The Next Chapter
Mary Blanton
A speech by President Obama about the status quo in education.
I once sat in a meeting where a colleague asked, "What's the problem with the status quo?" I'm sure the look on my face did not hide my thoughts on his question. One of the dangers of education is the belief that the status quo is good enough because when it is maintained, it hinders innovation, and it suggests that a person has nothing left to learn or can't do something better than what is already being done. I do not foresee myself ever getting to a place in my life, either professionally or personally, where I feel I am done growing and learning. Each year I get better at what I do, but I also know that I have so much left to learn.
One specific goal of mine is to begin to incorporate more technology in my classroom, and not just as a novelty, which sometimes it can become. After completing a fully online master's program, I realize there are so many more ways to teach students and get them involved in content material outside of the traditional classroom setting. Many of my students have limited or no access to computers or the Internet when they leave school, which is a struggle, but I think we do our students a disservice when we don't require the use of technology - especially because of the demands and expectations that will be placed on them in their future educations and careers. I have found over the last several years that my students will access the resources they need to be successful (eg. computers and technology) if the work is engaging and relevant.
We have specific technology classes at the school where I work that focus on basic computer skills, web design, and video journalism, for example, but so far, these classes are isolated. Students learn how to design a web page, but they rarely use their knowledge outside of that specific class. I can envision blending the knowledge my students learn in their technology classes with the content they learn in my English classes. Incorporating technology into my classroom will not only advance my students' knowledge and skills, but it will also require me to stay current on technological advancements. I never want to be the teacher that can't figure out how to make the technology work, which, unfortunately, is common in this profession.
One specific goal of mine is to begin to incorporate more technology in my classroom, and not just as a novelty, which sometimes it can become. After completing a fully online master's program, I realize there are so many more ways to teach students and get them involved in content material outside of the traditional classroom setting. Many of my students have limited or no access to computers or the Internet when they leave school, which is a struggle, but I think we do our students a disservice when we don't require the use of technology - especially because of the demands and expectations that will be placed on them in their future educations and careers. I have found over the last several years that my students will access the resources they need to be successful (eg. computers and technology) if the work is engaging and relevant.
We have specific technology classes at the school where I work that focus on basic computer skills, web design, and video journalism, for example, but so far, these classes are isolated. Students learn how to design a web page, but they rarely use their knowledge outside of that specific class. I can envision blending the knowledge my students learn in their technology classes with the content they learn in my English classes. Incorporating technology into my classroom will not only advance my students' knowledge and skills, but it will also require me to stay current on technological advancements. I never want to be the teacher that can't figure out how to make the technology work, which, unfortunately, is common in this profession.
Link to the Fulbright website.
Another future goal I have is to apply for the Fulbright Teacher Exchange program within the next couple of years. Immersing myself in a different culture and teaching within this culture will no doubt make me a better teacher, and it will give me the opportunity to learn about my profession from a different perspective. I currently teach an extremely culturally diverse group of students, and while I attempt to be as culturally aware as possible, there are times when miscommunication occurs because of cultural differences. I am not naive enough to believe that a few months in another country will help me understand all of my future students better, but I am sure it will give me a different perspective on learning and make me even more conscious of how I deliver information and content to all of my students.
I also see myself continuing in some sort of advanced degree program. As I near the end of this master's program, I realize how much I missed being involved in a learning community before I started this degree. Whether it's pursuing a master's in English, family counseling, or administration, I hope to continue in a formal learning environment in some capacity. I don't ever see myself leaving a classroom because my favorite part of this career is working with teenagers, but continuing work toward another degree will help me relate to my students as they work toward their future goals, and it will also give me even more tools to use within my classroom.
I also see myself continuing in some sort of advanced degree program. As I near the end of this master's program, I realize how much I missed being involved in a learning community before I started this degree. Whether it's pursuing a master's in English, family counseling, or administration, I hope to continue in a formal learning environment in some capacity. I don't ever see myself leaving a classroom because my favorite part of this career is working with teenagers, but continuing work toward another degree will help me relate to my students as they work toward their future goals, and it will also give me even more tools to use within my classroom.
The band, Yes, also sang about perpetual change.
The Greek philosopher, Heraclitus, once said that the only constant in this world is perpetual change, and this statement is especially true in education. We work in a field that changes based on student and community needs and in a world that is ever-evolving, particularly because of technology, which has made our global world smaller, and at the same time, it has given us access to an infinite amount of information and resources. As educators, we have to be able to utilize and grow with this technology in order to prepare our students for their future in this ever-changing world in which they will be expected to navigate.
(February 25, 2012)
(February 25, 2012)