This week's module focused on an introduction to using technology in the classroom.  I hold the belief that it is imperative to use technology in today's classroom because students are immersed in technology outside the classroom.  As a teacher, it is my job to teach students how to use technology in a responsible way that enables and enhances independent learning in and out of the classroom.  This proves to be a difficult task at times, though, because the students in our classrooms always seem to be a step ahead of adults when it comes to the most current technologies in use.  This is evident in the video by FBE of kids reacting to the very first iPod (Fine & Fine, 2015).  The kids in the video are blown away by the fact that the iPod isn’t touchscreen and that it isn't possible to make a phone call through the device.  I happen to have had one of the original iPods and remember that it was considered to be extremely high-tech at the time.  I still seem to be more comfortable with the idea of downloading music onto a computer and then transferring it to my iPhone and I struggle anytime there is a major change made to the how iTunes operates.  This is a perfect illustration of why it is imperative for educators to be aware of and be developing their TPACK (Bauer, 2014).  

The TPACK is a model for teaching with technology that all educators should have in the back of their mind as thinking about how to effectively plan lessons for students.  Teachers should work to hone three types of knowledge (content, pedagogical, and technological) and use all three types in order to plan for effective technology usage in teaching and learning for students.  When the three domains intersect is where prime teaching can occur.  It wouldn’t be considered an effective teaching style to have perfect pedagogical techniques, but not to have adequate content knowledge or incorporate any sort of technology into teaching.  It also wouldn’t be considered effective teaching to incorporate all of the newest technology and most up to date educational apps, but they ultimately have nothing to do with the learning that needs to be taking place in the classroom.  The goal of the educator is for all three realms of education to intersect so that students can experience optimal learning that will help them to be efficient in the 21st century of technology.  

Bauer, W. I. (2014).  Music learning today; Digital pedagogy for creating, performing and responding to music.  New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

Fine, B. & Fine, R. (2015, July 23).  Kids react to first iPod.  Retrieved from 



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