1. My Philosophy of Teachnology
 Pre-EDU 210
 I was highly skeptical about the use of
technology in the educational system
 Post-EDU 210
 I remain skeptical….. In some cases
my skepticism has been enhanced!
 BUT……
 I feel as though my skepticism is now
more well thought out
 Further, I have discovered many uses
of technology that I feel have
potential.
By Ian Potts
www.123rf.com

2. What I’ve Learned In University
 Devices in Classroom
 When I see students using laptop in
classroom it looks like….
 …. “a sea of facebook”
 Really bad in EDU 210!
 “Flipped Classroom”
 When no assessment, students
typically don’t do “out-ofclassroom” learning
forum.xcitefun.net
 Screen Time
 I have to spend way more time in
front of screen than I would like
 Eye fatigue, too sedentary, affects
my mood negatively
www.mosaclinic.com

3. What This Means For Secondary/Elementary
“If Pre-service Teachers struggle to use technology
responsibility, how can we really expect younger students
to do any better?”
Possible Fixes:
 Devices In Class
 Only when explicitly necessary for a specific task
 “Flipped Classroom”
 Assessable Components
 Screen Time
 “Away from screen” assignments, both in and out of class
 Make sure kids aren’t sitting still all day

4. Using Technology in UDL
 At first, I was a bit skeptical about using technology in
UDL. Upon reflection my opinion became more favorable
– we just need need to be mindful!
 PROS
 Can be transformative for students with certain special
needs
 E.g., voice synthesizers for non-verbal students
 You are proactive, rather than retrofitting
 Makes special needs less “visible” to students
 CONS
 Can be overly-compensatory
 E.g., too reliant on spell-check
 May not be appropriate for all special needs
 Students with ADHD may not need further distractions

5. m-Learning
 I will definitely avoid using mobile
devices in the classroom
 Students already spend too much
time in front of screens
 Can be too distracting (e.g., the “sea
of facebook” I saw in our EDU 210
classroom)
mnslis.wordpress.com
 However, I still see some potential
in m-learning
 Some awesome apps (e.g., nature
guides for field trips)
 Allows for students to work during
commute
 Tablets can reduce the need for
bulky textbooks
www.edudemic.com

6. What I’ll Take Away From EDU 210
 “If you’re going to use technology –
make sure there’s a point.”
If everything you’re doing on a SMARTboard can be done on a
whiteboard – why use it!
 “Digital is not necessarily better.”
I volunteer at a school for students with special needs – some of
the best uses of technology are low-tech
 “Be Critical!”
Always ask yourself “why you’re using technology?” and “does it
have any educational value?”