Am I Ready For the 21 Century?

Hello readers!  Welcome once again to Mr. Durnell's World!  I am still thinking about technology.  I just can't seem to stop thinking about it! After all, it's everywhere.  In fact, I would not be able to reach all of you wonderful readers if it weren't for the laptop that I have sitting here on the couch with me.  I do enjoy technology and use it regularly, but I admit I do not have to have technology all the time like some people do.  In fact, sometimes it nice to have a break from it!  It's nice to take a bike ride (with no mp3 player or Ipod!),and just enjoy nature and your thoughts. I don't think people do this enough nowadays, they are always "plugged in" to something.

This brings me to my classroom.  I do find technology useful in the classroom, but I admit to being selective with the technology that I decide to use.  I want to make sure that the technology is useful, and that it meets a real learning objective, and is not just in use for the use of using technology (tongue twister!)

I think that there are certainly skills that children need to know how to do.  A student should know how to use "spell check" to check the spelling of their work for example.  They also should know how to use search engines and how to copy and paste.  These are all very important 21st century skills.  They will use these skills throughout the rest of their schooling (including college) and throughout their lives.  I must teach students these skills, just as I teach them how to use the index and glossary in a book.

Luckily, there is a computer lab class that students have once a week with the computer lab teacher.  This helps to reinforce skills that I teach and also introduce new ones.  Preparing students for the 21st century really needs to be a team effort.

Going forward, I think that some of the challenges that I face are being that I am somewhat traditional in many ways and not always on the "cutting edge" of things.  I am not always up on new technology innovations and usually end up being introduced to them by other people (usually our building coach!). Once I get going on something though, I really enjoy it.  I have something called a Mobi, which is a wireless device that allows you to control your computer while being anywhere in the room.  This way, if you are showing something on your screen for students, you do not have to sit right by your computer. You can be in the mix with your students.  I love using the Mobi and use it just about every day.  This is something that I know I never would have come across on my own, but once I was introduced to it, I found it it very useful. I think that is my philosophy basically, just be open to these new things.  Technology is like other things after all, not all of it is good and not all of it is bad.  You have to try different things to decide what is useful and what works for you.  My goal for this year is to try at least five new technology based learning skills in the classroom.  I will let you know how it goes! Wish me luck!