Journal 6: Foster in Creativity and Innovation Through Technology

Vaidyanathan, S. (2012). Fostering creativity and innovation through technology. Learning and Leading        with Technology, 39(6), 24-25. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publication/learning-            and-leading/DigitalEditionMarch-April2012.aspx.

This article  explains how Sheena Vaidyanathan, an Elementary School teacher uses technology to educate her students, and how she promotes them to learn through technology instead of learning with technology.  Although many think that the tasks assigned to the students is too difficult or unrealistic for the younger grades, Vaidyanathan's students exhibit both understanding and excitement about tasks and skills that not even I understand how to complete.  She explains how the students are interested in the projects and take initiative to create their own projects, manipulate previously completed projects to see how they could have done things differently, and shout out opinions of how they are going to alter her original images and ideas in their own projects.  Parents are happy with the results that they are seeing in their children and are happy with how it is connecting to other STEM subjects and materials. 

Q1: Will I be able to incorporate technology into my classroom in this way?
A: I think I will be able to incorporate technology into my classroom with different activities involving writing, reading, spelling, and different art aspects, but I do not think I will have the personal abilities to incorporate technology to the extent of the author.  I am not as technologically savvy as the author and don't understand the process and meaning behind some of the first tasks she explained, but I would definitely expand and continue my education in technology in order to better educate my students. 

Q2: What are options for school that cannot afford to provide computers to every classroom for this kind of instruction?  
A: In order to help fund computers and software for student learning, schools would need to fund raise, appropriate technology expenses a little differently for a few years, as well as ask parents and the community for donations or computers they no longer use.  Schools don't necessarily need to have a full classroom of computers in order for students to learn by this method, but as long as a few different computers can be financed, teachers can implement more technology uses into their curriculum plans and help students learn more thoroughly through technology.