Chelsea Koch is taking an educational technology course to expand her knowledge and skills with technology. She wants to stay current in an increasingly technological world and have different tools available to engage students. In her previous teaching experiences, technology was underutilized, with only programs like Accelerated Reader and FCAT Explorer being used. She hopes learning more about educational technology will help her better understand students and tie their interests to instruction.

1. CHELSEA KOCH An Introduction

2. EDUCATIONAL CONTEXT
Background &
Aspirations

3. THE REASONS
for taking this course
You can never have
too much knowledge
I don’t want to be “left
behind” in the increasingly
technological world we live
in
The more tools I have to
teach with, the simpler it
will be for me to recall the
tool that fits a particular
situation
By better understanding my
students and their
interests, I can tie interests
to instruction, and increase
engagement

4. PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE
I had many great experiences with technology and the internet in my teacher
preparation program, Proteach. (EME 2040) (EME 4401 . . . which was
awesome!!!) I’ve learned about some of the great tools that educators have
access to, and how they can be applied in a variety of settings, with students of
all ages.
I can’t say the same for my pre-service teaching . . . Technology was used
infrequently in my field placements, and only programs such as Accelerated
Reader, FCAT Explorer, Ticket to Read, and Reflex Math were utilized. In my
internship, technology was not a genuine part of instruction, and we used our
computer lab time each week for FCAT practice with FCAT Explorer. As
incentives, students were allowed to use Ticket to Read and Reflex Math. At the
end of my internship, students were given a biography project to complete, and
told that they were strictly NOT allowed to use the internet. This is 2013 so I’m
astonished that we are forbidding the use of the internet for school based
with technology & the
internet

5. PERSONAL INTERESTS
Family & Hobbies
Scrabble, HGTV,
gardening, crafting,
anything outdoors!
I’ve been married
to my husband,
Aaron, for 3
years.
I have 2 younger
siblings; my
sister, Grace, is
16 and my
brother, Grayson,
is 12.
I’m hoping to
begin my career
in Columbia, SC