Journal 1

Technology has become an integral part of the classroom environment in the past few decades. As the world becomes more tech savvy, the way students learn has evolved as well to incorporate this into their lives in order to keep up with the times. Technology has given teachers different methods of teaching that they did not have before, such as computer games and online programs, that were not an option for teachers in the years prior to the 21st century. Technology allows teachers to reach their students in multiple ways, which may help students become better learners in the long run from being able to adapt to different forms of instruction. Overall, teachers have integrated technology into instruction for the purpose of evolving with the world and for accessing different modes of education.

The standards for educators set by the ISTE are designed in a way to define a teacher who helps empower their students in how they learn. In that case, the most meaningful standard to me is educators as leaders. As leaders, educators are expected to assist in advancing technology—specifically to empower learners—by communicating with education stakeholders about their visions for the potential of technology in relation to education. Educators are also expected to advocate for equitable access to technology and online resources for all students, which is essential in empowering students since the digital divide is a major part of academic inequality, especially as our world becomes more dependent on technology.

I do not agree with the term "digital native" because one's age alone does not determine their technological skills. Other factors, such as their environment, access, and experiences with technology have greater influence on their skills—it just so happens that since many member of Generation Z grew up using technology, they have more ease navigating it at a younger age. For the most part, I have not seen much difference between how my previous teachers and I have used technology. My Millennial teachers seemed to have a more natural, fluid approach whereas my Boomer teachers had a rather by-the-book, technical approach, but in both cases they were competent and able to use whatever tools they needed to instruct. The only difference was how they approached the technology, which can be chalked up to their experiences. Millennial teachers likely grew up with the technology and therefore had their own way of navigating where as many Boomer teachers learned how to use the technology later in life which has influence their way of using it. I anticipate that (at least within the first ten years or so of my career) that my students and I will not have many differences in terms of how we use technology, but as it evolves even more and I stop growing with the times, they will have a better understanding of how the technology works and will probably have to teach me a thing or two about my own classroom.