Here Comes the 21st Century

For this reflection, I thought about my experiences and thoughts but decided that I wanted something more.  So I searched around and I found this very interesting article on where education technology could be heading in the next five years, and that really got me thinking.

It seems that the more I think about and read others’ thoughts, the more I see that we truly are becoming the facilitators of learning and that traditional methods of delivery are being challenged.  In order to stay current and be a part of this shift of deeper learning and integration of educational technology, we need more professional development.  

Since the technology is continuously changing, a great place to start is teacher’s college.  My mother recalls with humour a lesson on how to use the overhead.  Oh, that distance ancestor of the smart board.  I never got such lesson; in fact, I didn’t get a lesson on technology at all in teacher’s college.  Why is that?  Should not all new teachers have an introduction to the tools that are being used in modern classrooms and can help them become better teachers?  Yes, yes, YES!  

And the learning cannot stop there!  School boards, school learning groups, professional development seminars, all these things are vital to keeping up with not just education technology, but also how it affects and engages learning.  Computers and electronic devices have always been a part of our students’ lives, unlike me, who got my first computer at 17 when I was getting ready to go to university.  We have to learn with students and be prepared to help them use technology responsibly and in ways that will support their learning and skills for the future.  Technology is not going anywhere and sound pedagogy behind the technology is needed.  It is not so much about imparting all of our wisdom on the young, but rather building our wisdom together in this new era of learning. 

What Education Technology Could Look Like Over The Next Five Years

Learning to Share Properly

I think this is a great resource for teachers.  As and English teacher, I know the value of teaching students to respect and give credit to those who have done the research and writing.  This can be connected to teaching about plagiarism and how they can even have their own work published.

Standards of Practice

    As I sit here and contemplate the Standards of Practice, I can’t help but think about their simplicity, that they are almost a “no-brainer” to me.  Are these five principles not what everyone entering into the profession wants to embody?  

    Before entering teacher’s college, I did not know that the OCT had laid these out in writing.  However, I did know that these principles existed through teachers that lead by example.  I am extremely lucky that my mother (high school English) and my two aunts (J/K and Gr. 3) have shown me what hard-working, interactive and compassionate teachers are all about.  I can remember my mom coming home, crying, because she felt so much concern for a student that was in the hospital due to anorexia.  I have seen in my aunts’ classrooms new resources for students that struggle, or a “quiet area” for the child with autism, or even with how much attention they listen to all the little stories that the students share with them.  This is how I came to know that to be a teacher is to have a strong set of values, where care and learning take centre stage.

    It was partly through these experiences that I knew that I wanted to be a part of this.  That I wanted to learn how to help children become successful learners too.  Afterall, the whole purpose of being a teacher, in my opinion, is LEARNING.  As stated in #1, we are in the classroom with the purpose of helping children learn, not just about subject matter but about the world, one another, and about themselves.  

    Despite a rapidly changing world, I do believe the standards still hold true to what we should be achieving as educators.  We are professionals, and as such, how we conduct ourselves in terms of education should always be focused on “professionalism”.  However, there seems to be varying degrees as to what “professionalism” means to each person.  I have seen teachers looked down upon because they decided to join students in a game of dodgeball.  Is that really unprofessional?  Is going to a student’s art show because you are proud of their achievement unprofessional?  Personally, I do not think that these things are unprofessional, but rather support the ideas that we are part of their journies.

    I also think that these are the teachers (the ones willing to interact more with students) that are the most risk-taking.  These teachers are not afraid of trying new things and can be an example for other teachers who want to be more innovative.  There will always be other teachers who will criticize and want to keep things “traditional”, but as long as the professionalism is there, we need forward thinkers in the classroom.

    One last thing that I would like to reflect on is standard #1, that students always come first.  While I do believe that students are a priority, I have also seen times when giving a student what they want completely undermines the professional judgement of a teacher.  I personally have had this happen to me where a parent bullied a principal into making me take back my professional decision about a student’s plagiarized essay.  In this case, I was so upset that administration did not support me, since I did not think that letting a student get away with a fully plagiarized essay was what was in the best interest of the student.  Should the “best interest of the student” always overrule the authority and respect for the teacher?  I think that while the student is very important, so are we.  The standards are challenged by some, however, I firmly believe in these practices and values and will continue to make them a part of my daily life.

 

Dear Parents

Dear Parent/Guardian,

It is with great enthusiasm that I welcome you and your child to Gr. 5!  This year we will be embarking on a journey that will bring new ideas and ways of learning to the classroom.

As you know, technology and social media have become an integral part of society and students must learn how to use these tools in a safe and appropriate manner.  This year we will be incorporating more social media (blogs, Google apps, Twitter, etc.) in order to allow children the opportunity to extend their learning and improve their technological skills in the classroom.  

The safety of our children is always a priority and your continued support and guidance at home when it comes to online activity and safety is important.  Together we can help students become effective and safe learners in the online world.

