Blog Post 1

       Teachers are influenced to use technology in the classroom by the various administrative and instructional needs that they need to fulfill. In addition, teachers use technology in the classroom because it helps teachers reach students with a variety of learning styles to master different concepts. Students are motivated to use technology in the classroom because it aids them in understanding different concepts that they have trouble understanding through traditional instructional methods. Through teachers using technology to present, reinforce concepts, foster critical thinking, and address issues such as diversity, students are able to understand a variety of topics and concepts in a new way.
       The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) standards exist to promote use of technology in a way that improves the performance of both teachers and students. Of all the ISTE standards for educators, I can appreciate the standard that refers to modeling digital age work and learning, because I am fairly competent at creating a variety of documents and digital tools to display work and teach others. I would need more experience in the standard regarding professional leadership and growth, because I have not yet had real-world experience in using digital tools to enhance my profession, communicate with coworkers and administration, and I have not yet had the need to create and evaluate research involving students.
       A Digital Native is a person who has grown up in an era of digital technology and has been well-versed in how to use digital technology, such as computers, from an early age. I do tend to agree with this term. From my own observations, I have noticed that although many older adults are willing to adapt to the changes that new digital technologies bring, the Digital Natives of the world today seem to have a natural understanding of technology, as well as a natural desire to constantly use it, explore it, and advance both the technology itself and the way it is used in our daily lives. In the future, I anticipate that my students will naturally have a better time with adapting to the newest technologies in the time period, whereas I may need extra training and time to learn how to use all of the new technologies available to me.