As a parent, I have quickly learned the true meaning of “it takes a village.” With two under two, my hands are full. Inevitably, one is crying or crawling in the direction of danger, but I am so fortunate to parent with a strong partner – a father who truly understands the inner-workings of the small, sensitive girl type.
Raising children is incredibly challenging – even in an ideal situation. I am lucky to be surrounded by a large, very involved, extended family. My whole life has been filled with family functions and outings to the countless museums, day trips, and birthday celebrations. My grandparents on both sides, my parents, in-laws, aunts and uncles, and cousins are precious people in my life, and I have been even more blessed in the last two years to watch all of these people love my children in ways that I cannot. Currently, this love mostly involves giving my oldest cookies, but I am sure that these roles will continue to evolve as my daughters get older. It takes a village.
Educating students and preparing them for “the real world” is an insurmountable feat. In addition to reading, writing, and arithmetic, students must be tech-savvy, media literate and effective communicators in multiple formats. They need to be able to think critically, analyze, and engage in a fast-paced, ever-evolving society. These skills are not ones that they will acquire in a lesson, a day, or even a school year. They must repeatedly be taught, refined, and honed. Again, it takes a
Since children today have become digital natives; they will never truly know a world that is not touched with technology. This means that the educational paradigm has to shift in order to keep up with the needs of our young learners (Jo, 2016). In the last thirty years, technological advances
With developments in technology growing exponentially, teachers must show students how to think critically and problem solve, using factual information as a primary resource. By mastering these skills, students become prepared for their college and careers, which will most likely involve some form of technology that has not yet been invented. This will influence many of the decisions I make as a teacher. Instead of assigning a reading passage and then comprehension questions to answer after, I can encourage students to discuss what they read and make connections to their own lives, research a topic for different perspectives or deeper details, or give students opportunities to present what they know to their peers and me in creative ways.
We are currently living in a digital age where our students are notably technologically proficient. This poses a challenge with how some of our students are currently learning (or trying to learn) in our classrooms. Many students have grown tired of reading dense texts for homework assignments and tired of listening to long, boring lectures from teachers at school. The way in which students are currently analyzing and interpreting texts that they read and videos that they watch have not been up to our standards here at North Windsor High School. The thing is, a lot of our teachers are also struggling between teaching with both print text and by digital means. North Windsor High School acknowledges the fact that many seniors graduate not having the digital skills and print text literacy necessary to lead successful lives after high school. We are beginning to implement some changes with our teaching methods and hope to incorporate technology and print text in different and more engaging ways.
Dana Mortenson uses her experience and knowledge to challenge educators to think outside their box, and begin to look towards the classrooms of the future. Mortenson is the co-founder and executive director of World Savvy and is considered to be an expert in the field of global education. In addition, Mortenson was quoted in saying, “I care passionately about preparing the next generation for responsible, engaged global citizenship in a world that is increasingly interconnected and interdependent.” The article focuses on two main themes. One is that the next generation classrooms will have a high capacity for using technology. Looking at today’s classrooms, it looks as if technology is already making its way into the classrooms. More
Course content and technology connect in a variety of ways. The Common Core Standards focus on what students need to be able to do by providing standards to help students reach college and career readiness by 12th grade. Students that are college and career ready in reading, writing, speaking, listening, and language are able to demonstrate independence and use technology and digital media strategically and capably. However, it is up to the teachers how they want their students to meet these standards. As long as students are able to meet the standards, it is the teacher’s choice how they teach it. Therefore, teaching in the 21st century requires educators to connect content through the effective use of technology in their instruction.
Technology has changed! In high school over the last fifty years there was no computers, smart phones, or even tablets. Today we have many different types of technology: computers, laptops, tablets, smart phones, smart watches, smart televisions, smart boards, microwaves, etc. Most of the technology that we have is used in the classroom. According to the article, “In the Future, Diverse Approaches to Schooling” the author described the different types of schools Conventional, Online, Hybrid, and Broker of Instructional Experiences. Also in the article, “The Role of Technical Education”, the author described students going to a vocational school to learn hands on training. While some differences between technology in the past and technology in the present are noticeable, the similarities are pronounced.
