Tuesday, July 9, 2013

#kinderblog13 Confessions

"This is my confession... " -Usher

The good news, I did not get somebody else pregnant while dating another person. Talk about a confession!

The bad news, I did not get the poster insert AND there is little to confess. I am pretty much an open book.

I will confess that I wanted to post the video for the song, but it was a little risqué. I also confess that I listen to music that is not really Kindergarten appropriate. Sorry Dr. Jean, I do not bring you home with me. The sad part is, some of my students come in singing the songs I listen to.

So after some thought, here it is...

I DO NOT know everything about technology! 

I am confident in what I do know, but I do not know everything. I am flattered that people in my school automatically come to me with all things technology, but I do not know how to retrieve deleted emails, get a virus off of your computer, or hook up your wireless printer to the network.

I  DO consider myself versed in integrating technology in education (thank you master's degree, Twitter, Pinterest, and sleepless nights). I think the tricky thing about being an "expert" in this department is the definition of expert. The list of programs, apps, or devices you can use "competently" does not define an expert in technology in education. Being successful can be measured by your ability to be flexible and innovative in the use of tech tools, your commitment to staying connected with other educators, and your drive to continue to learn in and out of the classroom. Those things I CAN help you with.

Technology is constantly changing. It is not like math, 2+2 always equals 4 (unless your 5 years old and do not have a strong number sense yet). It is not humanly possible to know EVERYTHING about technology because as soon as you figure it out, something new has come along. That is why it is essential for effective teachers to be flexible in their use of tools and not use technology for the sake of using it, but because it enhances the learning experience.  At the end of the day, my job is to prepare students for our global society and to be "college and career ready" (do you have that memorized yet-hehehe)

If you give a man a fish, you will feed him for a day, TEACH a man to fish and he is fed for a lifetime.

TEACH your students to fish and maybe pass a pole to Mrs. Doe down the hall who needs her projector bulb changed. I need an infographic at the very least!

One last confession - I can't fish because I do not like worms... or spiders, or mosquitoes, or any other bug, not even ladybugs!

2 comments:

  1. Love the confession and glad you are along for the ride! Technology changes so fast and its hard to integrate it all into a classroom that changes even faster! Thanks for sharing your reflection w us!

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  2. I am also the person many in my department come to when they have a tech related question and there is so much I don't know but what I do know is how to find someone or some source that can help. Thank goodness there are so many people out there willing to share what they know about technology, if you know how to connect with others, you have so much information at your fingertips. Thanks for sharing your confession. BTW, I love to fish but don't like to touch the fish. I have found tools allow me to get the fish off of the hook without touching it or I just make my dad or husband take the fish off the hook!

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