While reflecting on all that I have learned during the past eight week, I have realized that I have a new approach when it comes to meeting the needs of my students. I use to view teaching as just meeting the needs of the students on the level they were performing on and using the method that benefited them. I now realize that technology plays a tremendous role in the way my students learn. The power of using technology in the classroom goes beyond what I could have imagined.
I have become much more advanced in my own knowledge of the world of technology. I have learned how to set up a blog, as well as the use of a blog can go beyond a social aspect. I realize that this is a tool that can enable my students to interact with others in a new and exciting way. The use of a wiki was something brand new to me. I had heard of the term but never seen one or contributed to one. I really enjoyed learning to use a podcast and felt that this was something my students could really find beneficial in the classroom. Teaching first grade and using all of these technologies was something I felt was out of the question, but I now realize that all of these tools could be used in some shape or form.
My students are living in an age that technology skills and usage are becoming more important than ever. The students of today are digital natives and my job as a teacher is to tap into that digital world to meet their needs as learners(Prensky, 2001). Teaching our students to be successful adults is a teacher's main goal and this class has taught me the importance of teaching 21st Century Skills (Thornburgh, 2007). The 21st century skills will make my students competitive in the workforce.
It teaches them skills such as critical thinking, teamwork, and communication (Thornburgh, 2007). The use of technology to teach these skills makes the student more engaged and ultimately better prepared for the future.
I also have seen the importance of making the classroom learning centered. It needs to be a place where the students are in charge of their learning. The teacher takes the roll of a facilitator and the students in turn take ownership of their learning. When a teacher creates opportunities for students to form their own learning, the results are astounding. Not only are the students actively engaged, the information gained during this time sticks with them. In The Changing Role of a Classroom Teacher, David Thornburgh discusses that students are no longer just consumers of information, rather they are creating the information. This doesn't mean that the teacher is no longer needed, but the teacher's role has changed.
From this class I have also become aware of the importance of staying current and up to date when it comes to technology. Before this class I considered myself pretty technologically savvy, but during this class I have realized that I lacked knowledge on some key tools that I could be using in the classroom. I have come to find that I need to continue to research what is available to use to meet the needs of my students. I have found many blogs devoted to informing teachers on what is currently working in the classroom as it relates to technology, and how they benefit our students growth.
I have set two long term goals to transform my classroom environment over the next two years. The first goal is to make a blog site that my readers workshop will revolve around. I realize that to meet this goal I will have to meet with my LSTC to figure out a blog host site that I can have access to. This blog will be the place that I communicate back and forth with my reading groups and enable them to post discussions about the books that they are reading. For my lower groups, I can post podcast of questions and they can record their answers back. This would totally change the look of reader's workshop and expose the students to new tools in technology. My last goal is to research a potential grant for my classroom. I have longed to have more computers in my room. I currently have one for student use. I know in the past teachers have researched and written grants to receive technology in the classroom. I would like to shed light on what it is like to be a middle class school in the largest county in the state. Because we are not a Title 1 school, we do not receive and additional funds from the state and therefore are left with the bare minimum required. Many schools in this situation have a PTA that is able to fund additional technology tools but ours does not have that capability. I would like to research and find a way for a gray area school to get additional funding.
References:
Prensky, M. (2001). Digital natives, digital immigrants. On the Horizon, 9(5).
Thornburgh, D. (2007).“Skills for the 21st Century”
Thornburgh, D. (2007).“The Changing Role of a Classroom Teacher"
Sunday, August 23, 2009
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