Is one enough?/Chapter 9 reflection

Now that I have all of this information about technology and how to use it in the classroom, I truly can't imagine how I didn't use this before. I look back and think, how did I teach classes without knowing this stuff?? Number one: Things just seem easier with technology and Number two: my kids need and want this stuff. But I still wonder, what about the older teachers?

Situation:
You have forty teachers in your school building, 30 are excellent teachers with/without technology, and ten of them are excellent teachers with technology. And then you have 10 teachers without any clue about technology and/or high students at all and are just there waisting space and time. How do I get all 40 teachers integrated in technology and how do I get technology in all classrooms?

I see that what I have gained now from this class will make me better, make my students better, and in the end make my school better, but is one enough? I find myself unsatisfied with the fact that 10 teachers in my school are technology ready, where 30 others are not. I find myself unsatisfied with the fact that I just learned all types of technology that will make my classes better, yet there are older teachers out there who will never use technology or even care about what they are missing through the lack of technology in their classrooms.

Is one enough?

Revised Technology Autobiography

As of June 4th, if I would have been asked to complete a quiz over the following words, blog, wiki, podcasts, moviemaker, digital storytelling, digital (for that matter), and myspace, where one had to write the definition, I would fail. Actually, these words might lead to some very interesting definitions. Moviemaker- Brad Pitt give me a call, I have the perfect role for you! Myspace- a bubble of 3 feet in every direction that surrounds me.When I was in school, power point was a new thing, and excel was everyone’s dream spreadsheet creator. So as for my technology autobiography, I am excellent at power point and can budget my checkbook on-line! But, as for today’s technology, I feel lost. However, I am extremely excited about it and willing to learn anything. For some reason, I have no idea what some of these words mean, but they sound interesting, especially the word, wiki!Even though my lack of technology knowledge proves that I have seldom used technology in the classroom, I still believe that computers for the future in classrooms are a must, and our trees are begging for them. Imagine if all students entered the workplace with the know-how to create documents, presentations, and to communicate on the world wide web. As of right now, my students know I can create a power point, check email, and add printers to their computers, but what if I could bring Spain to them through technology and had the resources available for them. Our entire thought of interactive activities would change. The possibilities are endless; what if teachers all had the know-how to show students an actual bullfight in Spain, happening at that moment? Would our students not see, believe and learn differently?Technology in the classroom can only be a good thing, with the appropriate know how of usage.

As of June 29th I am officially a technology guru. I have learned that Brad Pitt might want to hold off on calling me, since my movies do not exactly involve him or a theater. Movie making, podcasting, and blogging are three types of technology, which I have learned are going to help me teach my students. I wonder what they will think when I walk in this next year with technology written on my forehead. I am just so excited about the possibilities. In the past two years I have found myself conforming to the old teaching strategies of paper and pencil, always with the knowledge that this could be different but never with the know-how of how to do it. Look out students, here comes professor McCoy with enough technology to bring Spain to your fingertips.