Although books are great means of learning, the process of looking up everything in them was both tedious and time consuming. In present days, students possess the power to hold all information at the press of a button. This convenience saves time and allows students to learn specifically what they need. Today, children would be at a disadvantage if they did not have Internet access at home. One article stated that children at their school are given laptops to aid in their learning; however, nine percent of the children do not have Internet access at home. With a converted curriculum shifted towards research and project based learning, it is impossible for these children to do what is expected of them in class (Monahan, 2014). Eighty five percent of America has Internet access, so it is no surprise that most curriculums in schools are primarily based on computers nowadays. Children are no longer confined to the walls of their classrooms as technology improves and provides new and efficient ways of learning and collaborating with
Growing up in a home with both my parents, I was fortunate to be able to spend a lot of quality time with my father. We used to go out together and play soccer, baseball, and ride bikes. I remember we used to play a lot of old school video games and my mother would get pretty upset at the hours we spent playing and not doing anything productive. In my point of view, our relationship was perfect; our bond was strong like any father and son. I was only four years old when my world was turned upside down. My life changed the day that my mom and my dad separated, I felt alone. The process of a divorce was too much for a child that age to handle; it was a hard time for me. Although I had no father figure for about 12 years because my dad moved
Education has evolved by leaps and bounds since the first appearance of the modern pencil in 1795. Today’s classroom’s are utilizing laptops, cellphones, tablets and multiple social media platforms.
Students throughout the 21st century can, without doubt, say that technology has been a part of their learning environment for a very long time. Which of course is true being that technology started to be placed throughout schools across the nation for the past 20-30 years. As students in the modern era, we have been taught through the use of technology, making educational goals attainable through various technology models. This includes computers, iPads, smart boards, projectors and even simple paper and pencils.
I had one of the best experience in my life being a mom welcoming new life in this world. I admit in the beginning I was only nineteen years old I had no job, no mature level, no clue how to raise a baby. In the beginning I was bit paralyzed with fear, but as months starting coming and going I became very sad to having excitement. I had create a living being that seems like a dream, but it was real person inside my body. I had no idea what the journey was going be like at all, I was not sure if he or she was going cherish and believable bond that would last whatsoever. The three stages I experience when having a baby in my stomach was during my pregancy , birth of my baby and even today.
As we navigate through the 21st century, technology in the classroom is becoming further predominant. iPads are replacing our textbooks, and we can research any desired topic on our smartphones. The impact that technology has had on today’s schools has been utterly momentous. Educators have now seen firsthand the numerous benefits of technology in the classroom. According to a study by IT Trade Association CompTIA, around 75 percent of educators have come to the conclusion that technology has a positive impact on the education process. Educators have also recognized the significance of developing these technological skills in students so they will be prepared to enter the workforce after they graduate (Cox). By incorporating technology in the classroom, teachers are setting our students up for a successful life outside of school. The increase of technology has even changed how teachers teach along with how
The complex social and historical foundations of education are rooted in the need to create a population of citizens capable of contributing to the continuing economic and political stability of our nation. First we were an agricultural society, then industrial, and now we are educating students for futures with that are yet unknown (explainvisualthinking, 2007). The new dynamic, created by the recent and rapid expansion of technology driven globalization has created the compelling need for technology infused education in our schools (Friedman, 2005). As an educational technology leader, I collaborate with other educators and families to create technology initiatives that will support educational technology in our schools.
As a child, I remember growing up in an area of Atlanta, Georgia called Mechanicsville. This area was very diverse with people from various socioeconomic backgrounds. Often, my mother would share valuable life lessons with my siblings and me. One, in particular, I remember even to this day is, “Life is only as challenging or motivating as you make it”. Originally, I did not quite understand the purpose of this aphorism; but as I got older, the meaning became quite clear. Although life for me has been both wholesome and unhealthy, in hindsight, it seemed better than my childhood friends. If you knew the real story, you would see that my life is not as perfect as it appears. Just to provide you with a little insight into my world, I had a
Being proficient in using technology will be a prerequisite for almost any employment for younger students. It is the school’s job to prepare many of these kids for employment, and that is especially true for the lower socioeconomic areas where students with computers at home are rare. Eisenberg and Johnson describe this basic skills education as the “laundry list” approach to computer education. By ‘list” they mean isolated skills, such as word processing, or searching the Internet. “Students need to be able to use computers and other technology flexibly, creatively and purposefully. All learners should be able to recognize what they need to accomplish, determine whether a computer will help them to do so, and then be able to use the computer as part of the process of accomplishing their task.”1