Before teaching internationally, I had what I now consider limited access to technology. My last year, the school purchased enough to have 6 computers in the English and Math classrooms. Sadly, that is more than most schools. We also had the weekly lab time scheduled but had to use Study Island. It was mandated that we use it because the school purchased it. However, with a classroom of 30, I had a difficult time figuring out how to rotate those 6 computers and still “cover material” for the state test. While my teaching practices didn’t revolve around the test, I still felt compelled to give my students some basics for taking the test. I have always attempted a more holistic approach, but the pressure was enormous. It was also the reason I left the US. I couldn’t leave the profession, but I couldn’t continue to work in North Carolina. Also, working in a very urban school comes with its own set of difficulties. These students need something more because school and life are drastically different for them. They have street smarts but if the lesson wasn’t something that pertained to real life, they were not invested. I think this is true for children all over the world.
My first year teaching in Taiwan was the first year that all secondary students were going to a 1-1 environment. I didn’t want the computer to be a babysitter, but I had no idea what I was doing. My love of technology is what saved me. Send me to a “gadget” store and I am like a kid in a candy shop. I can spend hours “playing” with the latest gadgets. I would often get bored once I feel like I figured something out. I am no means an expert! When I do a PD at work, my opening statement is always, “I will often try something new my students that I have never tried before. I am not afraid if it doesn’t work out exactly like I want. It’s a learning experience for both myself and the students.” The journey must begin somewhere.
In the first few months of teaching in Taiwan, my students decided to do everything on their computers. As I mentioned, I was a newbie at 1-1. So, I asked my students, “What do you want to do? Where do you want to keep your work, drive or notebooks (paper/pencil)?” It was a resounding, “COMPUTER!” That entire year was a learning experience for me. I learned Google Apps, Edmodo, and iMovie (still at the basic level). Not to mentioned I had never owned a MacBook, but owned an iPad 1 and several iPods. All my previous computers were PCs. I didn’t allow this new technology to overwhelm me.
In Shaping Tech for the Classroom, “So, let’s not just adopt technology into our schools. Let’s adapt it, push it, pull it, iterate with it, experiment with it, test it, and redo it, until we reach the point where we and our kids truly feel we’ve done our very best.” I want my students to leave my class with skills that they will find useful. I have never met any teacher who wanted to be like those in:
So what happens? Where is the passion that most had during University? How can the veterans and new teachers gain help and information? What can be done to foster true change?
“If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.” ~ Lao Tzu
Ms. Marcum's Mission 