Becoming a 21st Century Teacher

The idea of using a technology based teaching tool is very interesting.  Some students may grasp concepts readily and be able to work independently.  Using a tech tool will free those students to continue learning rather than waiting on the teacher to explain further to other students.  The teacher is able to spend additional time with those that need more hands on learning.  We all know that people learn in different ways and using a technology based teaching tool can assist the teacher in reaching all students.  This will also afford opportunities for those who do not have access to technology outside of the classroom which may be restricted by socio-economic status (Gollnick, 2013).

To this point I had not given much thought to what my must have technologies would be.  These new technologies are expanding exponentially.  One technology that I learned about is a student response system, also known as a "clicker".  As a fan of Jeopardy I was intrigued by this and it is exactly what it sounds like, it is a remote that allows students to respond to questions remotely rather than raising hands and one student says the answer aloud.  Im sure we have all had those times in a classroom when we think, "Please don't call on me."  The clicker allows all students to answer and the teacher to review the results at a later time.  Check out the video below to see an example of one of these systems.

Creating highly interactive, inquiry-based learning environments is exciting to me.  Many people do not learn effectively by being talked at.  An interactive environment enables a student to give input and actively contribute to their own education and the education of others.  Inquiry based environments contribute to critical thinking and encourages creativity.  This type of interaction enables a student not only to learn the information, but to understand and really grasp the what and why of their education.  It would look something like the smile program from Stanford University in which students are challenged to think critically by creating questions from lessons they are taught.

This chapter has opened my eyes to how much I do not know about teaching technology.  When I graduated secondary school 14 years ago, my school was still using blackboards and learning was supplemented by computers only in home (if you had access) and at the Library.  I am very excited to explore new technologies and ways to implement them in the classroom.  To be an effective teacher to others, I must educate myself on the new technology available.  This information will help to build my digital identity as an educator.

Resources:

Maloy, R., O'Loughlin, R., Edwards, S., & Woolf, B. (2013). Transforming Learning with New Technologies. 2nd Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education Inc.

Gollnick, D., Chinn,P. (2013). Education in a Pluralistic Society. 9th Edition.  Boston, MA: Pearson Education Inc.

SMILE: Stanford Mobile Inquiry-based Learning Environment.  Stanford Graduate School of Education.  Last updated Aug 12, 2016.  Accessed Aug 30, 2016 from  

https://gse-it.stanford.edu/research/project/smile

Student Response Systems from Turning Technologies. Participate Technologies CC. Published on Nov 2, 2012 Accessed Aug 30, 2016 from https://www.youtube.m/watch?v=ol8NESyJDU8