Educational Technology means an array of things to me however the first thing I think of when I brainstorm about Educational Technology is as educators we must re-think the way we teach. As an educator I believe we need to be more creative, by allowing students to learn through using technology. So often teachers are afraid of a classroom in which students are up moving around and engaging in a fun creative way. I believe educational technology involves thinking out of the box, by allowing students to use their individual skills and learning styles to create a love for learning. By doing so students need empowering, motivating, and, self efficacy. Students are starving for new ways of learning, the old lectures and tests are not working for the students of the 21st century therefore as educators it is our job to help students reach a better understanding of their learning so they are better able to use that for future "real life" situations in their own workplace, homes, or educational institutions.
I believe if students are not empowered to learn and taught to love learning they are not going to be as equipped as those that are. Educational Technology involves a variety of teaching tools and not being afraid to take risks, evaluate their success, and change the teaching methods accordingly. Allowing students to use laptops, e-tablets, cell phones, and e-books are great ways to promote learning. Students should not be restricted to one method of learning such as lecture, memorization, and testing. It has been supported that students learn more effectively through gaming, simulation, and using gadgets they love, often they do not even realize they are learning. Therefore I believe as teachers, instructors, and trainers we should be constantly learning new material and teaching it to our students, so we all keep up with current technology.
Amen!
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