My Experience with Blogs . . .

Most of my experience with blogging has been reading my grandchildren's blogs.  What an exciting and wonderful way to keep up-to-date with all their activities and family life.  There are not too many moments that I missed.  I have felt a very big part of their lives even though I am not always near or with them.

This is my first blog experience and I hope to use it with my students.  It could be a tool for students to use to journal their experiences and reflections for Teacher Cadet practicums and my work-based learning/internship students.  Now that I am taking the time to become proficient with its use, I hope to incorporate it into my classroom options for students.

The Challenges of Learning in an Online Environment . . .

Online learning requires one to be self-motivated and self-disciplined.  During the summer that can be a challenge for a teacher.  It requires tuning out all the distractions and prioritizing my time.  But overall, online learning offers flexibility, the convenience of working from home, and at my own pace.  It seems to fit my learning style.  Sometimes technology can be overwhelming and the fast pace of learning in a group presents a challenge.  Online I can work at a slower pace, and revisit information without getting lost in the faster pace of others in a classroom setting.  

What I Hope to Learn . . .

I am always excited to learn about what is new in technology and how I might use it in my classroom to increase student learning and engagement.  At first it seems so simple, information so accessible and usable.  Quite unlike how I learned to be a teacher.  The first workstation computer was just being developed and beginning to be launched. 

I must admit it is information overload, and most of the time I feel like I'm the one crashing, not the computer. "T3 - Transforming Thinking through Technology" is District 833's latest initiative to implement an instructional transformation through technology.  It is the realization that the future requires all of us to be technology literate to be competitive in today's world and requires us to seek out new information to apply to the classroom. Most importantly it is the "thinking" skill sets learned in becoming competent in technology in taking risks, innovating, problem solving, planning, analyzing, making decisions,  and collaborating that will far exceed the longevity of the fast evolving computer devices of our time.  

I am a Family Consumer Science teacher and Work Based Learning Coordinator in the South Washington County School District at East Ridge High School.  The courses I currently teach are Fashion Design, Teacher Cadet, Teen Issues and coordination of the Related Service Occupations WBL/Internship Program. 

I am passionate about helping students learn how to make informed decisions when discovering and choosing their career paths through a balance of academic skills, 21st century workplace skills, technology competence and relevant, real world experiences. By taking this course I hope to develop competence in using technology and motivate students to use it to support their learning.