Theoretical Foundations

     There is not one generic, "one size fits all" way to learn. Learning is similar to the way one travels to a given point. For instance, when I drive to campus I take the same road every week. This is the way that makes most sense to me. For another person, they drive to campus from a completely different pathway. Both ways are similar yet different in so many ways. This is how learning is. I am a very visual learner; I have to see something with my own eyes for it to fully make sense to me. For others, they may possess a different learning style, a different pathway. I feel that as future teachers, it is our job to assess our student's learning styles and best meet the needs of ALL of our students, not just the students who learn by auditory means.

     Although I cannot be absolutely for sure what my own personal teaching style is due to my lack of experience, I would hypothesize that my teaching style will be more hands on and visual. I feel as though I will have to adjust this for my students who cannot learn in a seemingly ‘unorganized’ classroom setting. I hope to be able to meet all of my students learning needs.
     I believe educational technology will fit rather nicely into my classroom. I love having creative control of a project and being able to make it personal. I want my students to be able to enjoy the same aspects of technology. Along with being able to create their own projects, students of all learning styles are able to learn from some type of technology. By combining different audio, visual, and interactive technologies, I hope to be able to encourage and help my students learn the given information. For instance, I was observing a classroom last semester. In this first grade classroom, the students were learning how to add and subtract the number thirteen. One student in particular was having a hard time doing so. I commented on this to the teacher who informed me that this student had a hard time learning math in the classroom, but would understand it when the lesson was reinforced in the computer lab the next afternoon.  The next day, I arrived in time to see the magic unfold. This same little girl sat behind the computer screen and added and subtracted as though she had understood the lesson perfectly. I asked her how she had learned so quickly. She said, “Well it’s easier when I do it on the computer. It tells me if I do it wrong, and it shows me how to do it right. Then I just get it.” This little girl truly opened my eyes to how much technology can change a person’s life.
     According to the multiple intelligence tests, I scored in the upper teens and low twenties in all aspects besides nature and logical learning styles. This actually did not surprise me very much. I have never enjoyed math, and I am more of an inside girl. I feel as if these are two aspects I must overcome before I have a classroom of mv very own. 

Digital Generation

The digital generation refers to those students who have grown up surrounded by technology.  These children are the leaders of tomorrow, and as future teachers I believe it is our job to help advance their learning of the world around them by doing all we can to better ourselves through technology. I strongly believe that my generation is a part of the digital generation. I have grown up knowing how to use a computer, cell phone, iPod, etc., whereas my parents have no idea how to turn on the computer without help. I believe the images set forth in the videos do give a glimpse of how my peers interact with each other. With generations before, if two people wanted to talk, they had to do it via letters or telephone. I can honestly say I have only written approximately five letters to friends in my lifetime, and I text more than I call. Social media is just another form of easier communication that has recently become the social normality. I believe this generation is in need of a generation of teachers who are more willing to accept and adhere to the building technologies.
 I plan to use the technology that surrounds us in my classroom. There are many programs that can be used in the classroom that help enhance not just one aspect of learning, but many. While a student is learning how to use the computer to his or her advantage, they are also learning research skills, math and English, depending on the program provided. I grew up using these programs. I loved them. I believe these types of programs are vital for a student to grow and become a part of the future generation, the digital generation. It is our job to learn everything we can now in order to help the children tomorrow. Technology changes daily. If we fall behind now, how will we ever catch up to the generation of tomorrow? The days of letters and phone calls are through. We can sit idly by and not embrace the future, or we can challenge ourselves to be the best we can be for the future. The way I see it is simple; nobody believed that the world was round until someone decided to prove them wrong. The older generation didn’t believe computers were very important for ‘everyday people’ to understand. While in high school, my mother believed that computers were just a fad that would eventually fade out. She didn’t want to waste time with a class to help her understand the beginning technology behind computers. Now, forty years later, she has realized just how important the technology is to our world. Teaching the future digital generation is to shape them, and by doing so, shaping the technology of the future.
There are many issues that can arise when blogging. You can use a font and background color that hurts the eyes. Text can become unreadable when using certain fonts and boldness features. Some font colors are too light to be read. It is important when using technology to use it in a way that is sufficent to get your point across. There is no point in using it if people can't read what you are typing. :)