It’s only the beginning of my third full week as a teacher candidate and I am amazed with how much I’ve learned thus far in such a short period of time. All of the educators that I’ve come into contact with have a wealth of knowledge, experience, and passion and I feel that my learning process is continually on overdrive. Today, Lisa Neale, Principal of the 21st Century Fluencies Team within the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board, came to speak to our 8Y59 class about the technological programs and initiatives being implemented within this board.
Lisa spoke about so many areas and aspects of education that have resonated with me. She stressed the importance of the learning process as collaborative, not just for students but for educators as well. Effective teachers make the commitment to learn, especially within the realm of technology, alongside co-workers and even their own students. I was also extremely impressed with the HWDSB’s online “Learning Commons” which is a digital space in which all of this board’s staff and students are connected together. It’s a place where teachers and students can communicate with each other and collaboratively learn together. I wish I had access to this site to experience its functions and benefits first-hand, but you need to actually be a part of the board to gain access. Lisa also referred to the benefits of “blended learning”—the mix of a face-to-face learning environment with an online learning environment. If the primary goal of educators is to foster the learning processes of students, then teachers must find a way to actively engage today’s learners. Many teachers have taken on such blended learning initiatives and created 21st century classrooms as a means to reach this goal.
Again, I’m left inspired and motivated. I’m inspired by all of these amazing educators who have come to the realization that there’s a whole new culture of how students are learning and have been experimenting with various technological approaches to cultivate the learning of 21st century students. I’m motivated as a student teacher to learn more about implementation of technology within education and to actually follow through with what I’ve learned during practicum and in my future classroom. Did I also mention that I’m overwhelmed? There’s a whole technological world out there that I’m slowly familiarizing myself with. I’ll get there soon...
I am so so inspired by you when reading this post. While you give the specific examples that Lisa discussed, you also clearly emphasized the bigger picture. The one where networked educators are a resource and support for one another. One where the implementation of new innovations and new pedagogues means staying current and thinking critically about current pedagogues.
ReplyDeleteI wish I could say that that "overwhelmed" feeling will disappear. Maybe for some it has. Not me.
I wonder, how will you take action and leadership in your current school to begin implementing the approaches that you've discussed here?
I think that is part of the beauty of technology though: the overwhelmed feeling never does disappear because there is always something new and innovative coming out. I think that if you stop feeling overwhelmed, it's probably because you are comfortable with what you know and aren't looking hard enough for new and better technology!
ReplyDeleteIt is really great to see HWDSB embracing many different types of technology though. They aren't afraid to try new things, and I think it will really help their students learn more effectively.
Sarah,
ReplyDeleteWow! Thank you and it was an absolute pleasure and an inspiration for me to spend time with 8Y59 class sharing and the discussion was rich. I truly believe that we learn first and lead second. Questions matter more than answers and we never, ever stop learning. Connecting with each other in a networked way is authentic and real world. Educators must be seen as real world learners who take risks, use today's technology and tools where the focus is on collaborating in a blend of ways.