Technology in the Primary and Junior Classroom

As I was contemplating the issue of technology in the classroom, I immediately asked myself the question, "How well is technology being implemented into the class"? It is my belief that the successful implementation of technology into the Primary and Junior classroom (and I focus on those groups because that is what I have and am currently teaching) is largely dependent on the comfort level of the classroom teacher. I read an interesting article on-line, entitled "Conceptions or Misconceptions? Primary Teachers' Perceptions and Use of Computers in the Classroom" that supported this idea. The article concluded that there are two broad groups of teachers that exist, those that are simply aware of computers, and those that feel that computers should be used to enhance and teaching and learning.

I can certainly see these two groups within my small staff. I teach at a school with a population of about 200 students, from JK to Grade 8. Those teachers that are comfortable with computers are the ones who are implementing technology into their lessons and regularly using computers as a means of teaching and learning. They take any in-services offered by the Board as an opportunity to enhance their teaching and improve student learning. Those that are not as comfortable see in-services as an area of concern. They tend to use the computers as a way of reinforcing or practising skills learned in the classroom, also a benefit to the students. It is certainly my hope that through this course, I am able to successfully implement technological ideas that will both facilitate and enhance my teaching and my students' learning, and that I am able to be a benefit to those teachers that may not feel as comfortable using the computer as a means of teaching and learning.