Technology+Integration

Video: NASA Resources Enrich STEM Curricula at Forest Lake Elementary

I enjoyed this video because I was able to see the children’s reactions to the different opportunities they were encountering through Technology Integration at this Elementary School. The children were very animated and engaged as they discussed the different areas of learning through this program. They receive hands on training regarding careers that deal with computers, television broadcasts, video conferencing… This NASA program is exposing children to various different careers and life skills they will require, and they are experiencing this at a very young age so that they can expand their knowledge before they enter the workforce as adults.

Technology Integration is important in today’s classrooms because every career uses technology in some way. Bringing it into the classroom for young children will expose them to the resources and skills they will need for the future. It also allows children to experience situations outside of their own homes. The WWW for example, gives them access to different cultures, languages, and experiences that they may not have ever been exposed to. In my classroom, I hope to use technology to make learning fun and engaging. I will be teaching them useful skills, but also making the process of learning fun. For example, a reward for a child may be time on the computer playing an educational game. It is fun for the children but also helps develop some of these necessary skills.