Becoming an Educator of 21st Century Learners
By: Christopher Daugherty
In early 2012 I completed a personal goal statement. At that time I was working as an IB History teacher at the International Academy in Troy, MI. I had just gotten engaged and was training for a half marathon. Over the past year and a half only one of those two (the wedding) actually occurred. The other was sidelined by injury. The experiences that I’ve had professionally and personally over this time has helped me to reach many of my goals that I outlined since I applied to the MAET program. My teacher toolbox, PLN, and my overall teaching quality have improved because of this experience.
My goal reflection focused on the ways in which students learn and how technology can fit those goals. Over the course of the past year and a half I have learned about things such as management, academic research and online learning environments. What linked all of these together, however, was my constantly evolving understanding of learning theories. I learned more about different types of learners and the teaching strategies that can be used to reach them. I practiced using Google Docs and CPS clickers to help lead my students toward mastery of content and skills. Each and every time that a technology was used I was pushed towards the use of inquiry. Throughout the program I was asked many times to put this into practice in my own teaching. Through these experiences I was able to see noticeable growth that may not have occurred without the use of the technology.
Over the coming years I plan to further my practice by using engaging technologies that compliment my content. With each new technology I ask how my students education will improve because of this new tool. I see myself as a facilitator of knowledge and any instrument that can help improve my guidance of my students should be considered. Ultimately, I feel that this is the most important thing that I have learned throughout the MAET program. Quality learning can only occur when students are engaged and the teacher guides the students towards a goal. While I have not yet fully achieved the lofty goals that I set out in early 2012 I am moving towards them every day. With every student tweet, comment on a Google Doc, or website created with Weebly my students are becoming 21st century learners who will have a more solid understanding of the world around them.
By: Christopher Daugherty
In early 2012 I completed a personal goal statement. At that time I was working as an IB History teacher at the International Academy in Troy, MI. I had just gotten engaged and was training for a half marathon. Over the past year and a half only one of those two (the wedding) actually occurred. The other was sidelined by injury. The experiences that I’ve had professionally and personally over this time has helped me to reach many of my goals that I outlined since I applied to the MAET program. My teacher toolbox, PLN, and my overall teaching quality have improved because of this experience.
My goal reflection focused on the ways in which students learn and how technology can fit those goals. Over the course of the past year and a half I have learned about things such as management, academic research and online learning environments. What linked all of these together, however, was my constantly evolving understanding of learning theories. I learned more about different types of learners and the teaching strategies that can be used to reach them. I practiced using Google Docs and CPS clickers to help lead my students toward mastery of content and skills. Each and every time that a technology was used I was pushed towards the use of inquiry. Throughout the program I was asked many times to put this into practice in my own teaching. Through these experiences I was able to see noticeable growth that may not have occurred without the use of the technology.
Over the coming years I plan to further my practice by using engaging technologies that compliment my content. With each new technology I ask how my students education will improve because of this new tool. I see myself as a facilitator of knowledge and any instrument that can help improve my guidance of my students should be considered. Ultimately, I feel that this is the most important thing that I have learned throughout the MAET program. Quality learning can only occur when students are engaged and the teacher guides the students towards a goal. While I have not yet fully achieved the lofty goals that I set out in early 2012 I am moving towards them every day. With every student tweet, comment on a Google Doc, or website created with Weebly my students are becoming 21st century learners who will have a more solid understanding of the world around them.