My Future as a Learner in the 21st Century
By Gillian Kutches
Although my Master’s Program has come to a close, the opportunities for continued growth and learning are abundant. Being a dedicated lifelong learner is crucial for my development as an educator. I plan on continuing to push myself to gain new experiences and insights for teaching students in the 21st century. In order to adequately do so, I must engage in new educational technologies whenever possible. I realize there are new programs and teaching tools readily available, and I need to be ready and willing to bring them into my students’ lives.
Recent changes in learning and technology have been drastic and extraordinary. I think about my experiences as a young learner in elementary school, where computers were a relatively new addition to schools. There were no computers inside of classrooms; rather there was a school-wide computer lab which housed basic Macintosh computers which accommodated popular games like "Oregon Trail". I was never taught keyboarding or computer applications in elementary school; two lessons which are taught in abundance today. When researching for papers, my main resources were books and encyclopedias. It was only when I began college that the Internet became the primary source for information. I realize that children today are growing up in a very different world than I did, and I need to be prepared and knowledgeable about teaching today’s youth using these new methods.
I think about the resources that are available to students today, and how differently they are learning because of those resources. Gone are the days where a teacher simply stands in the front of the room and lectures to her class. Now students are engaged in interactive whiteboard lessons, video clips, online games and assessments, etc. One major piece of technology that I currently use is a Promethean board. This is similar to a Smart board and works like an interactive whiteboard. I find that the more engaging my flipchart lessons are for my students, the more excited and eager they are to learn. I try to use fun and silly sounds and songs with each lesson to keep students motivated. I also attempt to have multiple, but different, kinds of activities in each lesson for differentiated practice. Moving forward, I want to continue to challenge myself to create interactive lessons which excite my students (and me). One way I want to do this is to take Promethean classes that are offered through my district. These courses instruct teachers to utilize more of the tools that Promethean has to offer.
The learning resources available online today are remarkable. Websites like www.starfall.com teach students the basics of reading which includes ABC animations and interactive book and reading exercises. Tools like www.compasslearning.com and www.headsprout.com not only measure student progress on specific learning skills, but can also be tailored by teachers for individualized lessons. I use these websites as much as possible during the school day. I have found the beauty of these sites is that children are having fun, and they are learning valuable skills along the way!
In each lesson that I teach, I aim to consider how technology can enrich the content and curriculum to garner student understanding. I believe the more ways a topic is presented to a class, the more the students will "get" it. In addition to the Promethean board, I also show www.brainpop.com videos on certain topics. The students love the characters, and they present information in a realistic and simplistic way. The videos provide multiple examples of what is being taught, and I believe they reinforce what I have taught them. In the future, I want to learn more about educational websites and how I can bring meaningful reinforcement into my classroom.
It is truly incredible to consider where technology could take education in the future. I want to be invested in current technology and all it has to offer in the classroom. In order to prepare students for a future of advanced technology, I need to be prepared to expose them to all technology currently has to offer. In the coming years, I plan on continuing to learn all I can about new technology and how it can impact education. I am excited to see where it takes us.
Recent changes in learning and technology have been drastic and extraordinary. I think about my experiences as a young learner in elementary school, where computers were a relatively new addition to schools. There were no computers inside of classrooms; rather there was a school-wide computer lab which housed basic Macintosh computers which accommodated popular games like "Oregon Trail". I was never taught keyboarding or computer applications in elementary school; two lessons which are taught in abundance today. When researching for papers, my main resources were books and encyclopedias. It was only when I began college that the Internet became the primary source for information. I realize that children today are growing up in a very different world than I did, and I need to be prepared and knowledgeable about teaching today’s youth using these new methods.
I think about the resources that are available to students today, and how differently they are learning because of those resources. Gone are the days where a teacher simply stands in the front of the room and lectures to her class. Now students are engaged in interactive whiteboard lessons, video clips, online games and assessments, etc. One major piece of technology that I currently use is a Promethean board. This is similar to a Smart board and works like an interactive whiteboard. I find that the more engaging my flipchart lessons are for my students, the more excited and eager they are to learn. I try to use fun and silly sounds and songs with each lesson to keep students motivated. I also attempt to have multiple, but different, kinds of activities in each lesson for differentiated practice. Moving forward, I want to continue to challenge myself to create interactive lessons which excite my students (and me). One way I want to do this is to take Promethean classes that are offered through my district. These courses instruct teachers to utilize more of the tools that Promethean has to offer.
The learning resources available online today are remarkable. Websites like www.starfall.com teach students the basics of reading which includes ABC animations and interactive book and reading exercises. Tools like www.compasslearning.com and www.headsprout.com not only measure student progress on specific learning skills, but can also be tailored by teachers for individualized lessons. I use these websites as much as possible during the school day. I have found the beauty of these sites is that children are having fun, and they are learning valuable skills along the way!
In each lesson that I teach, I aim to consider how technology can enrich the content and curriculum to garner student understanding. I believe the more ways a topic is presented to a class, the more the students will "get" it. In addition to the Promethean board, I also show www.brainpop.com videos on certain topics. The students love the characters, and they present information in a realistic and simplistic way. The videos provide multiple examples of what is being taught, and I believe they reinforce what I have taught them. In the future, I want to learn more about educational websites and how I can bring meaningful reinforcement into my classroom.
It is truly incredible to consider where technology could take education in the future. I want to be invested in current technology and all it has to offer in the classroom. In order to prepare students for a future of advanced technology, I need to be prepared to expose them to all technology currently has to offer. In the coming years, I plan on continuing to learn all I can about new technology and how it can impact education. I am excited to see where it takes us.
