Using Technology: Where do I stand?

As a new, inexperienced teacher, incorporating technology can be very difficult.  As I was working on my degree in education, I didn't have the opportunity to develop a good understanding of how to include the use of technology in my classroom.  So, as I sit and prepare lessons the one topic that is farthest from my mind is how can I incorporate technology in this lesson that will benefit my students later down the road.  I remember going through high school and at the most, we would get to make a PowerPoint and of course had to write research papers but we were never given a task that would broaden our understanding and ability to use technology in our lives.

A few weeks ago, I encountered the term "digital native" and it was defined as someone who was born before the age of digital technology and the term "digital immigrant" which is someone who was born before the age of digital techonolgy.  Those who are natives adapt so well to new technology and without any guidance or direction they can make it do whatever they want it to and digital immigrants are often afraid to turn on the device.  I'm slighlty puzzled as to where I fit into this category.  Digital technology was up and coming, but no where near to the extent as it is now.  I remember getting our first desktop computer at home, it was an HP and had Windows Millenium edition and we had CompuServe dial-up internet.  I didn't get my first cell phone until high school, back when text messages were 2 cents to send and 3 cents to receive, so I wasn't allowed to send text messages.  And the only game I had was called Snake and of course, there was no color.  So, I don't consider myself a native nor do I consider myself an immigrant.  I don't adapt to new technology as easy as my students do, but I do adapt easier than those who are older than me.

I struggled with deciding where I fit in the technology matrix.  I have very limited access to technology in my classroom, unless I take my students to a computer lab which can often be a hassle.  Right now, I would put myself in the active and entry category.  My students are using technology to prepare their presentations for class projects, researching topics, and last semester my students had writing prompts to respond to.  I use technology such as PowerPoint, YouTube, and Google to deliver the content I'm covering in class.  I also have a document camera, which allows students to see what I am doing on the screen from their seats.

I'm looking forward to discovering ways to include technology in a way that my students are engaged in the topic and learn life long skills that will enable them to continue to adapt.  With the technology we have available to us today, our students have the opportunity to collaborate not only amongst themselves but with people from around the world.  As the school year draws to a close, I will be looking for ways to adapt my students learning for next year using technology.  I can only hope that in the years to come, I will become a leader in technology integration in my school corporation.