Final Reflection

            A characteristic of a high performing teacher is the ability to reflect on ones teaching.  While reflecting on this course, the learning resources, and the hands on applications, I was able to use Web 2.0 tools. 

            This course has forced me to embrace the Web 2.0 technologies that are already being used by educators.  I have seen how beneficial these resources are in order to convey instruction.  Specifically, having access to the technology is not enough.  It is what teachers do with it.  “Technology by itself can not change the nature of instruction unless teachers and educational leaders are able to evaluate and integrate the use of technology into the curriculum” (Geisert & Futrell, 2000; Knapp & Glenn, 1996).  With this new technology I can see why there must be a shift from teacher centered approaches to student centered approaches.  Along with this shift, I also understand why some teachers may be so uncomfortable with this change.  The teaching strategies must “compliment technology use with in the curriculum” (ISTE, 2000), all the while, teachers can be learning at the same time as the students.  In a truly collaborative environment, the outcome is not scripted or predictable so the teachers must be able to let the control go and take the learning experiences as they come. 

            Referring back to a checklist done at the beginning of my class on support practices for 21^st century skills, I noted my strengths and weaknesses.  One of the strengths was the access that I have to technology.  The resources are there, we have Smart Boards, white boards, laptops, desktops, and Epson projectors.  One of the weaknesses I noted was the implementation of the emerging Web 2.0 skills into my lessons to promote the essential skills necessary for my students’ future.  Through this course, being asked to create a blog, participate in a wiki collaboration, and publish a podcast I gained skills necessary to succeed in my future as a teacher.  It was challenging to learn about new technology and to step out of my comfort zone however I can use this as a model for my students.  In addition to the teachable moment, I also feel that I have a greater empathy towards my students and now will assist my hesitant learners in a different way.

            Another characteristic of a high performing teacher is goal setting and the ability to modify the foals in order to meet the needs of my learners.  One long term goal will be to collaborate with other students.  My administration has already agreed to let the students collaborate with in the school and with the satellite campus in the short term however, my hope is that by showing them the possibilities and the level of engagement of the students they will allow the classes to delve into the world of true collaboration and create a wiki with other schools and/or the world.  The second goal would be to create a school blog that would include helpful information and strategies for students from students.  This blog would serve as a safe forum for students to interact.  Convincing administration will be challenging by keeping mind that it will be a building of skills and successful projects that will convince them that is just the beginning of an exciting time in technology education.

            In the end, I feel accomplished and renewed.  I am excited to bring the knowledge gained in this class into my own room to deliver effective instruction that incorporates necessary 21^st century skills.  After all, the “goal of education technology is to integrate technology into the classroom so its us furthers learning goals and helps students focus on the subject, not just the technology” (Keengwe, Onchwari & Wachira, 2008).

References:

Geisert, P., & Futrell, M. (2000).  Teachers, computers, and curriculum: Microcomputers in the classroom. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.

International Society of Technology in Education ([ISTE], 2000).  National educational technology standards (NETS) for teachers. Retrieved July 20, 2006, from http://cnets.iste.org/teachers/

Keengwe, J., Onchwari, G., & Wachira, P. (2008).  The use of computer tools to support meaningful learning.  AACE Journal, 16(1), 77-92.

Knapp, L., & Glenn, A. (1996).  Restructuring schools with technology.  Needham Heights, MA: Simon & Schuster.

A sit down with "digital natives"

While taking a graduate school course on the Impact of Technology in Education, Work and Society, the assignment was to create a podcast and interview students on how they use technology and what type of access they have to it.  Even though the students that I interviewed were not my students during the school year, they were similar demographically to my population and their answers were interesting.  This was my first experience with a podcast, and even though I hate the sound of my recorded voice, I am interested to use the technology and develop lessons to use podcasts in my classroom.  It was very user friendly and simple to do. 

The link to my podcast is:
http://podcastmachine.com/podcasts/13900/episodes/71859

Evaluating 21st Century Skills

          There is a growing need for a serious dialogue about the need for 21st century skills and the future.  Jim Bellanca blogged about this need on the Partnership for 21st Century Skills website.  While reading his blog I found myself intrigued by his passion for the connection and angered by the gap in education and policy.

            The Partnership for 21^st Century Skills website was very user friendly.  I found it easy to read with a prominent and succinct mission statement.  There were links to great resources with many articles with current technology implications for classroom teachers.  In addition to these helpful aspects of the website, they also have listed the state by state initiatives.  It was eye opening to see what other states are doing to incorporate technology into their curriculums.

            The information that I gained from the site was how we have to have the uncomfortable conversation in more states about “project based learning and integrating technology into instruction” (Bellanca, 2012).  Few states have actually taken these factors into account.  These changes must be made at the government or policy makers level however, “politicians are too busy saying no to each other than to think about such a piddling thing as the education of a nation that is more than at risk” (Bellanca, 2012).  It is amazing to me that the politicians are so busy arguing about what to do about change instead of formulating a plan to address changes that must be made to move our future workers forward in the competitive global workforce.

