Technology Enhanced Learning Environments

It is important to introduce and reinforce digital citizenship concepts and practices at an early age and continue these concepts and practices throughout a student's academic journey. I think the timing and methods of teaching digital citizenship skills will vary depending on various factors, such as demographics. However, I strongly believe that digital citizenship should be integrated, whenever possible, in the regular classroom and should be supported in the classroom with continuous discussions and activities. Kids in today's world are exposed to technology at a very young age and many have their own devices at home, some with little to no guidance on safety and privacy.  According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children between the ages of 8-10 years old spend 8 hours per day on technology, while teenagers spend more than 11 hours per day. Explicit instruction of digital citizenship concepts and skills are primarily taught in the technology classroom, during spe...

I am just finishing my third year of teaching at the elementary level. My first year of teaching I was in a smaller school district teaching at a Title I school in fourth grade. In that particular role, I was not only challenged with behaviors and extreme academic needs, but teaching remotely due to the pandemic. Throughout this year my students were one-to-one with Chromebooks. After my first year of teaching I moved to teach in a larger school district and happened to be placed in a school that is higher income. In this new role, I remained in fourth grade but had to switch from Chromebooks to one-to-one iPads. After my second year of teaching, I moved up with the same group of students to teach fifth grade. Throughout my limited years of teaching, as well as student teaching throughout my undergraduate, I have been able to experience many different grade levels. I have been able to see the use of Chromebooks, a Google product, as well as iPads, an Apple product. I...