This course has helped me in numerous ways. It has helped me explore the uses of blogs, wikis, and podcasts within the classroom. Normally, I enjoy incorporating any form of technology into my classroom but have been reluctant to do so with these three types. I found them to be something I didn’t understand and never had the time to devote to learning. After practicing them in this course, however, I see they are not as daunting as I once thought. In fact, there are a great many uses they can all serve in any grade.
Furthermore, I have always included 21st century skills within my classroom simply because that is how I learned to teach. Even though I teach these skills, I know see how important it is for my students to focus and hone in on them for their future careers. The business world is evolving at a much faster rate than the education world, and it is imperative that teachers stay abreast of these changes. Our students’ success depends upon this.
While I have never really taught with a teacher-centered focus, I know many teachers in my district that do. Discussing the 21st century skills that our students will need when they graduate have inspired other teachers to look into different methods of teaching the units they teach. I’m very proud of the district I work in where teachers are willing to reexamine their units to meet the needs of current students when they simply could keep teaching the same unit they have been teaching for years. Many teachers with that much experience would never consider putting in the work to revamp a perfectly good lesson.
One important way I can continue to expand my learning and technology use in my classroom is to stay current with the latest information. One way to do this is to subscribe to various blogs through my RSS feeds that offer advice and information on new ways to incorporate technology into the classroom and the benefits of doing so. While there is a lot of technology available to use in the classroom, it is important to figure out how to utilize it effectively in the classroom. Reading in other teachers’ blogs on how they use the technology in their classrooms helps others gain a better understanding of how it improves student achievement.
Two goals I have set for myself for within the next two years are as follows:
- Implement at least 3 collaborative projects that require students to create a presentation using various forms of technology such as video podcasts, blogs, wikis.
- Create a technology training PLC that addresses the technology needs of students and staff.
The two goals I have set will be a challenge as it will require me to revamp my curriculum in order to include more large-scale collaborative projects in first grade. In addition, it will also require me to train my students in how to properly implement that technology to complete their task. My second goal will be far more challenging, but it is something that I think is needed in my school and will be a good time to start it. Many teachers in my district are hesitant to implement technology within their classrooms because they do not fully understand its benefits or how it functions within the room. Creating a PLC that helps open up the discussion about technology will hopefully help others feel more comfortable about trying to implement it in their classrooms. Knowing there is support for when they need it may help them build their confidence. I’m hoping this goal will eventually be reached, but I know it will be starting off slowly. Just like my classroom blog, many were hesitant to use it. After a few months, more and more parents are becoming comfortable utilizing it. My hope is that will also be the case with teachers in my district and the PLC I’d like to create. Perhaps my biggest obstacle will be convincing my administration of its need, but I plan to show them how important it is for teachers to start implementing technology.
In reviewing my answers from the checklist at the beginning of this course, some of my answers have changed. Perhaps the biggest change for me is that the class has helped me be more aware of the importance of collaborative projects and technology use in even first grade. I’m definitely more open to teaching my students how to use a variety of forms of technology rather than assuming they are too young to use it. While some of the technology may be difficult, there always seems to be a way for them to incorporate it into their learning.
