ETEC has provided me with several Aha moments. First, even though I am a digital immigrant, I can learn to be just as proficient as most of the digital natives I teach. Technology is an empowering tool, and if I choose to integrate it correctly into my classroom, I can provide my students with the skills they need to think critically and be productive members of society. I also believe the new technologies I have learned will provide me with unique opportunities to teach things in new, relevant ways.
Second, technology is important, but so are the daily face-to-face interactions we have with our students. Today’s learners still value the role teachers play in the classroom, so making technology human will remain an important goal of mine.
A third aha moment came in the e-portfolio itself. As an English teacher, I have always valued writing portfolios and see the value an e-portfolio will provide for my students. Since portfolios are reflective in nature, they not only showcase a student’s ability to provide insight to selected pieces, but they can also showcase their creative use of technology.
Even though I’m working on getting my LIS certification, I am still a classroom teacher. In fact, I am thrilled about having the opportunity to use many of the technologies I have learned in this class with my students. Being able to share blogs, wikis, Glogster, Google Earth, Voki, Jing, and many others will help provide me with a firsthand account of how technology can transform a classroom. I believe it will be through these experiences that I will learn to become a better library media specialist as well.
Fortunately, my educational philosophy dealt very much with the role of teachers in the 21st century. I am a firm believer that as educators we must change if we plan on challenging and shaping the minds of those we teach. My future goals include keeping up with the latest trends in technology and sharing with others what I have learned. Since I will continue to grow as both an educator and a learner, I expect my educational philosophy will change as well. I look forward to many of the other technologies I will discover and plan on continuing the development of my e-portfolio.
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