Fling the teacher...writing

What have I learned?

I believe EDU 554 has been the most advantageous class since I have started college! I have learned so many tips, tools, and techniques to incorporate technology into my class. And I can say that without a doubt, the students and I are loving it. My students love to use technology, and the fact that I embrace it seems to go a long way with them. While I was never afraid of technology before, I don't think I knew where to go to get what I needed or wanted. Now, I have an arsenal of tools at my disposal, and I am working my way through them as quickly as I can. I honestly cannnot express how much I have enjoyed this class.
My daily teaching practice has already changed as a result of my newfound knowledge, and I know it will only get better. I use my Mimio board at least three times a week, and I have already scheduled several more days to get my students into the computer lab. I think the students have newfound knowledge as well. By using a format with which they are familiar, and by incorporating more of what they enjoy, they seem to be more enthusiastic about learning. (Have you ever heard a kid get excited about doing research?? I have now!) I am so pleased with my progress in this class because I KNOW it will make me a better teacher!

Enhancing Technology in my Professional Setting

Encouragement is such an important part of any profession. Without it, we stagnate. I can work to encourage my professional colleagues to engage in ongoing development in terms of technology integration. One way I can do this is to host inservices in which I show colleagues some of the technology options out there and show how I have used them. Last year I hosted an inservice about creating your own personal web page, and this seemed to go over well. More than a dozen teachers were in attendance, and many commented how helpful the handouts I created were. If I could lead a few other inservices like this, it would be advantageous to many. In this way, I could also serve as a teacher leader.

In my middle school, there are not many teachers who are very tech-savvy. Many are nearing retirement age and many simply aren't interested in technology. However, as curriculum advances, students AND TEACHERS simply must be on board in order for everyone involved to stay competitive with schools around us.

A few of the tools that I have learned about in this class that I feel would be most advantageous to myself and my colleagues are creating web pages, web quests, and personal blogs. I have also learned about Voice Thread and Prezi, which I just love! It takes a PowerPoint presentation to the next level! I really look forward to incorporating more technology into my classroom, especially allowing students to use the tools to create projects. I can't wait!

Technology Concerns in My Classroom...

I do have some concerns about using various internet technologies in my classroom. One big concern is that my students know more than me! However, I have found that they love to teach me. There have been times when I have tried to work with a technology, been confused, and asked a student for help. Oftentimes, they are more than happy to reverse roles.
Another concern I have is that I don't have access to many of the technologies available. I teach in an economically depressed area, and my school is lacking in that area.
I do think that I have an open mind, and I think that's the key to helping alleviate my concerns. I cannot be afraid to seek help from any resource, and I cannot be discouraged that my school doesn't have the latest and greatest technologies. I can take what I have to work with and use it to my greatest advantage. I can still help my students learn to the fullest extent, simply by using what is available to me.

Software Use in My Classroom

Currently, I use my computer quite a bit during the typical school day. First thing in the morning, I log in and check my school email. I pull up our school gradebook, which also houses student demographic data to contact parents, discipline files, and attendance. I have many documents in Word, as well as several presentations in PowerPoint.  I have student databases in Excel that we use to track grades for improvement. Besides those programs that are installed on the computer, I use Acuity for practice tests, as well as numerous internet sites for games, review, and viewing (some examples would be Quizlet and Scholastic). I also use my InFocus projector with the Mimio quite often.

I would like to find ways to use technology more for reading and projects. I will have students go to the computer lab for different activities, but I would like to incorporate more technology-based projects. With so much focus on Acuity and ISTEP scores, I need to incorporate more standards review-type activities. However, I want those review activities to be somewhat enjoyable for the students. (I know they won't like all the activities, but I am hoping they could like some of them.) So my plan is to try to get my students into the computer at least once every two weeks. Originally, I was thinking once a week, but our computer labs are hard to schedule due to limited number of labs. I have already spoken with the instructional assistant in charge of scheduling the lab, and my students have spent the last two days in the lab working on semester exam review games, so I think I am off to a good start.

