the time researchers try to use current information to conduct their research. As a result, using updated information is important.