The use of technology in the classroom

No one can question the importance of technology in suppporting curriculum and educational goals. In our fast changing world, it is critical for educators to get on board in integrating the use of technology with their curriculum goals. I know of one secondary school in East Trinidad which is successfully using technology for teaching, learning and assessment. The integration of technology in the curriclum has many advantages a few of which are as follow:

• Students are more receptive.
• Teachers can organize classes to cater for differences in learning styles.
• Learning can be self paced.
• The learning environment is less threatening since students can communicate with teachers online.
• There is an improvement in students' attitude towards school and learning.
• There is greater independence in learning.
• There is an improvement in self confidence and self esteem.
• There is an improvement in writing skills.

For students who are challenged in reading and writing skills, there are computer based programmes which will provide the students with drills and practice for as long as the students need since the computer cannot run out of patience. According to Wes Rodgers in Students: Technology in the Classroom "students are able to control their own pace at which they proceed through the exercises, they are neither held back nor left behind by their peers."

A critical factor in integrating technology in the curriculum is technology pedagogy and content knowledge, (TPACK). Too often mistakes are made in lesson planning when teachers begin by selecting the tools and resources rather than the educational goals. Harris and Hoffer (2009) stated if learning goals are first selected and pedagogical decisions made according to "students' instructional and contextual realities" the resources to be used for delivery of the lessons will become obvious.

The idea of using technology in the classroom is certainly not a new one, and the opportunities of how it can be used to support educational goals are endless. In Trinidad and Tobago, we still have far to go in implementing this concept, but the Ministry of Education is certainly on the right track by sending teachers for ICT training. Nevertheless, to ensure that this concept is successfully adapted in every school some serious thought must given to many things chief among which is security for these systems when placed in the nation's schools.

Why I chose to join this programme.

When the notice was published in the daily newspaper for applicants for a Masters in Reading, something clicked within me. I knew that getting through to this course was another thread in my life coming together in terms of specializing in this area in education. My journey started years ago back at Valsayn Teacher's College where my Elective was Early Childhood Education and my thesis was a comparative study on two different approaches to the teaching of reading. As a primary school teacher then, I was placed in the first year infant department and so I had the pleasure of teaching reading to beginners. My journey continued when I transferred to another school and had to teach Remedial Reading to Post Primary students.

With the onset of Universal Secondary Education, I was selected to teach Remedial Reading at a junior secondary school to the cohort of students who scored below 30% in the SEA examination. My experience in the classroom working with adolescents who are struggling in reading made me painfully aware of how little I knew about the process. I was fortunate to be selected for this programme, because even though I am not currently teaching Remedial Reading, I am still teaching remedial students. In fact, the school that I am working in gets more than its fair share of students who have reading problems. Most of the teachers are frustrated. Many have resigned themselves to delivering the curriculum to whoever is ready and willing to learn. As a teacher, my personal philosophy has been ' unless you have learnt, I did not teach'. Being on this programme has opened my eyes, so daily, I am seeing what I have being wrong and is making attempts to change so I can reach the students that I have beem given.