What technologies should teachers implement in the classroom?

I enrolled in the Summer AQ, 2018 " Integrating of ICT in classroom instruction" as my burning question has been "what technologies should I implement in the classroom?", as with everything else there is a buffet of apps, websites , blogs etc.,. I realize that the reason why teachers are using technology in the classroom is to implement 21st century competencies which I believe when you offer it in a classroom/ school setting it levels the playing field, removes barriers and gives every child an opportunity in life to be the best person they can be. The world as we know it today will not exist when our students enter the workforce. Gone are the days of the industrial model of production. Their world will be technology-driven and an interconnected global village. The use of technological innovations deepens and transforms learning and our learners deserve and should demand an education system that is connected and relevant to their lives. - Critical Thinkers : The digital era needs critical thinkers. Michael Fullan states that we need thinkers that have the “ability to design and manage projects, solve problems, and make effective decisions using a variety of tools and resources” (Fullan, 2013). When technology is used to discover and create new knowledge we are creating critical thinkers. - Effective Communicators : Our learners need to have "the ability to “communicate effectively, orally, in writing, and with a variety of digital tools” but also to “listening skills” (Fullan, 2013). In the 21st century world communication through digital tools will be an everyday reality. Our learners need to know how to navigate successfully to be successful. As an educator this course is teaching me how each digital tool has its own style and rules to follow. Right now with this first post on this blog I am learning the ins and outs of blogging, as it surely is different then tweeting. - Collaborators : Our learners need to have the " ability to “work in teams, learn from and contribute to the learning of others, [use] social networking skills, [and demonstrate] empathy in working with diverse others” (Fullan, 2013). Our learners need to learn collaboration in the digital world so they can contribute to a collective knowledge base, which can be done both at school, in the classroom or online. - Creators and Innovators : The 21st century world needs our learners to be creative in their ideas so they can make successful contributors as innovators, in the fields of their passions. - Life-Long Learners : Our 21st century learners need to be immersed in metacognition, growth mindset, reflection, as they cultivate emotional intelligence to understand themselves and others. - Global Citizens : Contribute to their local, global and digital communities. They need to have the ability to interact with diverse communities, consideration for their environment, while keeping in mind that they need to nurture their digital footprint. Therefore we need to make sure as educators that the technologies we are introducing at school are those that are also authentically used in the real world. It is important to look for the "why?" and not only the "what?". I know there is so much out there, and there is so much I still have to learn in regards to technology. I do not consider myself a guru or a techie because I know how to tweet, use Facebook and Google Classroom. So when I use technology in my classroom I need to think about the reason or the purpose I am doing it. With the technology I am using, am I producing better learners, or better test takers? If I am producing the latter than I am not making good use of technology. When I started using the "Smart Board" in my classroom I thought I was the coolest teacher that existed! Soon I realized that I was doing the same things that I was doing before, except this time it is typed and projected on a board. The same goes with Google Forms or Google Docs. If I am treating them as another worksheet then I am not using the technology to teach 21st century competencies, but if I am using them to create an online collaborative platform where students can give feedback to each other and build on each others knowledge then I am creating critical thinkers, life-long learners and creators and innovators. In conclusion, as an educator I need to remember that my goal is not to simply use technology. My goal is to become an educator that creates processes in my classroom that are innovative. There will be times when I can do just that without technology, other times technology can serve as the perfect tool that will meet this purpose. I need to focus on " what is best for the learner". I need to ask questions like " what does this learner need?" "how is my practice meeting the needs of learners?" , " what could I do differently?" was my practice successful and why?"