Every Day I’m Learning
Over the past year had a half I have learned as much about technology and teaching as I have learned about myself. I’ve found that technology alone does not create better learning experiences. Teachers must be leaders that use technology in ways that are engaging and that support multiple learning styles. Over the course of the MAET program I have used clickers, collaborative web tools, and presentation software to better myself as an educator. This progress, however, is never ending. In order to become the best teachers possible we, as educators, must always be looking forward. It is only with this in mind that we will continue to improve the educational outcomes of our students.
We are Always Growing
The most important idea that the MAET program imparted upon me is the notion that I can always continue to grow. Prior to the MAET program I did not use Twitter or MERLOT. These two services are only examples of the plethora of tools that I now use weekly and that I previously would have scoffed at. Besides a few sporadic Google searches I rarely looked for ideas around the web. My time in the MAET program has shown me the importance of my own PLN. I now follow Harvard Business Review on Twitter and search for lesson plan ideas on MERLOT. Each of these services (and others) have helped me construct lessons that are more interactive and that help me teach my content more effectively.
As educators we cannot be afraid to take instructional risks. As a teacher I am very calculated and am always afraid to make a mistake. It is through this process of experimentation, however, that we grow and learn about our own teaching. My first use of Twitter in the classroom is a perfect example. As part of a mock trial, students were asked to tweet out as if they were court reporters. In theory the practice sounded good. My activity ended with a plethora of technical difficulties, such as a failure of Twitter to login and iPads losing Wi-Fi connections, and an inability to have students reflect on their tweets appropriately (due to timing). Despite its failure, I was able to reflect on my struggles and make adjustments for future uses of Twitter and other tools.
The Future of Online Learning
Teaching and learning are changing. Students can no longer be perceived as passive listening devices that are handed knowledge through lecture. This change was addressed by one of my master’s courses. As part of the MAET program I was asked to create an online learning environment. At first I was hesitant. Most of my previous online learning experiences made me believe that this type of classroom experience was no more interactive or beneficial than a traditional classroom. What I found, however, was surprising.
My LMS was designed to help “flip” my instruction for a singular unit. My design centered around the idea that content could be published at home while my students and I could discuss questions and complete activities in the classroom. Online I was able to provide multiple pathways for students who are both auditory and visual learners. In the classroom I could combine these and create activities that were kinesthetic in nature. Through the use of tools such as Youtube and Google Docs I created lessons that required students to involve themselves wholeheartedly into the course.
As I move forward I will continue to develop online lessons that are interactive in nature. I’ve found that teachers who use online learning environments must be careful that they do not simply use the online tool to replace their instruction. Prior to this program I had assumed that all online courses did just this. What I found, however, was that online tools like Coursesites and Haiku are incredibly apt at creating activities that are engaging and that can be brought into a Face to Face classroom. While teaching this unit I found that it was easy to fall into a routine that used my online course as an instructional crutch. As a technology and learning advocate in my school I will continue to push my fellow teachers to use their online presence in a way that provides content to multiple learning styles and does so in engaging ways. I hope to continue my leadership role within my school and community to push fellow teachers to use online technologies in ways that improve their own classroom disciplines.
As I move forward I want to be a leader and a student alike. Technology will always be changing and I want to adapt with it. As a teacher I need to be unafraid of experimentation and continue to reflect on my own experiences. This, in essence, is what all good teachers must do. Technology will engage our students, but only if we use it thoughtfully and in ways that make learning fun and engaging. In the years to come I hope do this in my own classroom and help facilitate it in the classroom’s of others.
Over the past year had a half I have learned as much about technology and teaching as I have learned about myself. I’ve found that technology alone does not create better learning experiences. Teachers must be leaders that use technology in ways that are engaging and that support multiple learning styles. Over the course of the MAET program I have used clickers, collaborative web tools, and presentation software to better myself as an educator. This progress, however, is never ending. In order to become the best teachers possible we, as educators, must always be looking forward. It is only with this in mind that we will continue to improve the educational outcomes of our students.
We are Always Growing
The most important idea that the MAET program imparted upon me is the notion that I can always continue to grow. Prior to the MAET program I did not use Twitter or MERLOT. These two services are only examples of the plethora of tools that I now use weekly and that I previously would have scoffed at. Besides a few sporadic Google searches I rarely looked for ideas around the web. My time in the MAET program has shown me the importance of my own PLN. I now follow Harvard Business Review on Twitter and search for lesson plan ideas on MERLOT. Each of these services (and others) have helped me construct lessons that are more interactive and that help me teach my content more effectively.
As educators we cannot be afraid to take instructional risks. As a teacher I am very calculated and am always afraid to make a mistake. It is through this process of experimentation, however, that we grow and learn about our own teaching. My first use of Twitter in the classroom is a perfect example. As part of a mock trial, students were asked to tweet out as if they were court reporters. In theory the practice sounded good. My activity ended with a plethora of technical difficulties, such as a failure of Twitter to login and iPads losing Wi-Fi connections, and an inability to have students reflect on their tweets appropriately (due to timing). Despite its failure, I was able to reflect on my struggles and make adjustments for future uses of Twitter and other tools.
The Future of Online Learning
Teaching and learning are changing. Students can no longer be perceived as passive listening devices that are handed knowledge through lecture. This change was addressed by one of my master’s courses. As part of the MAET program I was asked to create an online learning environment. At first I was hesitant. Most of my previous online learning experiences made me believe that this type of classroom experience was no more interactive or beneficial than a traditional classroom. What I found, however, was surprising.
My LMS was designed to help “flip” my instruction for a singular unit. My design centered around the idea that content could be published at home while my students and I could discuss questions and complete activities in the classroom. Online I was able to provide multiple pathways for students who are both auditory and visual learners. In the classroom I could combine these and create activities that were kinesthetic in nature. Through the use of tools such as Youtube and Google Docs I created lessons that required students to involve themselves wholeheartedly into the course.
As I move forward I will continue to develop online lessons that are interactive in nature. I’ve found that teachers who use online learning environments must be careful that they do not simply use the online tool to replace their instruction. Prior to this program I had assumed that all online courses did just this. What I found, however, was that online tools like Coursesites and Haiku are incredibly apt at creating activities that are engaging and that can be brought into a Face to Face classroom. While teaching this unit I found that it was easy to fall into a routine that used my online course as an instructional crutch. As a technology and learning advocate in my school I will continue to push my fellow teachers to use their online presence in a way that provides content to multiple learning styles and does so in engaging ways. I hope to continue my leadership role within my school and community to push fellow teachers to use online technologies in ways that improve their own classroom disciplines.
As I move forward I want to be a leader and a student alike. Technology will always be changing and I want to adapt with it. As a teacher I need to be unafraid of experimentation and continue to reflect on my own experiences. This, in essence, is what all good teachers must do. Technology will engage our students, but only if we use it thoughtfully and in ways that make learning fun and engaging. In the years to come I hope do this in my own classroom and help facilitate it in the classroom’s of others.