You may stay up-to-date on what is happening in the classroom by visiting my site at ________________________.  If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.

I look forward to working with you and your child this year!

          Sincerely,

          Miss Tiffany Blanchette

 

Safety and Social Media

Reflection #3 - Safe Use of Technology in the Classroom

The modern, developing classroom has placed a continuing emphasis on the safety of students in the classroom.  We do our best to keep our children safe while they are in our care, but the reality is that they are also at risk when they leave school.  Unfortunately, social media provides a new outlet that can expose our children to cyberbullying, predators, and other unsafe content on the web.  We must try to teach them, first and foremost, to protect themselves during these naive and impressionable years.

There is always so much to teach in the curriculum, but I believe that it is important to have a discussion and an activity early in the year to establish what is acceptable when it comes to social media.  Asking kids to express what they believe to be inappropriate, what will be acceptable in our classroom as well as meeting the standards of the board, and what will be done when someone violates the code, is an important way to get students thinking and expressing their opinion on this important topic.  One strategy could be an anonymous box, where students can share their worries about inappropriate use of social media or even if they feel bullied or threatened online.

In one classroom, I saw a teacher ask students to explore the school and take photos of the various joints (hinges, glue, etc.) that they found and share them with the class.  Creating a class platform where students can share their achievements, questions, photos or thoughts can be an interesting way for students to interact and learn a little more about one another and their interests.  Also, as teachers, we should be integrating the use of social media into some of our lessons in order to show and model the appropriate use of these mediums (albeit, if the school board allows).  

Lastly, things like Twitter or even Instagram could be used as a way to get feedback about lessons and activities.  For example, if students are role playing, working on a great piece of art or participating in a particular experiment, they can provide pictures and comments about what they enjoyed most about that particular topic.  I think this can be very useful for us as teachers to see what students enjoy and how they learn.  Sometimes it is very difficult for students to tell us about these things, so maybe this will provide them with an easier way to express their opinion.

These tools are new to me, and coming from a school where cell phones were not allowed in the classroom, have provided me with a new learning opportunity.  However, I do believe that there has to be times when using social media is ok in the classroom and times when we will just put the tech away and focus on other skills and ways of learning.  Providing students with structure but an ability to use these mediums in a safe and expressive manner are key to helping them learn about online safety and appropriate use in various situations.

A Little Humour

 



The 21st Century Teacher

From the first day of Kindergarten to the last day of OAC (Gr. 13 for all you young ones out there), I can remember every teacher that taught me.  Some of them had very positive influences on me, others some negative ones, but one thing was quite constant: there was always a clear separation between the teacher at the front of the class and the students in their desks.  In my case, this division was something to be respected, and while many teachers did not make a big effort to get to know me as an “individual”, I never really felt like my teachers didn’t care about me.

Today, I believe there is a much bigger focus on teachers being the “helpers” of learning, and not just an adult that stands in front of a group of kids telling them what to learn.  In the ten years of my career so far, I have seen, and been a part of, getting “down to students’ levels” and interacting with them like never before.  We are encouraged to take part in activities in the classroom, in activities outside of the classroom, and to really get to know students and do everything we can to help them succeed.  While I believe this closer interaction between student and teacher has brought us a lot of knowledge in terms of how children learn, I also believe that this has put a huge pressure on us as educators.

Although I’m sure that the pressures of teaching have always been there, I have seen a rapid shift concerning who is responsible for a child’s learning.  I have come to realize that I am very lucky to have supportive parents, but also ones that made me work hard and be responsible for my actions in life.  My parents did not have a lot of time to sit down with me and do my homework, but they did instill in me the understanding that I am mostly responsible for my learning and attitude towards school.  Yes, my teachers had a part to play because they were the ones with the knowledge, but I had to find ways to make it work and seek help from those teachers when I did not understand something.  However, nowadays, I have seen an increased pressure to be exciting, engaging and dynamic in the classroom, but also an increase in blame when students don’t succeed besides these efforts.

Why does the responsibility of a child’s learning and development fall so heavily upon us?  Yes, we do have an enormous influence, but so do parents.  I would even argue, that parents have the greater influence.  And what about the responsibility of the child?  Should we not be teaching them, as a society, to take responsibility for their actions and to not place blame on others instead?  I recent interviews I have been asked the question: “Who is responsible for a child’s learning?”.  

The answer is ALL OF US.  

The 21st century teacher may be more dynamic, more trained and skilled in instructional strategies and delivery, fostering inquiry-based lessons, and getting to know students on a more personal level, but that does not mean that we can create student success alone.  We must be a team, to respect and support one another, have the best interest of children in mind, but teach them to be accountable for their actions and learn to respect themselves and those around them.  As I approach having my own classroom again in September, I have made it a goal to communicate well with the parents of my students that I need their help and support, and along with making children take an active part in their learning, we can grow student success together.