Blog Post #2

    Over the years, I have use multiple different platforms to accomplish my writing tasks and to take notes for class online.  I have been using Microsoft Word as my main platform to write for school and for fun since around sixth grade. I would write essays in class through word and actually became certified in MS Word in eighth grade. I have used platforms such as Google Docs to write other papers and for different purposes, but I find that Word is easier to navigate and provides me with more options. I can be more creative on Word and can use it for other tasks such as posters and newsletters for class which is harder to accomplish on Google Docs.

  The ISTE is a nonprofit organization that works to encourage and incorporate innovation and technology into everyday education and works to engage more kids in the use of smart technology. ISTE sets Standards for Educators and proposes certain roles that help teachers influence the students and overall increase their excitement and involvement with smart technology. Of these standards, the one that is the most meaningful to me is the facilitator role given to educators. I believe that this role is one of the main ones that does influence the students' engagement with technology while still allowing the students to make the experience their own. I agree that kids should be exposed to technology when trying to accomplish work and innovate, but I believe that they should make this experience their own; and the facilitator role has the ability to do so. The role allows for more creative permissions for the students to be present while still giving the educator the power to control some of the tasks and manage the level of exposure the students see.

    In today's society, those born in this generation are labeled as "digital natives", defining them as people who will never have the possible benefits of experiencing a world without technology. They are being born into a newer society where we better understand technology and have adapted to the use of it everywhere in the world. I believe that between me and my teachers I have noticed that I am better accustomed to picking up the different programming and quick skills of certain apps and systems. Though, as they work with technology further, they definitely seem to become more accustomed to it. When they struggle occasionally, it tends to make it harder to learn different skills from them. However, because I am also learning the skills, I do not always know what I am doing either and cannot usually compare my skills to their own in that case. I anticipate technology to keep growing and for its role in classrooms to grow as well. Thus I believe I will probably have my own struggles figuring out the different systems and learning how to best use it and teach it to my own students in the future.