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= = =Lauren Butcher = Technology Vision 2013

//Technology has influenced the way in which students learn and entertain themselves. They interact with many technology sources throughout the day – cell phones, computers, video game systems, iPads, and iPods – and in turn, they thrive to get those types of interactions within the classroom. Teachers using direct instruction and lecturing as the students sit, listen, and take notes is an instructional strategy of the past. //

Back when **//I//** was in 7th grade....  The teacher stood at the front of the room, lectured us, and made us take notes on paper. The teacher wrote on the chalkboard or on the overhead projector when needed. We would do some group work, but I mostly remember working by myself on worksheets and packets and more worksheets. Boring!

Things have changed and continue to change, though...  My 7th graders lead the class and do most of the discovery and discussion of concepts. They write on and manipulate the SmartBoard, take notes on netbooks, prove themselves to the class using the document camera, practice skills on iPads, take surveys using their cell phones or instant response clickers, and listen to music on their iPods during seat work or individual assessments. The use of //all// of these technology tools don't occur every day, but my students are using technology for educational purposes more so now than when I began teaching five years ago. I am excited to see what the next five years will bring!

//My technology vision is simple: Grow with technology - learn it, use it, teach it.// This vision is for myself, as well as for my students and colleagues. As people all over the world become more reliant on technology for personal and professional reasons, it is part of my job as an educator to ensure that my students are capable of using these technologies. My **//digital native//** students need to be creative, use critical thinking skills, communicate effectively, use information wisely, and collaborate with others (//**21st century skills**//).

This video represents my thoughts on current students, technology in school, and 21st century skills.

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