            Jim Bellanca, in his blog, offers ten practical suggestions to drive change in the classroom.  They are; squeak, collaborate, communicate, push the envelope, investigate, stir the pot, think outside the box, connect with social media, emphasize best practices, and innovate.  When first reading through his suggestions, my impression was that they were pretty bold statements and suggestions and implementing them might leave a teacher vulnerable to criticism from administration.  This is due to the dissonance from traditional with traditional curriculum.  However, upon reflecting and re-reading, the take away is that all of these suggestions can be implemented in a more subtle and seamless way.  The conversation must be started by educators and by collaborating with each other I believe positive change can be achieved.  It would be the first of many steps to drive improving upon technology curriculums that incorporate the ever important 21st century skills.

            The implication of incorporating 21st century skills is that undoubtedly it is “more than making minor adjustments to current practice, innovative schools look to develop the talent of tomorrow with a new array of knowledge and skills suitable for their students’ future careers” (Bellanca, 2012).  Is it not our job as teachers to do just that?

            In conclusion, it is a big task to take on, change will not be instant but the dialogue must start and filter down from the policy makers to administration to the teachers.  Even though it is an enormous task, I would like to think that by “thinking together, planning together, and acting together…one step at a time focused on dialogue about the shared action goal” (Bellanca, 2012), we can make a change.

Resources:

Bellanca, J. (2012).  The driving question: How can we expand the dialogue about 21st century skills among those not yet engaged? Retrieved from http://www.p21.org/tools-and-resources/p21blog

           

Why blog?

            Web logs or blogs have many benefits.  Three benefits of blogging in the classroom are, “to promote critical and analytical thinking, combine the best of solitary reflection and social interaction, and they promote creative, intuitive and associational thinking” (Richardson, 2010).  All of these characteristics of blogging can help in the classroom.

            The idea that my classroom can be transformed into a collaborative think tank for sharing ideas and getting feedback is very exciting.  By allowing my students to blog they can “learn to read more critically, think about reading analytically, and write more clearly” (Richardson, 2010). 

            My hope is to set up a class portal in order to keep track of assignments for my class as well as their other teachers.  They can use this space to journal about what we are doing in class as well.  Also, setting up an online filing cabinet so that they kids have access to their work paperlessly and chronologically.  Most importantly in order to collaborate with other teachers and for them to be able to see the students work would be so beneficial.  With the business world going paperless, it is just another way to set our students up for their own future.

            I believe that starting with these two online technology strategies would help to organize my fifth and sixth grade students.  It will also serve to help my students get familiarized with the wonderful world of blogging that is available to them.  Finally it will help them to become more analytical thinkers and adds to their 21st century skill set. 

Resources:

Richardson, W. (2010).  Blogs, wikis, podcasts, and other powerful web toold for classrooms (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.

Which came first?

Hello!

For the second week of my graduate school class we were asked to share our thoughts on the relationship between pedagogy and technology.  Here are my thoughts:

A teachers role in the technology revolution is pivotal.  Whether we as educators understand, embrace, or even believe in the need for all of it, this is the world in which we live in and we have to prepare our students to use technology and move them forward.  Dr. David Thornburg spoke about the evolution of technology and its effects on good pedagogy.

            The invention of certain technologies has made it somewhat mandatory to embrace technology.  The evolutions from a one computer classroom to individual laptops or tablets on every students desk, there are inherent needs to alter teaching to accommodate these new technologies.  Keyboarding, mouse navigation, and basic knowledge of the programs on that device are just a few of the skills that need to be taught in order to use the equipment efficiently.  Also, the popularity of cell phones and their evolution into smartphones and all of the other fingertip technology offer “true, anytime learning experiences” (Thornburg, 2010).  Additionally, they “shrink the space by facilitating collaboration at a distance” (Thornburg, 2010). 

            To have all this technology really allows more “inquiry based direct instruction” (Thornburg, 2010).  Society and the new technology trends dictate what we need to address in the classroom.  We have begun to “enter the main event,…an era in which technology will truly transform every aspect of business, of government, of society, of life” (Friedman, 2005). 

            To conclude, there are so many opportunities to use technology as a conveyer of information in the classroom.  The interaction of society and technology and the important correlation between the two must be addressed in order to have a cohesive curriculum.  After all, “society seeks out a new technology and they dictate how successful they will be” (Thornburg, 2010). 

Resources:

Friedman, T. (2005).  The world is flat: A brief history of the twenty-first century.  New York: Farrar, Strauss and Giroux.

Hello fellow teachers! I am a middle school technology teacher in a private school. I am new to the blog community but would love to chat about new technology and share tips and strategies that you have found helpful.