Future of Teachers

As technology continues to develop and increase in its capabilities, some fear that teachers them selves, like older technologies, will become obsolete. I believe however, that the roll of the teacher will become what it was always destine to be. That destiny is to be a guide to help others learn to become efficient learners. With the increases in technology and with technologies like the iPad teacher become a guide to help the child through self exploration. Teachers will be there to guide or clarify any questions a child may have and to guide the child on the path to the right answers. As teachers we are not there to tell the children what to think or to give them the question this is not how life work. There will not always be someone there to teach you the things you want to learn that is why it is imperative that we teach children and adults how to teach themselves and find reliable resources and information. With the new technology that is out and that is being developed children will be able to become more immersed in the learning processes helping them to want to become better learners. Teachers will always be need because they are the experts. Learner can go to teachers whenever they have questions about the things they are learning so that they may have a more intimate face to face learning experience which is somethings a computer can not give.

Dream Time

The first thing I would ask for is for enough iPads for each child in the class. This will be useful so that they can visit sites being used during discussion for interactive lessons. I would also need 5,000 dollars worth of apple gift cards, these will be used so that the children can get the apps needed without their being a financial burden on the child. The next thing I would ask for is a computer for myself. This is so that I can lead interactive discussions and find the materials need to create new and exciting lessons. I would also ask for a projector so that I can project videos or sites that may not be accessible to the students on their iPads. Also I can project images from a document viewer on the screen. A document viewer would be nice so that I could take a models and use the document viewer to project it on a screen so that they would be large enough for the class to see. Another thing I would ask for would be models of atoms, molecules, skeletons, brains, heart ect. these would be used so that the kids can handle and touch these things that they normally would not be able to manipulate. I also need a Smartboard because it has pre-made lessons that are interactive and interesting for the students to use, plus it frees up planning time for myself. I would also ask for a 3D HD T.V. with a Blu ray player this would help to capture the imagination of the children when I show them 3d videos of things like the Great Barrier reef. I would also ask for a variety of 3D or HD educational videos like the history channels series call the Universe.

I Love Education Technology........NOT

I do love education technology mostly because it can take any lesson and make it interactive. However, there is one thing I hate about education technology and that would be Chalk and Wire. At first I hated the fact that it was one more thing that I had to do in the first technology class. I hated how it had to be constructed a certain way with the picture in a certain area. I hated how much we had to write about what we did and why and how it lived up to standards. In general I hated every single aspect of it. Then Damon brought up the idea that instead of standardized test that each students should keep a portfolio to show their work through out their academic career. I agreed strongly that having a student show a project that they put time into shows way more about what the child has accomplished as opposed to a test, especially with the theory of multiple intelligence being one of the things that drives my philosophy. Because of the discussions we have had in class I now understand how important a tool like Chalk and Wire can be to the educational process.

Blogging in Education

I think outside of the box. I always try to find new and interesting ways to help educate my students. A blog is perfect and ideal for this type of scenario. For example in a blog I can put a list of different science related links on a post and allow my students easy access to these sites with out having to remember the addresses. Another thing a Blog can do for a classroom is allow students who have missed the day to see what went on in class. A teacher can blog about the assignments and things that were covered in class. This will let the absent student know what needs to be competed before the next class or will other students to review material. Parents will also like the idea of a classroom blog because it will allow them to see what is being learned in a particular class. Some blogs even allow comments. These comments can then be used to help aid in in-class discussion or even help encourage peer to peer learning. One student might have a question and will post that question on the comment area. Another student might be reading the blog and may be able to answer that question for the student by leaving the answer in the comment area. If worse comes to worse I as the teacher will be able to see the comment and know that the student needs help in that area and will be able to provide assistance.