Technology is essential in today’s classrooms. Learners must gain first-hand experience with the latest technology in order to understand the relationship between science and technology. At the same time, I think sometimes teachers can go overboard with trying to use too much technology in the classroom. When it comes to giving notes, for example, I prefer to write them on the board as I go, because I feel that I can explain them better as I go along. I experimented with using Power Point slides to handle notes, and was very unsatisfied with it. I know some teachers rely solely on Power Point, and it does save time in class when lecturing, but I feel disengaged from my students when I am using it.

I was extremely lucky to have access to six computers in my classroom during my spring student-teaching. I took full advantage of this, and incorporated as many computer labs and virtual simulations as possible. Two examples of this are the Karyotyping and DNA fingerprinting computer labs. Students worked in pairs to complete virtual simulations of chromosome karyotyping and DNA fingerprinting. In the karyotyping activity, students were able to see what it was really like to be a cytogeneticist, and help couples determine the health and sex of their unborn child. At the same time, they learned important lab techniques and criteria for reading karyotype charts. During the DNA fingerprinting lab, students got to play the role of detective and solve a crime based on DNA found at the crime scene. They learned the steps of gel electrophoresis and how to create a DNA fingerprint, then compare it to the fingerprints of suspects.

My students' favorite activity by far was the DNA extraction lab. Using basic technology and household ingredients, students were able isolate DNA from a banana on their own, and see it with their own eyes. Students were skeptical at first; they didn't believe me when I told them they would be able to see DNA without the aid of a microscope. After the lab was over, they were amazed and surprised about the appearance of DNA, since it is just a white, sticky goo, nothing spectacular, and yet it is so important as the basic building-block of all life.