Course Reflection

As I reflect on my journey through this educational process (both professionally and academically) I find that my outlook for my students’ progress and my ability to teach 21^st century skills to them, allowing them to be as successful as possible.  Specifically, this course has allowed me to expand my knowledge of and comfort with technology. Although I had previously been exposed to wikis, blogs, and podcasts- I was still left wondering how I could best implement them into my classroom.  Further, it is important that these technologies be used seamlessly as a benefit to my students’ educational process (not simply for the sake of infusing technology).

            This course has afforded me the opportunity to collaborate with my peers and synthesize my classroom projects to best utilize these technological avenues.  The process of having to actually use each technology gave me a newfound understanding of the trials that our students might experience as they try to use each type of technology. 

            Deepening my understanding of the teaching and learning process, I found how crucial 21^st century skills are for our students.  By continually assessing the effectiveness and the appropriateness (for 21^st century skills) of each activity, allows me to  more fully assess the relevance to my students future.  As I determine the necessities from the superfluous- I feel that I can more effectively teach my students the keys they need to succeed.

            This course has brought to my attention the importance of teaching relevant information and making mandating curriculum relevant to my students To ensure that my teaching remains learner focused (as opposed to teacher-centered).  It has exposed my thinking to the idea that is less important what I teach and more important what my students learn.  This radical idea redefines the role of the teacher in the classroom.  Teachers cannot simply stand and deliver a message or lesson they must rather ignite the passion for learning within their students so that the students can best absorb the information.

            I maintain that the essential barrier to a teachers success is themselves.  I believe as teacher learn, adapt, grow, and experience new ideas and methodologies- they then become better, more effective teachers.  The surest way of accomplishing this is for teachers to embrace professional development, to seize opportunities for embracing change, and to work collaboratively to ensure that the needs of our ever-changing population of students are met.  

            One challenge I notice for my classroom is the inaccessibility of technology for my students to consume.  Our computer labs our over-filled and over-booked and our technology seems to lag behind.  Baring this in mind, one goal I have to put in for (and win) grant money for a mobile library for our school.  By affording students access to technology in real, teachable ways we can help to ensure our students have the best chance for success as a 21^st century learner.

            The second, perhaps loftier, goal is to transition my role to a more facilitator role.  This transition would engage my students in actively collaborating with each other to help discover the answers and learn lifelong lessons about teamwork, technology, and the process of finding information as opposed to being given information. This transition challenges conventional teaching practice- however if I can step back a little bit every day, I believe that I can transition into this facilitator role. 

             

Technology Demographics

Check our my podcast regarding the impact of technology on my 6th grade students.
Click on the RSS feed to the right titled "Technology Demographics" to hear my podcast.

21st Century Skills...

As I was reviewing The Partnership for 21st Century skills (http://www.p21.org/) was fascinating. The ever-changing, ever-evolving climate of skills for professional and personal growth are essential elements that teachers must impart to their students.  It is a teachers mission to ensure that we are preparing students to be successful in life.
The Partnership for 21st Century Skills create a framework including core subjects, learning and innovative skills, information, media and technology skills, and life and career skills.  By widening the scope of education that we provide to our students, we can more fully help fulfill their needs on all levels.  I appreciated that as part of the 21st Century Skills included topics such as: global awareness, financial, economic, business, and entreprenurial literacy, civic literacy, health literacy,and environmental literacy.  It is evident that these are all aspects that students will need to bu successful in life- so it only makes sense that we do our part to best educate them
However, on the flip side, I wonder when these necessities stopped being taught by families and left to be taught by teachers.  I wonder if it isn't the familial responsibility that we are beginning to encroach upon.  I wonder how families would respond to this.  But regardless, I think the intentions are good, however, I question if this is blurring the line between personal lives and educational lives.

Blogging as we go....

As I think about how to incorporate blogging for my classroom- I like the idea of having the blog act as an idea sharing/ social networking  forum.  It is hard to expect that every student has access to a computer and the internet.  However, I appreciate the idea of having a safe place for my students to "gather" and interact. 
I see this as a great way to have the students share their work and ideas with each other.  In my school, I think that one of the greatest tools that a blog can afford is the ability to build a community.  Instead of focusing the bog on academic lessons, I think it would be best to act more as a social networking site for the kids.  Allowing and encouraging a healthy discussion could be more beneficial to my studnts.

Teaching 6th grade (math and science), I have found that one area that my students most struggle with is interpersonal interactions.  Most of the conflict the sixth graders experience stem from social skills.  Our school emphasizes Socratic Seminar and I envision this blogging site could act much like the Socratic Seminar.  The Socratic Seminar allows the students to thoughtfully and conscientiously contribute their thoughts and ideas. By emphasizing these skills, I think that we will enable the students to perform better both academically and socially.

The art of teaching....

I once heard the analogy that teaching was like flying a plane while you are still building the plane.  I have found that thought refreshing and amusing.  As I reflect on my first year teaching, I find that is utterly true.  What I realized what how much I didn't know and how many decisions I would have to make every single day.  Can the students use mechanical pencils?  How should they head their papers?  What do I write under comments on their report cards?  I quickly realized that I didn't know.  So I tried some things out- some worked, some did not.  But what I learned (and then shared with my students) is teaching (like learning and life) is not straight forward.  Sometimes you know but sometimes you don't.  We all make great mistakes but we, also, have great successes.