Essential Question 11

How have you , and will you continue to “Learn the 21st Century” and allow your students this experience in your classroom?

"We have a responsibility to be certain that our students are prepared for the modern world which currently exists – not the world in which we grew up." (EDET 677, n.d.).  This is such a great statement and so important that we keep it in mind everyday. Through this course we have explore how much we need to keep the classroom changing to keep up with the quickly changing world around us.
One of the most effective ways for me to learn about new technologies and stay relevant in my classroom is to listen to my students. I take time to let them tell me about the new apps they are into and the games they are playing. They absolutely love to teach me about the latest trends and always want me to download apps and play against them. It's a really great way for me to foster positive relationships with my students and keep up with the whirlwind of technology in their lives. I stumbled upon this article by Kara Wyman lists 5 quick and easy ways to let students help us stay relevant in the digital age (Wyman, 2018).  I am excited about trying a couple this school year and may even start the first day with a quick discussion about the best technology of the summer.

Professional development is another effective way to continue learning about best practices in the current times. However, it is not professional development in the sense of flying somewhere to gather with a group of people and learn. Not to say that isn't effective, it just isn't always realistic. If we truly want to stay relevant, then what better way than to use social media to connect with others around the state (and world). "Making professional connections via social networking can not only result in a lot of great sharing of ideas and resources, but also combat the sense of isolation that many teachers experience." (Caron, 2017). I have a colleague who is very active on Twitter and she has helped me get my feet wet. Twitter is a place of endless resources and a wonderful space for teachers all over to share and collaborate. 

Lastly, this course has given me an opportunity to become more involved in our school's makerspace. Through this experience, I will be able to challenge students and myself to step out of the traditional school box and push the boundaries to explore and invent using technology of today.  I cannot wait to start making alongside my students.


Resources:
Caron, S. W. (2017, February 3). Using Twitter for Professional Development. Retrieved July 26, 2019, from https://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/using-twitter-for-professional-development.shtml

EDET 677. (n.d.). Week Eleven: How have you , and will you continue to “Learn the 21st Century” and allow your students this experience in your classroom? [Web log post]. Retrieved July 26, 2019, from https://uasrobotics.wordpress.com/2019/05/25/how-have-you-and-will-you-continue-to-learn-the-21st-century-and-allow-your-students-this-experience-in-your-classroom/

Wyman, K. (2018, November 16). 5 Easy Ways Teachers Can Stay Relevant in the Digital Age. Retrieved July 26, 2019, from https://education.cu-portland.edu/blog/classroom-resources/easy-ways-teachers-can-stay-digitally-relevant/