Blog #1

Chapter One discusses why it is important for future teachers to understand what exactly technology is and how it can benefit their classroom. The ARCS Motivational Model was developed by a man named John Keller in 1983, and this model states that all instruction strategies will fail if you do not motivate your students. If students are not motivated, they will most likely not retain the information that is taught to them, which is why it is always good to stress the importance of learning new skills. His model consists of four parts; attention, relevance, challenge/confidence, and satisfaction/success. These stages explain the importance of grabbing students attention with information that they believe to be relevant, and also challenging them to strive for their personal best.
It is extremely important that today's students understand how to use current technologies. Technology is everywhere we turn, and will most likely be involved in every aspect of that student's life. Research shows that technology and education go hand in hand, and teachers have found that technology is a good way to keep students attention in the classroom. The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) has developed standards for teachers, students, and administrators for using technology in schools. Most schools have computer labs, which contain multiple computers wired to high-speed internet, and schools are also using the internet as means to communicate with students outside of the school day.
In reading this chapter, I learned the many ways that using technology in my classroom will benefit my students. Not only can technology benefit my students, but it can also make my job easier. I also learned about how schools often function off of computer databases, such as in libraries, and attendence. I know that if I use education in my classroom it can be useful to keep my students attention, because it's something that they are interested in.