The influence of TPACK

I enjoyed learning about TPACK this week. What is TPACK? It stands for Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge, in other words, it describes the knowledge teachers need to be effective in a technology enhanced learning classroom.

Before implementing TPACK, teachers need to know how the process works. How are you supposed to use something you know nothing about. This is why I have attached this fun learning video on how to use TPACK. Another thing to consider before implementing TPACK is making sure that technology has a sole purpose in the lesson. Technology should not just be added because it is required for the class. The lesson needs to be built around technology so it is relevant for the learning community. Also, the technological level needs to be appropriate for the age level being taught. For middle school students, they can design an educational game on a computer with instructions, while a first grader will most likely be limited to only playing a game. In both scenarios, the students are still learning using technology.

Introducing tools in the classroom promotes change in the classroom. If students expect the same thing every day, they lose interest and are less motivated. Switching things up to have a more blended classroom (I love that term) keeps students guessing as there are millions of learning opportunities with technology while classrooms are limited within the walls. One thing I have always enjoyed about technology is when taking notes, I can go back and add or delete things rather than having to write the notes in the side margins to keep them with the topic. Introducing tools in the classroom can also cause more harm than good as students can get lost and confused with the material because they have never learned this way before. Also, if they are reading content on a screen rather than out of a book, it can be harder to understand. For example, if I took a online exam versus an paper exam, I would have a lower score. There is something about reading on a screen that gives me anxiety more than reading print. You cannot underline, circle, or cross anything out on a screen, but on paper you can. 

As a teacher in  daycare of students Kindergarten through fourth grade, there is no more technology use in these students' classrooms than when I was in fourth grade. They get regular worksheets. The only time they need to use technology is when completing a project or knowing when someone was born or died. As I am limited to 3 hours a day with these children, right now I use Pinterest to incorporate fun crafts and ideas for the classroom and I also download apps on my iPad and smartphone. I download puzzles for all ages, all sorts of brain games like What Am I??. The students love it and it gives me a chance to gain a different relationship with them. I will continue to use technology in the classroom for fun ideas and educational games, then in the future when I teach at a school, I will incorporate a blog for the students to explore and use videos for a different learning view.

After learning about TPACK, I am going to have to explore it more to fully understand the process. No teacher is going to grasp the concept of this model right away. It takes practice and I will begin to practice the incorporation of technology according to what this model shows. TPACK should be on a teacher's priority and I am going to make it one.