We, as teachers, definitely live in a technological world. Most of us have students who know more about using technology than we do! Using technology is a way to speak the language of our students. It engages them and offers another way to learn and be a part of the classroom.
In my classroom, we are starting to offer podcast videos for students to watch when they are absent or need a little extra help. Our special education department has used these videos when working with students who have learning disabilities as a way to provide another means for learning. We also use websites, texting programs, and response clickers to communicate with our students.
Education is a dynamic field, or at least it should be. I feel as though our M.Ed. program at St. Mary's is all about finding a strategy that works for us and our students. It might also be that multiple strategies work for us. If 21st Century Learning is a way to help our students and we, as teachers, feel comfortable incorporating it into our classrooms, then we should try to do so. This might mean learning about what resources are out there or learning how to use a new piece of technology. It might also mean messing up a few times and learning from mistakes. No changes happen overnight. Perhaps little by little, I can begin to speak the language of my students if I am willing to learn and try new things.
