REflection
Doing this project has truly been both a joy and a stress, but overall I am extremely proud of the final product. This site is something I can and will definitely use in my classroom in the future. It is a place where teachers, students, and people in general can come to view how technology in elementary education has evolved over the years. Through extensive research and the creation of my digital museum exhibit, I have learned so much about where we came from in history with technology; which has truly made me value the technological tools that we have available for use in the classroom today. Something I have noticed is that a lot of the things we use today resemble things that were used in the past; (i.e. school slates, and iPads; overhead projectors, and document cameras). I also found a lot of neat tools that I had no idea ever existed, such as the Skinner teaching machines, and reading accelerators. Overall, I really had to broaden my perspective about what truly is classified as technology, and get rid of the notion of only high-tech things. Once I did that, I was able to recognize how important the invention of simple tools, (that many of us don't even consider to be technology) such as the chalkboard and pencils with erasers really is by comparing how they educated students before their creation. This brought to mind the fact that we have had dedicated teachers for centuries now, who have figured out ways to educate their students, using the resources they had available. I definitely want to carry out their legacies, and provide the best education for children as I possibly can.
This digital museum project connects with many NC Social Studies Essential Standards and can be easily tied back into the elementary level classroom. The following are just a few standards that I feel go well with my topic:
- 2.H.1.1 Use timelines to show sequencing of events
- 3.H.1.2 Analyze the impact of contributions made by diverse historical figures in local communities and regions over time.
- 3.H.1.3 Exemplify the ideas that were significant in the development of local communities and regions
- 4.G.1.4 Explain the impact of technology on North Carolina's citizens past and present
- 5.G.1.3 Exemplify how technological advances have allowed people to overcome geographic limitations
These are standards that can be used in the classroom to support why teaching about the impact of technology is important.
As stated earlier, I will definitely use what I have learned from creating this project in my future classroom. I now have an even stronger appreciation for the technologies that we have available for use in elementary level classrooms; therefore, I will strive to integrate technology in my classroom as much as possible, without letting it take over. While striving to develop amazing 21st century learners, I also want my students who were made in this "digital age" to understand how technology has evolved and develop a stronger sense of appreciation for technology as well. So I am definitely thinking about doing some kind of journey back in time exploration activity, to show them what school was like for elementary learners in the past. Of course they may not find this site as interesting as others they tend to visit, but by taking a journey back in time, they will get a first hand experience that will make a much stronger impact than reading the content of this website! Hope you enjoyed!
Chelsea Bivins
4-30-2013