Blog Post #1

 Welcome to my first blog post!

    In this class, I hope to learn how to effectively integrate technology into a classroom in ways that will actually help students learn and stay engaged. Since I plan on becoming an elementary teacher after I graduate, I want to understand which tools and platforms are most useful for my future students. I also hope to gain confidence with emerging technologies so I can adapt to the changes that will continue to happen in education. 

    In the past, I've used technology a lot as a student, especially in high school. In class, teachers would use online game study sites such as Kahoot to help prepare us for quizzes. To study, I relied heavily on the website Quizlet. Quizlet creates flashcards and other helpful study tools with whatever information you provide it. During the pandemic, I also had to use Zoom to attend school and continue learning during lockdown. Zoom was groundbreaking at that time of need for students. These experiences showed me how technology can make learning more flexible, but also showed how important it is for teachers to know how to properly use it to benefit students and still feel connected. 

    Right now, the personal learning networks I mostly use are online. I use social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. These networks are beneficial to learn anything from other users, such as study skills, hobbies, cooking ideas, funny videos, etc. In the future, I would like to learn more about personal learning networks for educators and how to connect with similar teachers online. Especially when I first start teaching in a few years, it may be easy to feel lost in such a new space, but if I learn how to connect with other teachers to bounce ideas off of, I will feel a lot more confident in my skills. 


"Photos of elementary students using iPads at school to do amazing projects" by exie Flickinger. is licensed under CC BY 4.0

Comments

  1. Eva Cantero De Dios - EME2040September 9, 2025 at 9:25 AM

    Hey Ms. Kissel!
    This post was a great read! I really think that you will do well pursuing a career in education. I like your point of view on gaining confidence when emerging technologies come up in order to adapt to changes. I also agree with you on how Zoom is a great example of how groundbreaking technology can be for education, as always, when used correctly. When it comes to your PLN, we have similar ones. I recommend you look into Substack or X to find likeminded educators in the future; there are some great people on those platforms.

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