Blog C

Students of the twenty first century are communicators, media and technology savy, and collaborative. In order to be what it means to be a twenty-first teacher, I must possess these characteristics also, along with many others. Three main characteristics of a twenty first century teacher are that they can adapt, take risks, and be a visionary. These three characteristics are essential for richness and engagement in the classroom. All three of characteristics are hard to achieve and portray without the use of the high-standing technology of the twenty-first century world and classroom. Throughout my practicum experience I have seen technology being used in very creative ways and I feel that the more schools and teachers provide access to these experiences, the more beneficial and engaging a student’s learning experience will be. Technology opens many doors for children and will be a major part of my classroom.

In order to be an adaptive educator I must be able to adapt lesson plans to fit the diversity of my student body yet also adapt lessons to engage my students. Since the students of today are incredibly technologically savy, using computers, videos, and gaming devices can be efficient in keeping their attention since it means using something they can easily work with and enjoy working with on a daily basis. Simple programs such, as Microsoft Word does not only have to be used as a place to write papers. It can be used as a tool to create stories, collages, articles, and letters. By adapting lesson plans and adapting the use of technology in the classroom, students will be more likely to want to be involved and even further their involvement inside and outside of the classroom setting. In my practicum placement students used classroom computers to play word games and publish their own stories. By giving the students to opportunity of publishing there stories using the computer, they were more determined to revise and edit their stories to create their best work. I feel that using this incentive, students were more focused and determined to be open-minded and work to the best of their abilities. In my own classroom, I will use programs such as Microsoft Word, Frames, etc. for students to publish their stories. By giving students this opportunity, they will be excited to learn not only about the computer programs but also making their own work sparkle. By creating students who are eager to use technology and want to learn more, I will be able to encourage more technology to be brought into my classroom. Technology in my classroom will not be forgotten. It is a tool that is very adaptive, as a teacher of the twenty-first century is. It is a very adaptive tool and the project, activity, and research possibilities are endless.

Risk-taking can often frighten teachers, especially ones new to the field, yet risk-taking can be just the thing to engage interest and collaboration of students. Having a set lesson plan can keep me organized as well as my students but is it always going to keep them interested and entertained? Are they always going to want to learn things my way? Taking risks in teaching is very beneficial. In a lecture, if a new topic boils up in a conversation, why not forget the lesson plan and work with the area the students are engaged and interested in knowing and learning more about and where they want to be involved. Have them “google it”, use GoogleEarth to find it, or even use blogs to learn more. Being able to find things on their own and even teach themselves something can sometimes be more beneficial. Of course the lesson plan needs to be presented but take risks in teaching it. Lectures are not always going to keep my students attention. Through my practicum experience I have certainty seen this to be true. Many students need to learn “hands-on”. As a student myself, I learn better with hands on activities and I have come to realize that this way of learning is becoming more and more common. With supervision I will let the students just look up random words, animals, or people. As a future teacher I will take the risk of building a volcano not knowing myself how it will work out. I will take the risk and let a student teach a lesson to the class that really strikes them as interesting. I will let them build a PowerPoint on a topic of interest. Why not? I feel it is important for students to be given the opportunity to learn on their own and discover new things. By opening up the internet to them, students feel as though they have control of their learning and with supervision, I will let my students become familiar with a common tool of there lives and futures and experiment with many of the possibilities that the internet has to offer.

To be a visionary means to use your imagination. In order to entertain, keep interest, and teach I must use my imagination. Throughout my practicum experience I have been given numerous lessons to teach or books to read to the students. I have come to learn that I can not just read a book; as strange as that sounds. Any one can read a book to a class and tell them to write about it. Any one can give out a picture for students to color. Any one can have students look at pictures of whales on the Internet. A teacher can have students read together about whales and the types, use the details about the types to explore and find pictures of each type of whale, and even take the risk and use their imagination to draw the types of whale and a whale they create. Students use their imagination all the time whether it be playing “house”, drawing, writing a story, or even spitting out excuses for being late to class. If students use their imagination they must enjoy doing it. So, why shouldn’t I use my imagination to? I feel as though my imagination’s ability has expanded greatly from my practicum experience. I have created lessons, revised lessons, asked for student input, and have been given teacher advice. When I am a teacher I will keep students engaged with my imaginations and their own.

Students and teachers of the twenty-first century have become evolved in the use of technology in and out of the classroom. Throughout my practicum experience I have seen the many benefits of using technology in the classroom and have realized that the possibilities are endless. I have thought about the numerous lesson plans I have created and have come up with many ways technology could be incorporated. I have realized/learned that technology can be integrated into any lesson and this addition to any lesson is beneficial. In order for students to learn, they need a teacher who adapt, use their imagination, and take risks. With the use of technology all of these characteristics of a twenty-first century are possible. Technology creates for new possibilities to create, teach, learn, and explore. I will be a twenty-first teacher. I will be a visionary, is adaptive, and takes risks. Why not use technology? It opens many doors of the twenty-first century classroom. I will use technology in my classroom.