Teachers continuously improve their professional practice, model lifelong learning and exhibit leadership in their school and professional community by promoting and demonstrating the effective use of digital tools and resources.
As a teacher and a tech-lover I continually strive to make myself a better educator and a life-long learner. Sometimes constrained by limited budgets, I try to use technology to the best of my ability to help students be self-directed learners and to continually be learning new information.
I have been taking a class, EDT 52o, that is all about integrating technology in the classroom. As I have undertaken this personal and professional enrichment, I have been continually trying new things with my classes and using things that we have learned in class to enhance my classroom.
It is often been the view of my school administration that cellphones are never to be used in school. Punishment was regularly dolled out for using our phone. However, I teach off site and have tried to take a different approach. I have really stressed appropriate use (digital citizenship) and we are using our smart phones as a source of knowledge rather then just a communication tool. Students have regularly researched information on their phones when we are in a class. When faced with a lack of information on a topic, even on my part, I'll say "Google it!" Students then race to see who is going to provide the class with the relevant information. The students have also used their cellular devices to disprove long-held stereotypes and false information. I always stress to them to use reputable sources and fact check. Just because it is on the Internet doesn't always make it true.
One topic that was covered in my class that I never thought would have a role in my classroom is social media. I have found ways that I can use social media sites such as Twitter, Tumblr, and Youtube to enrich our learning experience in my class. One of my favorites, as well as the students, was the video by Mike Wesch about the anthropological aspects of YouTube. My sociology class found it fascinating and if I wasn't involved in some life-long learning and enrichment I never would have known about it. I was glad to be able to share it with my students.
