Go Go Gadget Teacher

21st century Teacher = Master of Technology

Today's teacher must be a master of many trades. They must be technology savvy and up to date on popular trends.  The students of this generation move fast, and educators must be have an action plan. When educators begin to look at learning through the eyes of their students, they might begin to see that there is never a thing as too much technology.

In today's society, we are surrounded by gadgets. Tablets, ipods and netbooks have become common jargon in the hallways, and yet some schools and classrooms refuse to allow students to use them in the classroom.  However,  in Chawanakee Ca, a small 1:1 high school is allowing their students to do just that!

Mr Jon Corippo is the technology guru for the school. He believes that all students are a vessel to be filled with infinite technical knowledge.  His motto "Creating is more important than memorizing" is evident in the fact that he helps run a 1:1 high school. A 1:1 school means that there is one computer for very student. The school allows all students to use electronics, and has decriminalized the act of using technology during school hours. As long as a student asks permission, they may listen to their ipod, or have their cell phone out on their desk!

As our students become more technology driven, we too as educators must mirror that drive in our classrooms. We must  begin to create learning environments that foster appropriate use of technology. We must harness the use of social media networks as a means to reach our students.  It is our job to create divergent independent thinkers, and fill our students tool box with useful technology!

Collaborate. Communicate. Create.

Tonight we had a guest speaker via Google hang-out. Dr. Mike Vellmert, the Director of technology for the Rio school district in Oxnard, Ca. I was moved and inspired by his words of wisdom and what he said really resonated with my teaching philosophy and personal educational pedagogy.

Dr. Vellmert pontificated that  our role as educators is to step out of the box and ask ourselves what it is that we need to do for our students.  He described education as a jungle, and explained how some students can get caught up in the system.  He also mentioned that being an educator is a calling, not a profession because as an educator, you never really reach a professional level because an effective educator knows that there is always more to learn.

As educators, we must be innovative in our instruction because we are responsible for  preparing students for 21 Century jobs. The fact of the matter is that 65% of our students will be working in jobs that do not even exist yet! This means that as educators we must foreshadow the trends of what might be expected from the work force of the future. We must teach students the 3 C's of the future: Collaborate. Communicate. Create.

Project Based Learning (PBL) is one way to help students refine their 3 C's skills.  When teachers use projects as a basis for learning the students learn holistically how to collaborate, communicate and create. In Science, my 8th graders are currently working on constructing a model roller coaster for marbles using card stock and scotch tape . Working in teams of 4-6 members, this engineering project will teach my students about motion, velocity and momentum while challenging them to think critically. 

 Students working on constructing a paper roller coaster use collaboration
communication and creativity.