Two Standards Vital to My Goals As a Teacher

Hello,

This week we were required to read the ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) document. It described the standards for educators in how to improve teaching by using technology in the classroom effectively. The document covered five different strands.

The first strand that is meaningful to me is to facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity. With this strand, teachers can use their wisdom of subjects, teaching, learning, and technology to create experiences that further student learning and creativity in different environments. Some ways in which teachers can implement these ideas include:

•  Encouraging and supporting creative thinking and inventiveness
• Creating situations in which students can explore real-world issues and solve problems using digital tools
•  Emphasizing reflection by using collaborative tools to help students reflect on their  understanding

Teachers need to create a classroom environment where students aren't afraid to take risks. Students should be comfortable to try new approaches in their learning. This is why looking at real world issues can help student to change their perspectives and provide them with a deeper appreciation for what they are learning. There is a wide range of technological tools available for us to use in order to keep our students interested and up to date. Teachers need to use whatever students find to be helpful to them in reaching their learning goals. Students can use digital media and environments to communicate and work. They can use their critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, organize projects, solve problems, and make informed decisions using digital tools and resources. 

The second strand which I find important is professional growth and leadership. It is important that as teachers, we are constantly looking for ways to improve our practices. Teaching is a journey in which we can continually grow. There are always new ideas we can incorporate into our classrooms and there are always areas in which we can grow. We should look for additional courses and ideas from others to improve our teaching strategies. It is important to be up to date with current ideas and methods of instruction in order to offer our students the best chance of reaching their full potential. This is why incorporating technological use in the class is so important‼

Ways in which to ensure professional growth and leadership:

•  Each time you find a great technology tip or resource for an upcoming theme, lesson, or unit, you are contributing to the knowledge available to your school’s learning community.
•  Show your leadership by displaying a vision of technology incorporation by participating in community building and developing the technology skills of others

o   Each time you use a technology tool, you are opening the doors to new ideas for your colleagues. If you are successful with your new tool, your co-workers will likely try a similar strategy in their own classrooms.

•  Reflect on current research and professional practice on a regular basis to make use of emerging digital tools and resources for student learning

o   Discover a blog about a new technology strategy and show it to your co-workers and try the strategy in your class. Ask your students what they thought of the new technology.

This was a very useful article which allowed me to reflect on how important it is to continue to professionally grow as a teacher. Every educator should know these strands and be aware of which strands contribute to their teaching philosophy and teaching goals.