Technology has created a new wave of engagement in classrooms. Teachers can use resources such as Screencastify, Pear Deck, Google Jamboard, and much more to help their students engage more in lessons. Through these services students can record their own videos for responses to lessons, follow along an interactive slideshow and post their answers to questions on a digital board for all to see. All of these resources can have several different uses. I’ve used Jamboard several times to review Chemistry before a test, or I’ve used Pear Deck to work through a new lesson while my teacher was absent. I've found that these resources have made learning easier, and lessons more effective.

With new technology coming out every day, students have been able to find new ways to complete their assignments, and teachers have found new ways to provide lessons. Technology allows us to customize the way we want to learn. Whether that means watching videos of lessons and completing the work at home, or being able to have passages read aloud, education has become more easily accessible. In the past students with disabilities might feel isolated that they cannot complete their work like their peers, but now, they can use online aids to help them learn new content and complete their assignments. These resources aren’t just for the students who cannot complete their work without it, but for anyone who might find them helpful. A lot of people can just get by with the way things used to be, but why settle when you can instead find what makes things the most successful. I personally love being able to choose between listening to an audio book, reading, or both if I really want to digest the content. Having the choice between online and paper work has also been extremely helpful. I much prefer paper work for Math and Science, but online for English and history.

There is no way to describe how technology has affected my education without mentioning the required use of online work throughout the past couple years. Online work has rapidly developed over the course of the pandemic. There is an argument to make that online schooling didn’t work for a lot of students. In no way am I saying that it’s not a fact, but to be fair required online learning was an unprecedented event. Many teachers weren’t planning on converting their courses into an online format anytime soon or at all. It was an incredibly stressful time for everyone, and now with in person learning resuming, I think I can say we’ve learned a lot about what works and what doesn’t. Overall, online learning was better than nothing. To continue learning we had to adapt, and it wasn’t easy. If we had been dependent on paper work, I think many more students would have failed classes or been held back. I found that I really excelled at online learning. I had many more resources, and I could keep everything I needed in one place. While it was difficult to get used to staring at a screen for so long, I really appreciated the positives that came with it. As a student I really appreciate organization, and I was able to keep my Google Classroom very neat while I completed my work. Deadlines were easy to remember, and I knew exactly what was expected of me for each assignment. Not to mention I could email my teachers and ask questions anytime I needed to.

In many of my classes we have been able to discover specialized websites or services to learn more about the topic we’re currently working on. In French class I once went on a virtual tour of France. I felt way more immersed in the culture, and it increased my interest in France and the language. In middle school we began learning how to code. At the time it was new to teachers, but I found it very interesting. Now there are many different online courses for students if they want to code. Over time technology has rapidly evolved to give students newer opportunities. In the past couple years, there have been many new classes available to students. Teachers are finding ways to develop their lesson plans around new sources of technology. For example the first stage production class offered at CNS was created for the 2019-2020 school year. Now, just two years later, there are ten classes being offered for the 2021-2022 school year, and two more at the Junior High school. These classes are all about technology and their applications.

One major advantage of online learning and the integration of computers and technology into education is the ability to complete work at home or at school. Being able to switch between the two options makes it a lot easier for students to complete work whichever way works the best for them. Plus teachers have the choice of if they would rather teach their lessons online or on paper. In person lessons can be on computers as well, so that the students are able to keep track of all of their resources and instructions easier. If a student is absent, they have access to the work they missed, the day they didn’t come in. This allows students to be kept up to date with their work. Even if they fall behind all of the work and supplies they need are online so that they can access it at any time.

Computers and technology have brought students and teachers more resources. I’ve had experience with many new online resources, and I’ve found them very helpful in furthering my understanding of what I’m learning. There have already been a few resources mentioned, but there are plenty more. Some of the ones I’ve used the most would be Kahoot, Delta Math, Quizlet, Quizizz, and Edpuzzle. I’ve also used IXL when I was in middle school, a program that allows the teacher to plan lessons for their students. All of these lessons are organized by grade level and can be used for years. I’ve completed many assignments on Delta Math and Edpuzzle. Kahoot, and Quizlet are my favorite review programs. These resources aren’t just helping students. Teachers can create review lessons and flash cards online to help their students gather the information in the lesson easier. Overall, I’ve been able to better grasp the content I’m learning about when I can use a variety of these online resources. When used together, students can better their own education with just the computer in their backpack.