Monday, January 19, 2009

Stretching - part one

I have, in my other graduate-level classes, avoided wikis, creating movies, and learning how to use the Internet on a deeper level. I chose to remain in my comfort zone and, as a result, my technological ability did not improve.

This course has already forced me to stretch. I am fortunate to have my wife, who showed my how to use the course wiki and seems to be able to understand and explain things to me. I look forward to learning more and continuing to grow.

When will I be archaic?

After last Tuesday's class, I couldn't help but think that the technologies displayed were archaic. Never in my career have I seen or though of any of the methods demonstrated. For a few days, I felt somehow superior in my technological existence. I can't imagine how much work it would have been to produce materials for teaching prior to the age of the Internet.

Then I started to wonder if someday I would be demonstrating how I used the Internet and developed lessons via cutting, pasting, and borrowing materials from others. Maybe the things I do will seem archaic.

The more I thought about it, the more I sincerely hope my methods will seem primitive. I suppose it will simply be an indication of progress. What is slightly intimidating is the pace at which technology is changing education. It really places responsibility on the teacher to stay current and not allow the technology train to get away.

An interesting analogy would be pop - culture. It seems like those who are relatively young are much more likely to be versed in the lives of the stars, the newest music, and the newest movies. at a point, however, people seem to disengage finding keeping up to be both disinteresting and exhausting. As teachers, we must avoid disengaging from the rapid pace of technological change in order to remain effective and continue to improve.

Monday, January 12, 2009

Technology: Where am I? Where am I going?

In terms of my ability to use technology, both in the classroom and privately, I would rate my ability as low-average. I am certainly not a 'digital native'. I remember well the internet coming to Turtleford when I was in grade 11. It was not until I got to university that I was actually immersed in internet research and even using computers to create assignments. As such, I missed out both on learning how to use technology in everyday life as well as instruction in technology use - I had to learn on my own.

It seems to me that technology in educational contexts has morphed from being a topic of study to something that is ancillary to learning. As an educator and an administrator, that has implications both for where I want myself to be and how I want my school to be constructed. Watching Youtube videos like "Did you know" and others can be a frightening thing for a thirty year-old dinosaur, but it is also exciting.

I am well - versed in internet research, so I think I am ready to go beyond that. I want to begin to create new, meaningful material, both in video and text, and to inspire my students and staff to do likewise. My position as a leader in my context requires that I become a catalyst for change in this area. Scrawling things on a black board seems primitive to me. In fact, it is only a small step above carving images or symbols into stone. I do not believe children learn best in black and white and I want to be a progressive educator able to cope and thrive with change. The term, 'lifelong learner' certainly applies here.