Emerging Technologies for 5th Grade

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 am much more comfortable using Apple products, and I have found that my students are able to navigate iPads much easier than a Chromebook. I am very comfortable using all of Google Suites, but have unfortunately found that they don't usually play pretty with iPads/Apple. I recognize that there are numerous other tools that are iPad friendly and student friendly that could be easier and more beneficial for my students. After having two years of experiencing fourth and fifth graders using iPads in the classroom, I have and will continue to try new apps, websites, and software to better meet the diversified needs in my classroom, including identified Special Education students. 

 

 

The American University School of Education mentions, the promise of educational technology lies in what educators do with it and how it is used to best support their students’ needs (2023). Because students' needs are vastly different and ever-changing, I know how critical it is for my students that I continue to educate myself on current technologies and never become stagnant. The district I work in has provided a plethora of available apps, websites, and programs to utilize in the classroom. We have an overabundance of resources, which seems like a benefit, but can quickly become overwhelming. It is my goal to continue exploring purchased and approved resources from the district to better support my students' needs.

 

 

I have learned that the 21st century classroom is a dynamic and ever-changing space that requires numerous elements to be effective. Here are three elements I believe are most important: 

• Collaboration: In a 21st century classroom, students must be able to work together to solve problems and achieve common goals. I need to create opportunities for group work and also encourage students to share their ideas and perspectives with one another in a safe, accepting, and respective environment. 
• Personalized Learning: Every student learns differently and at different paces. The 21st century classroom should be designed to accommodate those differences and needs. I use data and technology to create personalized learning opportunities for each individual student. 
• Critical Thinking and Creativity: The ability to think critically and creatively is crucial in today's world. Using technology allows me to design activities and assignments that challenge my students to think deeply and critically about the content they are learning. I also leverage technology to allow students a place to express themselves through art, music, writing, and other creative outlets. 

 

The 21st century classroom is a complex and multifaceted space that requires a variety of elements to be effective. By incorporating technology in ways that encourage collaboration, allow for personalized learning, and invite critical thinking and creativity, I am able to create a dynamic and engaging learning environment that prepares my students for success in the 21st century. 

 

 

The 21st-century skills classroom recognizes that tomorrow's jobs don't exist yet — and that the way to prepare students for the "real world" is changing.

The Hun School of Princeton

 

I am committed to creating a learning environment that is engaging, inclusive, and student-centered. In my classroom, students use technology tools to actively engage in the learning process and encouraged to participate in discussions, work collaboratively, and apply what they are learning to real-world situations. To help students refrain from completing tasks instead of learning content, it's important to link purposes for learning and the content. The use of scientific reasoning should be established as part of the classroom culture, and can encourage curiosity and wonder (Cennamo et al., 2019 p 109). Technology is utilized in my classroom environment to create a safe and inclusive space that is welcoming, respectful, and encourages creativity and curiosity. Students in my classroom also utilize assistive technology to ensure equity. Students receive feedback in both formal assessments and informal conversations through technology. I use online tools to provide feedback to students in real-time, and to track their progress over time. I also encourage students to provide feedback to me using online surveys. Through the recognition of the need for 21st century skills paired with the inclusive, student-centered learning environment, my hope is my students will be most prepared for the 21st century and will become lifelong learners.

 

 

References:

Cennamo, K., Ross, J. D., & Ertmer, P. A. (2019). Technology integration for meaningful classroom use: A standards-based approach. Cengage. 

 

How important is technology in education?: American University. School of Education Online. (2023, April 17). https://soeonline.american.edu/blog/technology-in-education/ 

 

What is a 21st-century skills-based education?. The Hun School of Princeton. (n.d.). https://www.hunschool.org/resources/21-century-classroom