As mentioned in a previous post, we believe that a teacher in the 21st century is a facilitator in the classroom. The teacher’s role means then that she/he helps the students to gain understanding and learning through giving them the proper resources to achieve a goal. In regards to the use of 21st Century tools the teachers role is to make sure that they fully understand the tool. If they do not fully understand the tool they will not be able to teach the students the appropriate ways to use it, which can be detrimental to the student’s success. Once, the teacher understands the tool themselves they are able to teach the child the appropriate way to use it. Furthermore, not only are they able to properly demonstrate how to use it, they can encourage the students to explore the tool’s functions and challenge what both the teacher and student understand about it. For example, if a teacher asks their students to create a Twitter account without the teacher first doing it themselves and modelling how to do this in a safe and appropriate manner, it may result in the child not understanding what are appropriate things to tweet and exposing themselves to a potentially unsafe situation. By having the teacher first, familiarize themselves with the functions and nuances of Twitter and then modelling proper use through the process of creating it the teacher can make sure that they put the appropriate settings out so the child is not harmed online.
We believe that if the teacher does not feel confident using the tool then they need to think twice about using it in the classroom. It is the teacher's job to meet the Standard of Practice relating to “ongoing professional learning.” In regards to technology and ongoing professional learning the teacher may need to participate in workshops, research online or collaborate with other teachers to gain a better insight about the use of 21st Century tools in the classroom. As teachers we need to stay up to date with the new pedagogy to fully reach our students and technology is the newest way to reach them. We all need to take the steps to find the ways to integrate technology in our classroom. In relation to ourselves we are taking this course to work with other educators to collaborate and learn from them, creative ways to engage our students.
Authored by Jon & Emily
We believe that if the teacher does not feel confident using the tool then they need to think twice about using it in the classroom. It is the teacher's job to meet the Standard of Practice relating to “ongoing professional learning.” ......<----- As a teacher for preservice, I often notice how uncertain or worried new teachers are of taking risks, of doing things differently then what they know as learners or how they were taught in Teachers College or undergrad. I don't blame them to be honest. You need to feel completely confident and safe in order to take risks and being new at anything doesn't usually come with confidence. Sometimes this change of practise takes time and experience.
ReplyDeleteGet to understand it first by sharing it with colleagues at the school ...teamwork is always best!
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