Afraid of What the Future Holds?

Remember the whole Y2K scare…when the world was afraid that technology would not be able to keep up with us when the clock rolled over into the 21^st century?   Well, on January 1, 2000, we discovered that everything was okay and the technology held strong--it was able to keep up with the human race. 

Now that the 21^st Century is here, I am thinking quite the opposite…we (the human race) are scared that we are not able to keep up with technology!  I am not an ancient dinosaur, I graduated high school in the year 2000, yet I already feel I am running to keep up with all of this new and changing technology.  Although I do not feel the most competent in the technology skill of the 21^st century, I realize as an educator, it is my job to prepare my young students for this rapidly changing world.  I am using a SmartBoard for the first time this year.  During the training, I wasn’t so sure I would be able to incorporate this type of technology and activities into a classroom with first graders.  However, I practiced with it, created lessons and daily center activities and I have immersed my six year old students with daily activities on the SmartBoard.   

Technology is not the only 21^st skill (refer to my previous blog) my students are going to need in the ‘real world’.  Two other skills that are extremely important are communication and collaboration.  I feel my young students are going to be well prepared for these skills.  They are constantly faced with activities where they have to collaborate and communicate with their peers, such as working collaboratively in groups of 4-5 students to complete center activities (even on the SmartBoard).  I am stepping away as a ‘leader’ and taking the role as a ‘facilitator’.  I am giving my students opportunities to become the ‘leaders’ all while they are sharpening their 21^st century skills!   

For all the teachers afraid of the next new thing in technology…fear not!   

Techy Talk

Technology is the hot topic in schools now.  Have you ever thought about how 'tech savvy' you are?  I recently took a personal technology audit and was hit with the reality of how little I know.  I thought that since I am always showing my fellow educators how to do certain things on Word that I was pretty tech savvy.  Then, I got a wakeup call when I started my master’s program.  Prezi (bless you!), Moodle (yum??), Wiki (what!?)…what in the world is all of this!?  I have learned after one class that I am nowhere near as tech savvy as I thought I was.  Although I do meet some of the NETS for teachers standards, I do not feel that I am proficient in the majority of these standards.  My school corporation as a whole is attempting to advance in this growing field of technology.  With time, I know my coprporation and I will excel.  In my classroom, the main barrier for using technology is TIME!  For example, this year is my first year having a SmartBoard in my classroom and I have enjoyed creating lessons on it but there have already been days when I go to use my SmartBoard lesson and I can’t find it or the board freezes.  I must not have any fear of technology.  Technology is not going to disapper--it is only going to progress, so I must face it head on and do the best I can with it.  With technology practically progressing at the speed of light, my goal is to become knowledgeable in various types of technology so that I may better educate my students and prepare them for the 21st century.