I view myself as a Lifelong Learner. I believe that to be the best teacher that I can be is to be willing to constantly learn and grown in different ways, both formally eg.(workshops, conferences, courses like this one) and informally (eg. conversations with other teachers & students). I think that if I did not see myself as a Lifelong Learner, then I would not be fully dedicated to the students that I teach. I have realized more and more that to grow as a learner, especially in the 21st century is to try to 'keep up in the game' in new technologies that can be effectively used with my students. And that is the reason that I decided to sign-up for this course.
At times I feel overwhelmed that there is SO much out there in regards to new programs/websites to use and share with our students, but often times don't feel like there is enough time in a school year to effectively use more than one or two of the new 'things' that are out there. One of the biggest challenges for me is finding the time to sit down and explore good programs that I can use with my students; and with some that I use, such as ST Math, I feel like I'm just scratching the surface on all that it has to offer. I wish we truly had the time to really feel like with are proficient or 'experts' with a few solid programs.
'Beginning with the end in Mind' might be the toughest habit for me. With all of these 'thing's being brand new, I feel like I'll have a hard time planning what I want to learn before really exploring the new 'things'. I feel confident that I will be able to explore, learn, and then be able to apply some of these new technologies to my teaching next year.
The habit that I think will be the 'easiest' for me is to 'Have Confidence in Myself as a Learner'. I do have confidence in myself that when I have the time to explore and try new technology I am able to apply it. I know the challenge will be with a busy summer that I might not have as much time as I would like to dive in as deep with some 'things' as much as others. But, I'm going in with an open mind that I will learn 'things' that will be valuable for me to use in my classroom.
I feel that the most important habit for me is 7 1/2 'Play'. I love that we teach in a district that values hands-on, experiential learning = play. I value the opportunities for my students to 'play', and I think that new technologies is a perfect way for both me and my students to learn. I'm looking forward this summer to 'play' with all the new things that this course will offer!
Don't feel like you have to roll all 36 things into your class. Obviously, that's impossible. I'd recommend you pick three that you can use throughout the year and go with that as a start. Obviously, you're already using Google Docs with your students, so go deeper with that and then pick two others that make sense for you and your students.
ReplyDeleteMake sure to keep the "hands on" approach in mind when thinking about these 36 things- I think they will line up well with keeping the kids involved- they seem to love using technology!
ReplyDeleteYou definitely don't lack in confidence :) There are a lot of really cool features inside apps like Google Docs, Google Forms, and Google Drive, that you may not know already, that I'm sure you are going to utilize a lot in your classroom for years to come.
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