Technology in the classroom

Thinking back about all my experiences with technology in my classrooms shaped the way I feel about integrating technology today. In grade school, technology was used more by the teachers then students due to the limited amount of computers as well as access. When children are given the opportunity to use technological appliences in the classroom, it gives them varitey. I think that variety is not only helpful but also important in getting the students motivated and ready to learn. However, I think there should be a limit as to what students should be doing for example when using a computer. Some children may think computers are the easy way out. To some extent they are. There have been so many times where the computer has helped me increase a grade due to the help that microsoft words provides for my grammar. The problem with that was when it was time to actually handwrite the paper myself, I had a number of grammar mistakes that I most likely did not notice because nobody underlined it for me like the computer does. In high school, technology was introduced a bit differently. It was strictly used for assignments, and introducing new information. Unlike in elementary school, I did not get the opportunity to use the computer for learning games such as phonics, math etc. Though I still think it gave me variety which as I mentioned before definately motivated me.
As I looked back at my first blog, I still feel the same about teachers using technology for lessons in the classroom. I happen to be a visual learner, so when teachers provide powerpoints to my classes, I learn and understand the information more efficiently. Not only had my technology experience made things easier for me, but it has also introduced me to so many new ideas and skills and still help me today. Using technology may at times be the easier way out, but if the students are learning like I did then I feel it is okay.