Last Words

Understanding the Impact of Technology on Education, Work, and Society is a course from Walden University, which offers its students a chance to understand and implement Web 2.0 tools into their classrooms. The course asked students to investigate how to use blogs, wikis, and podcasts in our classroom. While I have used and was aware of all three of these technologies it was not until this class that I now feel very comfortable using wikis and my own podcasts in the classroom. I use blogs on a weekly basis in my classroom and also understood how to use other’s podcasts on my class website, but now I can create my own and can create a wiki for story writing ideas in my classroom.

The course has reiterated my districts mantra “We are a district of learners for learners.” When a teacher understands that self discovery is far more lasting and beneficial for a student than secondary knowledge they have finally found out what true education can be. Web 2.0 tools allow students to become the experts and receive far more perspective than they would ever get in a text book or lecture. They interact with information and the teacher becomes a guide rather than simply a lecturer. Teachers must also recognize that in order to stay in tune with the 21st century they must constantly learn themselves. In this respect, teachers must use web 2.0 tools themselves in order to continue learning for them. Guiding students to become life long learners by example is a powerful skill that will be left on them long after they leave our classrooms.

Educators must constantly monitor the technological landscape because it is constantly in flux. We truly need to take classes every year and research constantly in order to stay remotely close to all the innovation that can be used in our classrooms.

My two goals for the upcoming year is to podcast an entire class activity and have the class blog about what they hear and to have a class wiki for writing in my literature strategies class. Both of these goals require computers, which are not always available and computer literate students, also not always available. How can I overcome theses obstacles? I plan on either finding computers or writing grants for computers. I plan on lobbying in my school and in grade school for typing and computer classes to be a requirement and not just an elective and if it is not take time after school to help my students become computer literate. I am preparing future generations and when you prepare one for the future you need to use tools and information as closely related to the future as you can.