in the end, what will they remember?
tech is a tool, what i do with the kids and what i allow them to do is what makes a difference....
who am i to the kids?
am i inspiring?
every day i need to be different, changing, hopefully being better
do i want to give kids what i got? or better than i got?(when i was a student)
am i making a difference?
These are questions and comments that my instructor Garth presented on the last night of class. I have to admit that as I drove away from school that last night of class I was a bit saddened. Did I enjoy having a Friday night class? Not necessarily; however, it was more than the content of the class. In five years of university level classes, I was leaving the second instructor that I can say genuinely inspired me in my field of teaching. My mind was further stretched in the concept of learning vs earning a grade. This thought was opened to me last year and I am grappling with it. Is it possible to get an A and still learn? I know for certain that it is possible to get an A and learn nothing. Been there, done that. So why is the education system so intent upon A's? Good question, but I'm not going there in this blog. We'll save that for later. For now, I would like to honor Garth. A straightforward man that was not teaching us because he wanted us to like him. He knew he was pushing some of us beyond our comfort zone. He also was available to take the questions and frustrations. Thanks Garth for being honest- for being real- for not mincing words- for having a heart that actually cares about students and their learning.
So, have I been impacted in the realm of technology? Yes. You may wonder why I am typing when this is all about using technology. Good question. I tend to get my heart out a bit better when writing so I'm going to give this a whirl with text first. I struggled through this course with the idea that technology is the only way to keep students engaged. I am a 36 year old woman. I graduated in 1995 before the internet was part of normal life. I used a computer rarely at school because we didn't have them. I know we are in a different age; however, it is not my age and I can't see things necessarily as persons growing up today would. I am trying. Believe me. Trying. I like seeing technology used. I like hearing how Garth uses technology in his classroom. At the same time it is hard for me to wrap it around in my brain as to how that actually happens. I haven't been in a classroom for awhile. I honestly don't know what to expect when I'm teaching. It can be overwhelming to think that I am in charge of 18-30 students that all have very different learning needs and that each of their parents and the Ohio Education System believe that I need to be the one that makes their learning happen. Do you want some more truth? I love kids. I believe in kids. I believe they have worth and value. My struggle is with implementing education into loving on the students that I am blessed with in my classroom.
I heard Garth speak about the "flipped" classroom. I can honestly say I had no idea what he was talking about. Even after he explained it there was a giant cloud over my mind in that area. I found this video yesterday that really helped the concept of a flipped classroom take root in my mind. It still leaves me a bit skeptical over my personal skills in the taping process and covering the adequate material that students need to be engaged within the presentation. I need to remember that it is a process. My learning is a process. The students's learning is a process. If I am open to being proactive and finding ways to reach out to the different learning styles represented within the lives represented in my classroom I have already gone further than many teachers. As Garth reminded us- students can find all the education they need on the internet. All they need is someone to navigate for them in finding resources and believing in them that they can accomplish great things. I want to be that. I want to open up the world of education to young persons in a way that is fresh and exciting. Yes, it scares me. I figure by the time I get there it will be a bit more of a natural progression of things. I can not be instantly gratified, I cannot have the know-how for everything immediately. Process. Processing. Yes, the hard stuff in life that makes it all worth while. If I could figure out how this flipped classroom works behind the scenes, as in before the students receive the presentation, I think it would make the actual classroom time more profitable for the students. And, taking from Garth's words again, the students are the reason we teach. It's not about me as the teacher. I am supposed to be working for their benefit not necessarily mine.
This is a learning and growing time for me. I really DO look forward to figuring out how to engage students in their world. This course has made me uncomfortable at times. Stretching can do that. My mind has had to go places that I was not previously aware existed. This is only the beginning! Watch out world!