End of Semester Reflection

The final day of classes has come and passed.  I am on to the next step of my education and one step closer to achieving my dream of becoming a teacher.  This semester has brought me so many lessons and will surely help me become the great teacher I someday hope to be.  One of the most important things that I have learned this semester is the implementation of technology in the classroom.  In the video by ASCD Express in the link below, they talk about the importance of innovation and collaboration in the classroom to help students connect to the world around them.  I believe this is very important, giving students the skills and opportunities to collaborate with others and be apart of something bigger than just a simple assignment.  It is important to give these students collaborative opportunities, first with their peers and friends and then to others outside the classroom walls and the ability to eventually be a global collaborator.  This gives the students the sense of ownership and pride of their school work that they might not get with a basic assignment.

It is extremely important to be a lifelong learner and demonstrate that to our students.  The classroom and more specifically the technology in our classroom has changed drastically in the past twenty years.  What does that say about what the classroom will be like for me in my 35 to 40 year teaching career?  It will change drastically and if I don't keep up with the change I will be left behind.  Using twitter is a great tool to constantly be learning new things and staying ahead of the curve. In the link below by Educational Technology and Mobile Learning, they outline 25 ways twitter can help you in your teaching and is a great resource to help a teacher who doesn't understand why they should use twitter.  It is extremely important today for teachers to be connected and collaborate and learn from each other if we are going to continue to provide great learning for our students.

In conclusion, this semester has been another big step in my journey to becoming a great teacher.  Next semester will provide new learning and challenges that will push me forward. I am excited and eager to take on these upcoming challenges and look forward to the learning that will occur to help me become a great teacher.

http://www.ascd.org/ascd-express/vol5/507-video.aspx

http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2013/06/25-ways-twitter-can-help-you-in-your.html

Waterhen Experience

Recently I had the opportunity to teach teacher up in Waterhen how to use Nearpod in their classrooms.  This was quite the experience to say the least.  The teachers were extremely receptive to our presence and were eager to learn.  I taught on Nearpod which is an interactive presentation tool that the students follow along and participate in the presentation with the teacher.  I was quite intimidated teaching to these teacher because I was teaching to teachers who have much more experience then I do and I did not know how they were going to react to the application.  It turns out most of the teacher found the presentation quite informative and they asked me a lot of questions.  When a lot of questions are being asked it can fell overwhelming at times but I was able to stay calm and handle it with the help of my fellow teacher candidate Ward.  Overall it was an extremely valuable experience going somewhere I have never been and teaching a tool that I have learned  It will be an experience I won't soon forget.