LOOKING INTO OUR CHILDREN'S FUTURE

Dear Parents and member's of the PTA;

I want to welcome you all to the start of new school year here at Balboa Elementary, and hope that every one's summer was an enjoyable and restful one. My name is Rebeca Llamas and I am one of the lower grade teachers. There is little debate that innovation and technology is constantly redefining and shaping the everyday world in which we live. We must admit that our world is changing for the better and computers are taking over. Our children know more about the new technology than us and we need to keep up with them and the technology world.

The importance of technology in the classroom is very evident in today's educational world. Children need the right tools to succeed in life, and technology is one of those tools. With the use of computers that kids are growing up with today, I feel that it is my job to implement those skills into my lessons plans. It should not be used as the only means to the lesson plan. The use of computers and other means of technology in the classroom, should be just that, uses. They should not be means that we are basing our lives, and lessons on, rather the means that make our lives and lessons stronger, and more useful.

There are more aspects to technology then computers and computer software. Technology is the application of science, especially to industrial or commercial objectives. This could be the use of tools, computers, or measuring utensils used to help students in the classroom. Technology is not limited to computers. Technology is a vast science, which children can use many tools, and objects to discover and explore the unknown. I will use technology in many of my lessons. I will not limit myself to using only the computer, or the Internet. I will be sure to use the tools, and activities that many of my teachers used in their instruction .

Technology in the classroom is not only helpful to the students, it is also helpful to the teacher as well. Teachers should have a basic understanding of technology, its concepts, and its applications before putting it into their lessons (NETS #1). A teacher should also use technology and it's tools to best fit their students needs. The use of technology should also make the lesson beneficial to everyone in the classroom (NETS #2). When the use of the Internet, or computer software is available for the student, the teacher should always review it before putting it into the lesson (NETS #3). When there is a chance to use technology; such as measuring liquids, or building a model, the teacher should always implement these types of technology into their lessons and classroom, so their students will be able to understand, and benefit from the lesson (NETS #4).

Unfortunately, this new and exciting innovation comes at a prices and I would like to present my reasons of how important these advances are for our children at our next PTA meeting on Sept. 30, 2009, and and I along with my colleagues extend an invitation to all of our parents. To ensure that our children will advance in their education we will need the help of our PTA and wonderful parents with the next fundraiser and any others we can have to raise the proper amount to meet the goals for our children. Whether we like it or not, technology is not going to go away, on the contrary its going to grow along with our children.

References to educational technology, learning technologies, and instructional technology pervade professional journals and magazines throughout education. Educational technology historian Paul Saettler (1990) says that the earliest reference to educational technology seems to have been made by radio instruction pioneer W. W. Charters in 1948, and instructional technology was first used by audiovisual expert James Finn in 1963. Even in the early days, definitions of these terms focused on more than just devices and materials. (p.6-Roblyer & Doering).

I would like to share some websites that explain the importance of technology in the classroom:
http://www.edutopia.org/technology-integration-introduction
http://www.vforteachers.com/Essay_techinclass_byCluff.htm#contents
http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/methods/technlgy/te600.htm

Thank you for taking the time to read my message and please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have.

Sincerely,
Rebeca Llamas