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Edu214 Midterm Pt2a

Mr. Gilmore uses several software programs in his high school government classroom including Google Apps for Education, Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides for student assignments and grading. He also uses testing software and Infinite Campus for grading and attendance. He finds Google Docs and Slides most effective for the skill level he teaches. Mr. Gilmore learned to use the software on his own rather than through professional development. He spends less than 10% of class time teaching students to use the software if they are already familiar with it from other classes. While some schools lack technology or teachers willing to use it, Mr. Gilmore feels technology can prepare students for college if implemented properly in the curriculum and students are comfortable with the

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231 views5 pages

Edu214 Midterm Pt2a

Mr. Gilmore uses several software programs in his high school government classroom including Google Apps for Education, Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides for student assignments and grading. He also uses testing software and Infinite Campus for grading and attendance. He finds Google Docs and Slides most effective for the skill level he teaches. Mr. Gilmore learned to use the software on his own rather than through professional development. He spends less than 10% of class time teaching students to use the software if they are already familiar with it from other classes. While some schools lack technology or teachers willing to use it, Mr. Gilmore feels technology can prepare students for college if implemented properly in the curriculum and students are comfortable with the

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You are on page 1/ 5

Kathleen Gilmore

EDU214 Fall 2017


9/25/17

Integrating Technology into The Classroom: Part2 A


When I had to interview an educator, I could think of no one else besides my husband.

He is a high school government teacher at Desert Pines High School, located on the eastside of

Las Vegas. This is his eighth-year teaching and his third year at Desert Pines. In this interview, I

was able to identify how he integrates technology in his curriculum. This interview has given me

the opportunity to learn from a person I look up to as an educator, and it has been very

enlightening. The experience Mr. Gilmore has displayed through this interview has shown me

being passionate about helping students through technology can improve their education

experience in the classroom, as well as in the future.

The first in a series of questions I asked him, he detailed a list of educational software he

implements in his classroom for student learning as well as administrative use. Google Apps for

Education, which includes Google Docs similar to Microsoft Word, used for any written student

assignments; this helps them learn to type and helps with legibility. Also, Google Sheets which is

comparable to Microsoft Excel this is used in his class for grading, and students can use it to

monitor their own progress. He prefers using Microsoft Excel for its features as he monitors

progress administratively. Another application he uses is Google Slides that is used as

PowerPoint. These software applications make it easy for students to turn in assignments

electronically. Mr. Gilmore also uses Testing software such as Quick Key, and E-Instruction to

administer exams on school tablets, laptops, or even their smartphone. Infinite Campus is used

for grading and attendance. This program allows students to check their grades as they are

updated, as well as monitor their absences. On an administrative level Gmail is used to


communicate district wide. When I asked what software products he found to be most effective

in the teaching and learning process. He explained, that at the skill level he teaches the software

used most for word processing and presentations are Google Docs and Google Slides. I was

familiar with the Microsoft programs, but I am pleased to know there are alternatives provided

by Google as well.

I asked if he had to enrolled in any professional development classes to learn how to use

the software, or did he learn to use the software on his own. He admitted he preferred to learn

how to use the software on his own as he has not found a class that can go into depth enough.

Due to this fact he also does not spend more than ten percent of the first quarter on teaching the

students how to use the software. Many students classes already use the same programs, and he

would not want the lesson to become repetitive causing them to disengage. In the school system

some might notice a digital divide I wanted to know if he had notice it as well as in his own

school. He thought there is a digital divide because some schools do not have the technology or

even teachers that are willing to use it. Not only is there a deficit in utilizing the technology but

how they are using it may be incorrect. For example, you can read an article on paper and get the

same use as if you are reading it online. It must be implemented into the curriculum in a way the

student can benefit from the skills. I may not have the experience to know exactly what he is

explaining, but I can definitely understand the reasoning.

