Customization, interaction, and learner control.
Truly, I believe that if we can encourage and maintain these three specific imperatives in the classroom, then we are destined to be successful teachers. So then I ask myself, what should success be for a teacher? I don't consider success being a famous educator or having all A+ students or making intricate lesson plans. I think a successful teacher is one that pushes his or her students to take ownership of their learning. Someone who challenges students to make choices and justify their decisions. Someone who pushes students to interact with others, especially those who are different from them and/or difficult to work with.
The main conversation we've had throughout this semester has focused on this idea of "rethinking education." I have been challenged to rethink my view of the classroom, especially in regards to the use of technology. I think it is very easy to write off technology when it seems to be too hard or overwhelming to understand. I think it is also a pride issue on my part because I want to be good at teaching in our culture today without needing "new stuff," yet these newer technologies can be powerful tools in and out of the classroom.
One obstacle all teachers will face is assessing their students. How should I assess them? When should I assess them? How can I assess them meaningfully? Harder than that - how can I assess them efficiently? Technology is a great tool when it comes to allowing teachers one-on-one interaction time with students, so that they are teaching themselves while having the ability to have in-depth conversations with their teachers. If technology is used properly, it can help teachers to assess students based on performance and depth instead of assessing primarily based on standardized testing.
So, how do we cope with new technologies? We embrace what they have to offer; we learn about them, explore programs and websites, and teach our students how to use technology safely, efficiently, and excitedly. Giving ownership and embracing the old idea of apprenticeship will allow us to be successful teachers.
There are always challenges - but your desire to keep your mind open is the most important thing.
ReplyDeleteI really like your comment about assessment--this week in our assessment class we were talking about the challenges of how to keep parents in the loop about grades, so the end result isn't just a random shock at the end of the quarter. One of the programs they have now which they use in my sister's school, Angel, is an online database kind of like blackboard where parents and students can log in each day and see how their grade is doing in the class. I know it helps my dad a lot, since he can't always see my sister when she's at my mom's house--but it helps keep him in the loop about how she's doing in school, and what he can do to help. I think you're right that if we use technology right, it can really benefit our work as teachers--and save us from those parent-teacher conferences where parents come in guns ablazing.
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