The use of technology and the need to be technologically literate is

becoming the norm in this the 21st Century. As educators must ensure that
our students maximizes their full potential by providing them with the
necessary skills that will allow them to function effectively in this
technological era. Hence, the need for teachers to create a learning
environment that integrates technology and its use.

The use of technology and the different technological devices has always
been a fascinating thing to me; therefore its introduction to education was
immediately welcomed. Prior to my introduction to Educational technology I
had a lot of prerequisite knowledge of the use of technology and the use to
the different technological devices; having done a similar course during my
diploma training and have participated in numerous workshops under the
tablets in school program, where I was trained to integrate the use of
technology and its devices in education. However I acquired a lot of
information from the course.

One of the key information that stands out is the ISTE standards. Although I
have always recognized the need to educate students about the ethics in
using technology and technological devices; I was unaware of the
international standards which govern the use of technology in education.
Learning about ISTE standards as caused me to reflect as an individual and
have recognized that I may have fall short of observing these ethical views.
As an educator I have a responsibility to ensure that myself, as well as my
students are aware and understands the ethics in using technology and its
devices.

Just recently, while travelling of a public transport bus from Half-Way Tree to
Spanish Town, I observed a boy in his uniform, taking photos of individuals
and showing them to his friend. I calmly said to him you are cheeky his
response was with what miss? and after a brief discussion with his friend in
regards to what I said to him, he continued his mischievous act. This
incident serves as a prime example of how ignorant many individuals are
about the use of technology and its devices and the implications of their
misuse. Clearly that boy was unaware that it is illegal to take photos of
individuals without their consent.

Many individuals are unaware of the laws that stipulated in regards to the
use of technology and its devices. This is evident in our everyday life as
such, it is my belief that as educators we should in-cooperate the ISTE
standards in our lessons or plan annual expose that will serve and a medium
to educate teachers, students, parents and even community members on the
ISTE Standards. If our parents are educated on the ISTE standards, they will
be able to provide their child/children with the proper guidance on the use of
technology and its devices. Community members alike will assist in keeping
our children inform and correct them when being observed doing something
unethical as well as they should be role models for our children. This will
alleviate the conflict of us teaching students the ethics of using technology
and its devices and then observing their parents and their community
members misusing them.

Learning about the ISTE standards has been insightful and as an educator
will ensure that my students understands these standards. Not only did I
learned about the ISTE standards but have also learnt how the use of
different web base tools as learning environment where students can share
ideas, communicate and create new things.

Although the course provided me with new insights there were some things
that needed improvement. For a course that prepares teachers to in-
cooperate the use of technology in their classroom and encourages its use as
a holistic part of the teaching and learning within the classroom, there were
some limitations in its classroom. These limitations includes; the number of
computers available for students use and the lack of maintenance of the
resources. Instead of the use of a projector on the whiteboard, an interactive
board could be used which would have provided a more appealing
presentations. This would also reduce the time taken in having to connect
our speakers to our laptops and laptops to a projector as a computer would
have already connected to the smart board which is already equipped with
speakers. Here information could just be transferred to the connected
computer via a flash drive or email.

With the limitations aside this course was very beneficial to my development
as an educator as my enthusiasm for the in-cooperation of technology in
education as increased. With the information received from this course along
with prior knowledge I am on my way to creating the ideal classroom that in-
cooperates the use of technology and its devices.