I think using technology to teach students is so important. They get excited about the learning games, and I love to watch them compete with each other to find an answer. Our students are in a "gaming" society, and using interactive games is something they are familiar with, and they enjoy them too! Using those interactive games to teach them concepts and skills just makes sense. It's a win-win situation if you ask me!

21st Century Skills in My Classroom

If you were to ask me last week how well prepared I felt for 21st century teaching and learning, I would have said I felt pretty comfortable. However, today, I feel like I have a lot to learn. This week I have been reading about some of the many technology options out there for teachers...options I had never even heard of or thought possible for classroom use. I am amazed by the possibilities, and so excited! Can you imagine how much I could engage my students if I could get them in front of a computer with some of these tools?! There is so much writing in English class, and why I thought it had to be pencil-and-paper writing is beyond me. Look at what I can do now! The wheels are already spinning and I am trying to schedule time in the computer lab to try some of these new technologies. I am keeping my fingers crossed that all goes well.

I thought I was adequately equipping my students for success using 21st century skills, but now I see that I am not. I do have to take into consideration, though, the resources that we have available to our students. Even though there are so many tools out there, I cannot access all of them. Several of the sites are blocked to students, and the computer technicians have specific opinions about the reliability of some of these sites. Getting the sites unblocked may take some doing. I think I am above average in my school building as far as technology is concerned, but when I look at the big picture and the world outside this school, I don't think I am quite where I could be.

One of my greatest strengths, in my opinion, is that I am not afraid to try new technologies. I am okay with using my students as sounding boards for new ideas. They will definitely tell me if something doesn't work! I like reading about new technologies and possibilities and planning out how to use those in my classroom. One of my challenges will be the lack of computer availability in my school building, as well as facing some of the attitudes of administration and technicians. Like many school corporations, we lack funds to implement more computers and some of the technologies now available. There are grants out there, though, and all it takes is a grant proposal to possibly be on my way to 21st century skill stardom!

Technology in My Classroom

The International Society for Technology in Education has developed a list of standards for teachers to use as a reference point in what we need to include when incorporating technology in our classrooms and curriculum. These standards, or NETS, are what we as teachers need to use to advance our students in their knowledge, understanding, and use of technology. When I look at the NETS standards for myself, I can see that I am not using many technology tools that I could be using. I do use technology for every-day activities, such as my gradebook and email, and I will often use the Mimio with my Infocus projector to show and work through different activities and websites on the board. I do think, though, that I could use more activities on a regular basis. I should collaborate more with my students about the resources; they could teach me! I should also spend more time discussing the safety and accuracy of information on the internet. I do touch on this some with our research projects, but I don't think the students fully grasp that idea that not everything on the internet is true, and once something is posted in cyber-world, it's available for everyone to see.

There are some barriers to technology use at my school. My corporation is in a lower socio-economic area, and I think the biggest barrier we have is funding (or lack thereof). In the school of approximately 900, we have three computer labs, but only one is available every period. We do have a few laptop carts, but you must be in a math or science classroom to use it, as those rooms are wired for their use. This past year, our corporation has spent a lot of money upgrading and improving our facilities and technologies, but I do think we are still behind the curve.  My students are surrounded by technology at every turn, and I think the technology at their school should be up to speed in order to provide them with the best opportunities. So how can I apply the "fear not" mentality to my classroom technology use? I think it's all in the attitude. Regardless of what technologies I have, I need to be as familiar with them as possible. Instead of whining about what I don't have, focus on what I do have. Learn how I can use my tools to their potential, and constantly open myself up for new experiences.

These are also my goals. As I move forward in my education, I hope to learn new techniques and technologies to use in my classroom. I want my students to be prepared for the future, and I want them to look back on their time in my classroom with fondness and a sense of "Oh, I remember when we did that!" As we are thrown into the 21st century, I hope to light a fire under my students that cannot be extinguished!