"What's It Like Where You Live?"

I particularly liked the Coulter article because I found the ideas for integrating technology to be very valuable. I liked the emphasis that he placed on students' inquiry. I am a big fan of inquiry based learning and found it appropriate when Coulter mentioned that the students' inquiry should drive the technology implementation as opposed to the technology driving the students' inquiry. I thought this was an important statement to make because many times I think teachers try to incorporate technology into their lessons, but are not clear about the actual goals and purposes. With this clear distinction technology can be valuably added. I also found it interesting when he explained that he has found technology use to only be appropriate for elementary students when the students have had a rich experiential background, with which they use the technology to enhance that context. I though this was important to mention because again, sometimes technology use can become a frivolous experience simply meant to fill a requirement. What I found really powerful from these students' experiences was about making distant places and experiences real for them. I definitely think this is a place where technology plays a crucial role, and it is so important for children to learn about and explore other parts of the world in a way that is as close to a first hand experience as possible. Technology can be that resource through experiences like virtual field trips. I had never heard of this idea, but I love it! And I am definitely planning on incorporating it into some of my lessons this year. I was empowered by Coutler's reflection on how much he has grown in his teaching by incorporating the use of technology in his classroom and how this aspect was important for his professional development. I hope to be more adventurous in incorporating technology in my own classroom to grow in my own personal teaching experiences, and incorporate it into my professional development as well.