My Beliefs

My beliefs on the use of technology in the classroom are very closely linked to the lessons I have learned.  My beliefs have been surfaced because of the things I have learned through watching the videos, visiting the websites, and reading the posted material.
I believe that technology can be a great use in the classroom if we are willing to use it.  Through observing in the classroom over the past three weeks, I have realized there are so many teachers who have not had the privilege of growing up with such technology.  But there are so many teacher who, sadly, are not willing to learn more about it or use it in their classroom.  I believe that students will benefit greatly through the use of technology in our classroom.  They will be much more engaged to learn and will have the opportunity to find valuable resources through using updated technology.  They will also learn not to be afraid of technology like so many in the world today but, instead, will embrace it.

Lessons Learned

Through completing the readings, watching the videos, and visiting the websites.  I have learned that technology is all around us and much more a part of our lives than many people realize or care to admit.  Also, some of us who love the use of technology the most is our youth.  They have grown up in a world surrounded by technology that gets newer and better everyday and, instead of hiding behind it, they embrace it.
If us educators want to reach our students we need to find some way to implement technology into our curriculum.  Kids love this technology.  I feel that if we can include their types of technology and love it, they will learn to love the raw material as well.  I have also learned that this technology will certainly make my job as a teacher easier.  If I use new technology personally, I will be able to use and keep more files, work programs easier, and things will be much quicker.

Strengths and Weaknesses

As I reviewed the NET Standards and took both parts of the UNI Survey I was able to more fully learn my strengths and weaknesses concerning today's technology and how best work function it.
I realize that some of my strengths are following:

1. Demonstrating an awareness of resources for adaptive assistive devices for students with special needs.  I feel this is one of my strengths because I have personal experience in working with these resources.  Being diagnosed in High School with TBI after a serious car accident, I have had the opportunity to work with Assistive Technology centers and use several adaptive assistive devices such as various computer programs, a voice recorder, and more.  
2. Using World Wide Web sources to access information and analyze the authority, accuracy, currency, and relevance.  The various computer classes I have taken in school, including this one, have really helped me to excel in this area of expertise.  These classes have given me the knowledge and confidence needed to be able to create and operate web pages of my own.

Some of my weaknesses concerning technology in today's world include:

1. Describing and implementing basic trouble-shooting techniques for multimedia computer systems with related peripheral devices.  I do not know much, nor do I have any experience in implementing basic trouble-shooting techniques for multimedia computer systems with related peripheral devices.  This would be a great technique to learn.  I am interested in the possibilities this tool would give me in teaching my own class if I did have more knowledge and skills in this area.
2. Using spreadsheets to calculate and display information and produce meaningful reports to aid in problem solving.  I do have a little experience with creating spreadsheets.  I have worked with the program, Excel, many times.  However, every time I use this program I find more tricks to the trade of using it or hear about ways I can use if more efficiently if I had the required knowledge to do so. I would love to work with this program and similar programs more and learn how to properly use them.  

I would love to attend an on-line tutorial to learn more about how to describe and implement basic trouble-shooting techniques for multimedia computer systems with related peripheral devices.  I have located a web-page online that specifically tells you what trouble-shooting is and the purpose of it.  I am going to read and complete this tutorial so I can gain more knowledge on this subject.

I have also located an on-line web-page that has text and video tutorials to help some learn how to work Excel and the many tricks to understand the program completely.  I am really excited to learn more about this program through this web-page.  I know that programs like Excel are very beneficial to me and will be beneficial in my teaching career.