Teaching Tomorrow: My Vision for Authentic Tech-Driven Learning in the Classroom 

On the title page of this website, I have outlined three big ideas: wit, wisdom, and world-class learning. As I take more time to consider those three ideas in conjunction with completing my Master's degree in Educational Technology, I realize that I have a lot more learning to do. I have committed myself to be a lifelong learner, not for the sake of learning, but for the purpose of continuing to share knowledge, resources, and skills with the communities I can reach as an educator. With learning comes planning, trying, failing, and reflecting. It is a cycle that repeats the next day, and the day after that, and each day it changes you. Every day is a learning opportunity- especially if you know what you want to learn. As I considered wit, I realized that wit has to do with "outsmarting" the tasks you are working on sometimes. Applying technology to everyday planning tasks can be a witty way to manage time effectively as teachers. When I continued to consider wisdom, I decided it is a wise practice to prepare students for the real world by implementing technology in authentic scenarios in the classroom learning environment- this idea is highlighted a lot in my work, and I continue to need to learn more about it. And lastly, when I think about world-class learning, I think about students who are empowered by their technology use to share work in meaningful ways with the world. These three goals are a way I am committing myself to continue learning and growing in my implementation of technology in the classroom. Technology is not optional anymore in the classroom- it's essential. The truth that I am learning is that technology can fit into all three of these ideas- wit, wisdom, and world-class learning.

Wit: Applying Technology for Every Day Planning Tasks in the Classroom 

It is a wise thing to maximize our time as educators. This is something I am still navigating as only a 3rd year teacher in a large school with a high number of students who receive extra support. Small groups are valued heavily in my teaching practice and are sacred to my district. They make sure each schedule block for literacy and math has opportunities for independent work so that students who require more specialized instruction get it. With a 40-minute planning time and generally large class sizes, there always feels like there is not enough time in the day to plan small groups intentionally and with universal design for learning in mind. Throughout my experience in the master's program, I have continued to gather resources and knowledge about using AI effectively. Artificial Intelligence can help us solve problems, and can act like Google, yes. But did you know it can also help structure, plan, and give you ideas for instruction and small group methods using the resources you already have? Furthermore, I've learned that there are specific artificial intelligence resources for education, and students use them too, like Magic School AI. Time is always of importance, as there is never enough time in teaching. Using our wit, trial and error, and each other, AI is something we can learn to wield properly to help us do our best teaching. This is one area I seek to continue to grow in as an educator to support my capabilities in the classroom. It can even summarize lesson plans if you're working from a pre-made curriculum like we do in my district. I'm committed to continuing to use my wits to plan small groups and share this knowledge and skill with other educators in my building (and you!). 

Wisdom: Implementing Technology in Authentic ways to Teach Technology Skills 

Wisdom is having experience. When we, as educators, don't teach technology skills effectively, our students have less wisdom with technology. Lack of wisdom with technology can lead to inappropriate usage, inefficient usage, and not knowing how to use it. Technology is not just a tool for teachers- it is often a staple for students. In another blog on my webpage, you can read all about how a second grader was trying to find one thing with their iPad, but unfortunately did not know how to use a search engine to find what they were looking for effectively. This led to some tough conversations about technology usage skills. When we forgo technology in our classroom activities, we aren't, by default, keeping students safe. We are keeping them illiterate in technology skills, which is something I have been guilty of. Is it always easy to have 28 second-graders using a new app on their iPads? No. It isn't necessarily my favorite thing to teach, but the more I've learned and used technology myself, the more I've learned how crucial it is that our students know how to use it in meaningful ways to learn, too. We need to consider what activities could be useful and effective for helping students be literate in internet safety, navigating apps they'll use, and enhancing their ability to share their work. I've found great activity ideas on Edutopia about safe activities to teach technology skills. I've also used pre-existing apps to consider ways I can get students ready for writing using technology, as that is a large transition for them from 2nd to 3rd grade. This is an area of trial and error for me as an educator. It takes me out of my comfort zone, and I'm excited to explore ways to be wise with technology even more with my students next year. 

World-Class Learning: Promoting Student Agency through Technology Use 

World-class learning employs the idea that students get to take ownership of how they learn. The student-centered learning approach is often more difficult to implement than it seems on paper. Technology can help students take ownership of their learning by providing options. Instead of constant pencil and paper to see what our students know, what if we could offer them a video reflection, or a brainstorm board related to the learning topic? What if they could make a slideshow or create a flowchart? Every opportunity for choice that students have is a choice for them to be engaged, choose a way to demonstrate knowledge that makes sense to them, and provide them with an opportunity to practice technology skills. These formats also make it easier to save, share, and send work to their peers, parents, or me, their teacher! Technology is not only convenient, but it is also a great way to promote student ownership of learning. My goal for world-class learning is to promote more choice when it comes to opportunities to demonstrate learning in my classroom. One great resource I want to learn how to use and implement in my classroom is digital choice boards. This website allows educators to make and share choice boards with "branches" on them and the option to upload different resources to support the different choices (videos, writing apps, etc.).