Then, I asked if he felt that technology interferes with teaching and learning in the

classroom. He reasoned that, the apps and programs on personal laptops and smart phones is

hard to monitor in a class of fifty. Also, if you plan a whole lesson on the use of a laptop or tablet

and there are issues logging in or running the programs that can delay the lesson time. Then, I

asked what suggestions he had to improve the use of technology in the classroom. I found there
is a need for more onsite training for teachers and those who are using it efficiently can be

recruited to train other teachers. After the training, the usage needs to be required so that the

technology can be properly utilized throughout the subjects. I wanted to know his perspective on

the use of technology in the current classroom setting. Did he think it would prepare the students

for college in the future? He said many assignments are turned in online; students collaborate

with classmates on projects over email and even the number of online classes has grown to fit

every lifestyle. The more comfortable students are with using these programs now, the more

successful they can be for the future. I asked if there are challenges and benefits of using

technology in the classroom. He explained that it is time consuming making spreadsheets and

training the students, but once that is done the classroom runs so smoothly and it really makes

the technology very useful. I was interested in how he planned on taking the use and knowledge

of technology as he advances in his career. The answer was precise as he explained, that the most

important use of technology would be communication and organization. It is important for him

to maintain a connection with colleagues from his past as well as presently. He said that being

organized will be essential in keeping track of student progress, discipline, and attendance.

This interview was inciteful, I did not think that technology touched every aspect of

education for both the student and teacher. Mr. Gilmore is very passionate about the future

success of all his students. The world is a competitive place for people entering college, or the

workforce; the technology of today may not be what is used in the future. However, it is

encouraging to see that teachers are well equipped to give students a solid foundation for their

future. I am glad that I was able to get useful information from an educator about what software

is currently being used. As an aspiring teacher myself, learning experiences such as this one can

continue to motivate me on my education journey.


Integrating technology into the classroom: Teacher Interview
1. What kind of educational software is used for student learning and for administrative
use, as graded, report writing, ect? In my class we use the google apps for education. That
includes google docs google sheets which is like excel and google slides is like power point. I
like the features better on power point to use administratively for progress monitoring. Testing
software like quick key or e-instructions. We also use infinite campus for grading and
attendance. Gmail is used for emailing to communicate for district wide communications.
2. Which software products do you find most effective in the teaching and learning
process? I think because of the skill level that I am teaching and the word processing needed for
presentations I use google doc and slides the most.
3. Did you enroll in professional development classes to learn how to use the software? Or
did you learn how to use the software on your own? Mostly I have learned how to use the
software on my own as I have not found a class that can go into depth enough beyond what I can
learn on my own.
4. How much time do you spend on teaching the students on how to use the software
products? it depends on the class if they have used the programs in other classes then the need
for reteaching does not take up more than ten percent of the first quarter.
5. Do you feel that there is a digital divide in your school or in the school system? Please
elaborate. If yes, what do you feel needs to be done to decrease the digital divide or
technology gap in schools? In the school system, I think there is a digital divide because some
schools dont have the technology or even teachers that are willing to use it. Not only is there a
deficit in utilizing the technology but how they are using it may be incorrect. For example, you
can read an article on paper and get the same use as if you are reading it online it must be
implemented into the curriculum in a way the student can benefit from the skills.
6. Do you feel that technology interferes with teaching and learning in the classroom?
Sometimes, when not used appropriately because we have apps and programs on personal
laptops and smart phones it is hard to monitor in a class of 50 to make sure the students are doing
what they are supposed to do. Also, if you plan a whole lesson on the use of a laptop or tablet
and there are multiple issues logging in or running the programs that can eat into your lesson
time.
7. What are your suggestions to improve the use of technology in the classroom? More
onsite training for teachers and those who are using it efficiently can be recruited to train other
teachers. After the training the usage needs to be required so that the technology can be properly
utilized throughout the subjects.
8. Do you feel like the use of technology in the current classroom setting will prepare the
students for college in the future? I think so because many assignments are turned in online,
they collaborate with classmates on projects over email and even the number of online classes
has grown to fit every lifestyle and the more comfortable they are with using these programs now
the more successful they can be for the future.
9. What are some challenges and benefits of using technology in the classroom? It is time
consuming making spreadsheets and training the students but once that is done the classroom
runs so smoothly and it really makes the technology very useful.
10. How do you plan on taking technology use with you as you advance in your career? The
most important use of technology would be communication and organization. I would like to
maintain a connection with my colleagues. I know that being organized will being essential in
keeping track of student progress, discipline, and attendance.

*My questions highlighted blue

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