Vision
“Technology is everywhere, entwined in almost every part of our lives. It affects how we shop, socialize, connect, play, and most importantly learn” (Wainwright).
So the question is, how do we effectively utilize a tool in our classroom that we already use in our daily lives?
Much has changed in education and more importantly, how we educate our students. As a high school teacher, my job is to not only meet the needs of our students and educate them, but also inspire them to move forward and think about the future. The future is technology. Jacqui Murray summarizes this by stating, “ Education is changing. Teachers no longer primarily lecture from the front of the class. Students don't fervently copy the instructor’s words down, read text, and memorize material for a test.” It is up to me to adapt my method of instruction to meet these changing needs of our students.
Instead of resisting this technology wave, it is important to recognize its benefits and potential in the classroom. I want the information I teach to relate to students; the learning process needs to be meaningful to be successful. In order to accomplish this, I integrate various forms of technology into classroom use and lessons. I communicate with students via services like remind and Schoology (our Learning Management Software). I do screencasts to differentiate lesson delivery. I have recently trialed letting students select their projects and define the expectations (with some guidance, course) of the intended outcome and result. I am constantly looking for ways to make learning meaningful and student-centered.
It is imperative to incorporate various technologies to meet the needs of today’s students. My goals include using technology to enhance learning through student-entered and student focused activities. I want students to feel empowered and take ownership of their learning by incorporating meaningful technology use. As educators, we must do more than turn on a projector for notes or slide presentations. We must utilize the tools that interest the students of today and future students.
We must also be prepared to troubleshoot the need of “instant gratification” and knowledge from our students. Today’s students do not value the importance of knowledge and facts; they can access and find anything via a Google search in mere seconds. It is important that we do not get lost in the convenience of technology and still show the value in the process and the power in knowledge. We must connect the process of learning and the benefits of technology in order to make education meaningful. Technology is an amazing tool that we need to show students how to utilize to aide students’ learning to reach its maximum potential.
I also believe it is important to collaborate with my colleagues and discuss better ways to facilitate this learning process by technology use. One of my goals is to be viewed as a mentor to my colleagues in this aspect. I try to troubleshoot any technology issues and offer support to show the importance or technology. It is important to transition from the mindset of many teachers that “lecture and listen” is the way to educate today’s students. I plan to use the knowledge that I have gained from this program to help my colleagues better understand and facilitate the needs of today’s students.
My ultimate goal aligns with the Vision Statement of Dawson County High School, the school where I teach, “… to prepare and equip students to compete globally in the 21st century.” I truly believe that as an educator, I must prepare and encourage my students to be forward thinkers, to recognize and participate in the real world and prepare them for their futures. I believe that effective technology use enhances and facilitates this process.
References
Dawson County Schools: A Charter System of Georgia. (n.d.). Retrieved March 20, 2017, from http://dawsoncountyschools.org
Murray, J. (2015, January). Technology in the Classroom: The School of the Future. Retrieved March 20, 2017, from http://www.teachhub.com/technology-classroom-school-future
Wainwright, A. (n.d.). 10 Reasons Today's Students NEED Technology in the Classroom. Retrieved March 20, 2017, from http://www.securedgenetworks.com/blog/10-Reasons-Today-s-Students-NEED-Technology-in-the-Classroom
So the question is, how do we effectively utilize a tool in our classroom that we already use in our daily lives?
Much has changed in education and more importantly, how we educate our students. As a high school teacher, my job is to not only meet the needs of our students and educate them, but also inspire them to move forward and think about the future. The future is technology. Jacqui Murray summarizes this by stating, “ Education is changing. Teachers no longer primarily lecture from the front of the class. Students don't fervently copy the instructor’s words down, read text, and memorize material for a test.” It is up to me to adapt my method of instruction to meet these changing needs of our students.
Instead of resisting this technology wave, it is important to recognize its benefits and potential in the classroom. I want the information I teach to relate to students; the learning process needs to be meaningful to be successful. In order to accomplish this, I integrate various forms of technology into classroom use and lessons. I communicate with students via services like remind and Schoology (our Learning Management Software). I do screencasts to differentiate lesson delivery. I have recently trialed letting students select their projects and define the expectations (with some guidance, course) of the intended outcome and result. I am constantly looking for ways to make learning meaningful and student-centered.
It is imperative to incorporate various technologies to meet the needs of today’s students. My goals include using technology to enhance learning through student-entered and student focused activities. I want students to feel empowered and take ownership of their learning by incorporating meaningful technology use. As educators, we must do more than turn on a projector for notes or slide presentations. We must utilize the tools that interest the students of today and future students.
We must also be prepared to troubleshoot the need of “instant gratification” and knowledge from our students. Today’s students do not value the importance of knowledge and facts; they can access and find anything via a Google search in mere seconds. It is important that we do not get lost in the convenience of technology and still show the value in the process and the power in knowledge. We must connect the process of learning and the benefits of technology in order to make education meaningful. Technology is an amazing tool that we need to show students how to utilize to aide students’ learning to reach its maximum potential.
I also believe it is important to collaborate with my colleagues and discuss better ways to facilitate this learning process by technology use. One of my goals is to be viewed as a mentor to my colleagues in this aspect. I try to troubleshoot any technology issues and offer support to show the importance or technology. It is important to transition from the mindset of many teachers that “lecture and listen” is the way to educate today’s students. I plan to use the knowledge that I have gained from this program to help my colleagues better understand and facilitate the needs of today’s students.
My ultimate goal aligns with the Vision Statement of Dawson County High School, the school where I teach, “… to prepare and equip students to compete globally in the 21st century.” I truly believe that as an educator, I must prepare and encourage my students to be forward thinkers, to recognize and participate in the real world and prepare them for their futures. I believe that effective technology use enhances and facilitates this process.
References
Dawson County Schools: A Charter System of Georgia. (n.d.). Retrieved March 20, 2017, from http://dawsoncountyschools.org
Murray, J. (2015, January). Technology in the Classroom: The School of the Future. Retrieved March 20, 2017, from http://www.teachhub.com/technology-classroom-school-future
Wainwright, A. (n.d.). 10 Reasons Today's Students NEED Technology in the Classroom. Retrieved March 20, 2017, from http://www.securedgenetworks.com/blog/10-Reasons-Today-s-Students-NEED-Technology-in-the-Classroom