Continuing to Grow

This technology class has taught me that everything is constantly changing and nothing is impossible. My students are itching to learn and to be engaged. Technology is the quickest and easiest way to engage students. I have learned about web pages, blogs, and various technology tools to improve instruction. One of my favorite projects was taking a lesson plan that I have already implemented into my classroom, and changing that plan to include technology. I was able to implement technology into every aspect of that lesson. I actually shared that lesson plan with other teachers of my team, because we all taught it last year with little technology. Now we are all going to implement the 100% technology lesson.

Technology can be overwhelming, but this class has showed me that there are so many resources online to help. You can find "how to do" videos all over the internet. Most of them are very helpful!

My teaching will change in only one way. I will implement technology on a daily basis. I will also implement various types of technology into my classroom. My technology did just consist of using the Smart Board, but now it has changed and will continue to change and grow :)

Leader of Technology

As a student in school, I was always a leader. Always trying to help others and always trying to be a class officer or an officer of student senate. As a professional, I still step up to lead, but not as frequent as I normally would. I think a lot of it has to do with working with such wonderful veteran teachers. They have been teaching for 20 years, what could I possibly say that would help them? Technology is that piece. After taking this masters course, I am completely more comfortable in the technology world. I also would love to share my new ideas with others. I am connected with different team members and we have weekly meetings, where technology could become a weekly topic. If I come up with a new project or a new activity that involves technology, sharing that with them would be that first step to becoming that leader. I also would like to become an expert in podcast, or blogs, or creating websites. So that the whole building would know, if you need help with "this" then you can come to Mrs. Young. I haven't decided what my calling is yet, but I intend to find it :)

Being a leader is in my blood, I just need to bring that to my professional life!

Technology Concerns

One of my concerns about technology is making sure that everything I upload is read-only. This was something that I had to figure out to do, to make sure that when students go to my web page or my moodle the documents will not be altered. I have the fears that my students/parents could change my documents to say something that my original did not say. Along these same lines, I have the concern that once it is published to the web it is very hard to retract. I know that I need to edit my comments/notes carefully and make sure that all of my posts are professional and fair.

Another concern I have with incorporating this technology, is that not all my students would have the resources or access to complete all projects with the internet/computer. This might mean making time in class to actually perform the WebQuest, or to give those students time each day to check the website or progress book.

Technology lessons also take time. I know these technology tools will have my students engaged, but I have to find the time to do them. I need to set goals and once the project/activity is made, then it can be used each year. I have also found that I have a fellow team member that is also creating new ideas, so we can share!

Put me in coach, I am ready to play!

My first year of teaching technology was nice, but I was to overwhelmed to really give it time.

My second year of teaching I was in a room with limited technology options, however my observing administrator wanted to see more technology. Need less to say I had to get creative. I was projecting on white walls in my room, and I was creating jeopardy games on PowerPoint because that was most practical with my restriction.

Now I in my third and fourth year of teaching I have discovered that technology is a wonderful tool to enhance lessons and student learning. I have discovered this, because I finally have the appropriate resources to accommodate technology in my classroom. Currently in my classroom I have a smart board, graphing calculators and clickers to enhance my student education. I use the smart board every day and I am able to save my notes for the day daily. One goal I have this year, since I am now using  Moodle (a free e-learning software), is to upload those notes daily. Using technology such as Moodle will help with communication in so many ways. It helps the students that are not in school on a given day, they are able to log on and see what was covered that day. It also helps the parents to provide the right support at home. My student's parents are able to go to Moodle and check for things like homework assignments and upcoming assessments.

The clickers are a wonderful tool for test reviews and/or class discussions. Even though this is available to me, I have to admit that I need to improve my use of these! The students would benefit from having the opportunity to see what the majority of the class chose as the correct multiple choice answer. Especially those students who pick the wrong answer, they can hear the discussion on why the other answer is correct or the better answer.

As I am taking my technology class, I have been inspired. Better to say, I have been re-inspired! I now know that I can include things like blogging, website creations, PowerPoint with audio, pod casts and Microsoft publisher to my classroom instructions, activities or projects and my students will thrive. I am no longer too scared to get off the bench and enter the game of technology!

Put me in coach, I am ready to play :)

Are my students ready for the 21st century?

I feel that I am pretty equipped to teach 21st century skills. I feel a lot of this comes from myself going to school in the 21st century. There are times I find myself jealous of those teachers who have more experience and seem to be in their teaching groove. This is one thing however I am not jealous of. Some of the veteran teachers are very good at keeping up with this new pace of life. However, some of the teachers still seem to be wondering why when they hit reply all on the email, every single person in the district gets their response. I appreciate that I understand the technology and am able to help my students transition into being better equipped. There are still things that I am learning, often from the students themseleves, but I am capable of following what they are saying. One beautiful thing about the 21st century is that it is requiring change each and every year and I am good with change. Some parents and teachers would say, why are we changing it now, the way we learned as kids worked just as good. These things are changing, because our world is changing. Students need some different skills to survive in today's world!

I feel that my students learn most of the necessary skills before leaving my classroom. I would love to focus more in depth on some of the skills, like financial literacy, but with the state required standards my classrom time is very packed! This is when it is necessary to get creative! You need to incorporate those skills into your lessons. Problem solving is very easy to add into my math classroom. I often have to link those skills and the real world for my students. They don't understand that problem solving skills on a math problem, can still be applied to other problems in their lives, even personal problems. You evaulate the problem, plan an approach, solve, and end up with a solution! One of my weaknesses is being able to link all of the necessary skills in my mathematics class. That is a personal goal I have for my self this year. I do feel that there is a reason that high school students have more than one teacher, because hopefully what ever skills they might not be getting in math class, they are still getting in another class! That way when they graduate from high school, they are a well rounded 21st century skilled person!

Filling in the Gaps

Technology is a beautiful thing to many and a scary thing to many! You find yourself one of three people. One person is completely lost with technology and are often scared of learning new things. The second is able to learn new things to get by, but doesn't want to go to far. The third person is the one looking at technology straight in the eye, and saying "I am going to figure you out!"

As a teacher it is very helpful to be at least the second or third person. To help our students be prepared for 21st century careers they need educators that are willing to change and willing to take risks and learn new things. School isn't the same when I was there 7 years ago, so it is certainly not the same for the teachers that have been teaching longer than me. Teachers are in this profession because we love to learn, and love to educate others! Technology can be scary, but if we are scared, how do you think our students will feel!

Technology does take funding, but use what you have. If all you have is the Internet, there are many different things you can do with that! Be creative! I just wouldn't let funding stop you from teaching today's youth as much about technology as you can! This is when the biblical words "fear not" really takes place. When a teacher can stand up against all odds (funding, availability, support) and still make it work.

Some of my personal goals for this year and as I embark on this Technology class.
1. Start up my own website.
2. Incorporate technology in every project I assign.
3. Attempt a "new" technology method once a month.

I feel that today I am person number 2. After this class, I plan to be the third person! Bring it on Technology! I am not afraid of you!