Wednesday, May 9, 2007
Teaching myself new technologies and ideas for the classroom
I was just reading David Warlick's blog and was struck by the post of May 9th about teachers resisting technology and waiting for someone to teach them how to do something using the computers. I see that often in my own world; I have been guilty of it myself at times. He writes that teachers should just get with the program and teach themselves what they need to do. We are involved in a process of learning and need to keep up with the digital world of our students. I am trying to do just that in preparation for writing a new grant for my classroom. I have read books and blogs and see the vision; now I have to just jump into the pool which can't be totally done until new Internet policies are written at our school and the new server is set up. Hey, I just learned how to insert a link into my blog. Now I have substantiated my thoughts with a reference. I have achieved success today in a minor way.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
Julia,
Thank you for continuing the conversation about technology. As a former social studies teacher, I get your passion. When you think about it, the problems that face our world today, that challenge us, are not problems of science, technology, and math. They come from our not understanding each other -- from our not being able to get along with each other. I think that there should be a major push in the social studies as well as math and science -- as well as art and music.
And technology is not a difficult topic for social studies teachers. Much of what we teach about changing societies and cultures comes from technology. We changed as a result of the bow & arrow, agriculture, the steam engine, and wireless (radio). Those technological advances continue to accelerate, and the will/are changing culture.
I think it's why I became seduced by computers, but I immediately saw it (Radio Shack Model I) as one of those technologies that was going to change everything. Thanks again, and great luck to you on your grant.
Mr. Warlick, thank you very much for noticing my beginning blogging efforts. I am a Social Studies teacher with 34 years experience so I am really a digital immigrant but I, too, absolutely love computers and the possibilites of new technologies. I have done some wonderful technology connected projects in my classes in the past,but now I am trying to go up the next rung of the ladder and engage in connective writing. I bought your book, Classroom Blogging, and am finding it most helpful in my quest for a new comfort zone in the digital world. I may not be able to start blogging with students immediately due to school policies but I am also exploring wikis and podcasting and hope to implement those by next year. Once again, many thanks for a kind word of encouragement. Sincerely, Julia Fontenot
Post a Comment