My main lesson in this course on Integrating Technology across the Content Areas is to use technology appropriately. This means neither too much access nor too limited use by both me and my students. Sometimes lessons and work needs to be done the old-fashioned way; reading print resources, solving tough problems by working them out by hand, and communicating face-to-face. Forcing technology integration can actually limit students’ creativity and can furthermore prevent their productivity. Flexibility is a characteristic that teachers today need to possess more so that ever due to the many different ways that we and our students learn and work in order to be successful.
A NETS standard I still feel that I am continuing to work on is fairly obvious; number 5. “Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership”. As I continue this course and the two remaining courses, I will undoubtedly gain a better understanding of the importance of technology in education today. Particularly, indicator d. “contribute to the effectiveness, vitality, and self-renewal of the teaching profession and of their school and community” (NETS, 2008) will be my main responsibility after finishing my masters’ course work. I do feel like I need some time to process and practice all of the great things I’ve been learning. Right now I feel very busy with my school and personal responsibilities and don’t believe I have had the opportunity to do so as of yet.
For this reason, I plan to make it a priority to share my new knowledge with other teachers in my school after my graduation from Walden. Though it seems like I am postponing this goal, May will be here before we know it and the end of the year potentially would be a great time to work with my peers because the high-stress and increased pressure of testing will be through. To further improve my learning next time I set a GAME plan or engage in other professional growth opportunities, I will work to increase my communication with other teachers in order to ‘share the wealth’.
National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers (2008). ISTE. http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForTeachers/2008Standards/NETS_for_Teachers_2008.htm, access December 7, 2009
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
I am impressed with your positive, flexible attitude. I am also hoping to increase cohort awareness of technology. Do you have any ideas on efficient ways to do that?
ReplyDeleteHi Heather,
ReplyDeleteThe other sixth grade social studies teacher meets with me daily and we plan all our lessons together. Our whole sixth grade team meets up once a week for interdisciplinary time, but the Lead Teachers plan what we will be working on. Once a month we do have a technology theme to these meetings. I think if I talked to our media specialist who runs the technology meetings about new ideas and strategies she would be willing to work with me to help present this information to my peers.
Some teachers have already expressed an interest in working on incorporating technology in their own classes and I believe they would be the most open to work on this. I am excited to share what I have learned!
April,
ReplyDeleteI agree that technology does not always fit into lessons. Sometimes we need to go back to basics and let them speak for themselves. Technology is great when it can be easily integrated to enhance a lesson.
I like your goal to share the new technologies you learned about with your colleagues. It is difficult to share new information for two reasons: we are just learning it ourselves and need to feel comfortable with it before trying to teach it to others and we need time (which we never seem to have enough of), a strategy for how to share and interested colleagues to share with. It sounds like you have got the second two down so now you just need the time! Hopefully your media specialist will be able to help you strategize the best method to share your new tech tips!
Hello April,
ReplyDeleteYour goal of "sharing the wealth" is fantastic. It seems the only way to get teachers excited about technology is to have them see it in action. If your staff is anything like mine you will need to keep your upbeat positive attitude. I have found lately when I start to discuss the importance of technology and how to incorporate it into the classroom my colleagues turn a deaf ear. I'm sure part of it is the time of the year but mostly they have a lot on their plate. So by showing them that adding technology isn't really adding more stuff but Enhancing their curriculum. Awesome job April keep it up.
Dawn
I share your feelings about not having enough time to really digest and share the tremendous amount of information we have gained in this program. I like your idea of spending more time on this in May. It's the perfect time to start planning for the new school year. By sharing ideas in May, teachers would have some time over the summer to become more familiar with the technology. Hopefully, this would make them more comfortable using the tools in the classroom in August.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to see that other teachers are feeling the same overwhelming knowledge that we are being fed and not having enough time to really digest it all to put it into practice. That is why learning should never stop, even after we are done with our master's program. I would also love to share my knowledge of what I've learned, and relearn what I have been exposed to but haven't had a chance to apply that knowledge. Just like April, I feel like I have a lot going in my personal life right now that I can't digest everything the way that I've wanted to.
ReplyDelete