For my first goal: to broaden my knowledge and comfort level with both local and global learning communities available for educators, I will need to spend some time online research the available resources. I could also look in to professional development opportunities in the area of online communities. One of my colleagues hosts a technology tutorial in the mornings, and he takes suggestions about the direction of his lessons. I could suggest he teach a class about both local and global learning communities and their applications in the classroom. I believe he has experience with the application in his classroom as well. I need to use the resources that are readily available in my school. I tend to get stuck in my classroom, in my own little bubble. I need to make time to leave my “bubble” and see what other teachers are doing in their classrooms. I am sure some of my colleagues are doing some very technologically progressive lessons. I have already begun discussions with my team about what they are doing with technology in their classrooms, and they have some great ideas.
To my colleagues in this course: Have any of you utilized online learning communities in your classroom? If so, what are some of the resources that you found helpful?
For my second goal: to become a more active member of my teaching team at school in the area of technology—more of a leader in the applications of technology in the classroom. I have already taken some initiative in my team—I scheduled a time to teach my team how to use their own homepages (with blogging, message boards, posting documents, homework turn-in, and posting grades securely). They seem excited and were happy I offered the lesson. The website is most definitely one of our untapped, valuable resources. I also joined a new committee at school because my team leader felt she was spread too thin—I took her place on the committee.
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Erin:
ReplyDeleteOur school system also offers technology sessions in which you can go and ask questions about anything you need assistance in. It really helps all teachers who utilize it because hearing what others are doing in the classroom helps stir up ideas for may teachers. It becomes a brainstorming session while learning how to work with the technology available in our classroom. It is very helpful!
Trisha
Erin, I think it is great that you are taking the inciative to take what you have learned and are learning to teach your colleagues. I know I have showed some of my colleagues a few of the things we have done and they are really excited to try them. I also think it is great you are going to see how your other teachers are teaching. I think this is something all schools should make their teachers do because other teachers are doing great things in class and sometimes we never get to see them because we stay in our "bubble". Nice job.
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