This chapter begins by telling us that there is way too much for teachers to learn when it comes to technology. (pg 38) However, November states on the next page that teachers don't need to know a lot of technical skills; they need to know how to manage the technology. I think he means the physical management and integration of technology into everyday lesson plans. In addition, teachers need the knowledge of collaboration. In the future teachers will need to collaborate on real world problems, with parents, and the community into order to perform best practices.
I think USD 313 has already started in our own backyard when it comes to collaboration. We collaborate with our teams already often by using googledocs. That is a great beginning. Some of us may be ready for the next step which is collaboration beyond our own school and district.
As we embark on the 21st century classroom roles change. Students become problem solvers, learners, experts. Sometimes they even assume the role of the teacher. The teacher moves to a facilitator role. The changing roles often cause fear in teachers, and this is only natural. I love the last statement on page 54, "if fears are articulated, validated, and discussed, adults are in a better position to learn new skills."
Hopefully, we have enough trust in each other that we as professionals can address our fears together and help each other to overcome them.
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Chapter 3 was a little overwhelming for me. November is really telling us that we will need to change our roles as teachers and let others step in to help teach as well as letting students begin to start guiding their own learning. I find this thought exciting and scary at the same time.
ReplyDeleteLetting others have access to our classroom to enhance and collaborate is not new, but the how it might be done in the future will be.
I like the video project idea, it might be something we can do in science or in social studies using "local experts" to link us with the community.
Problem solving on a big scale would be a benefit to using collaboration, but again I find it a little scary as it will take us out of our regular roles and change how we approach education. Are we ready for this? Some will be, the challenge will be to move ourselves out of our comfort zone and into a new one.
You are so right, Tanya. We have to teach students to think, analyze, and reason.
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