Journal Entry 3

As I look back on all of the assignments and research I have completed during these last three weeks, I am truly amazed with how much I have learned from this course. Truthfully, I did not expect to do or learn as much as I did, and I am really glad I chose to take Ed 5210. I have developed as a learner and as a teacher. In this short time I have made my own webpage, my own blog, my own wiki, learned how to do a podcast, and have even become a better typist! I also learned about a lot of new websites like letterpop that can help me when I have a classroom of my own.

I think the most important thing I learned from this class is how crucial it is to implement technology in the classroom, and I also learned several ways in which to do it. I am very excited about developing projects such as my webpage- I think I am now addicted! What surprised me the most is how quick and easy these things actually are. Many technological tools just take a few clicks of the mouse and some creative thought. I could not believe how many great tools there are out there that are completely free- all you need is a computer and the internet! The most beautiful thing that technology adds to the classroom is that it gives you boundary-less information. You can go virtually anywhere in the world, and you can even have classes taught anywhere in the world! There is no limit to the information you can find, and the connections you can make. The way people are learning and communicating has evolved into such a fast-paced whirlwind of knowledge, it blows your mind to think that teachers are not using it to its fullest potential! As a teacher, I am going to make an effort to have my kids on the computer every day if I can.

In this class, I learned how the roles of the teacher are shifting from a “lecturer” to a caregiver to their students. Many students have special needs and different learning styles, and I feel that it is the teacher’s responsibility to try everything in his/her power to make a connection to the students. Moreover, I think it is the “new school” of teachers who are going to have to assume primary responsibility in changing the way kids are taught. Much of these new educational reforms must begin in the classroom, and in order for these changes to work, there must be willing and dedicated educators at the forefront. I have mentioned before that I think it takes a special kind of person to be a teacher. There must be an underlying intelligence with the desire to do good in the life of someone else. I think this is also what separates us from other nations and shows us just how far we’ve come. We have gone from a traditional pencil-and-paper unit to caring about the individual student’s needs. This change is not completely finished, however. But I think it is a huge start knowing the initiative is there. We as a nation have begun to see education in terms of the individual, much like the laws of our society are meant to protect the individual. We live in a country where people are free to express themselves- why not let it into the schools?

What is fascinating is that school is a mini of society. I had never viewed a school like that before I took this class. I don’t think I thought about it much at all, to tell you the truth. I think that I am at a big disadvantage not being a teacher yet. I feel like I have so much to learn still that I may never be ready for my own class. It is important to constantly incorporate different cultures into the classroom, simply to appeal to all learners and to teach students tolerance. I feel that much of the disagreements in the world today across cultures are due to lack of education and understanding. That is something that can only benefit from learning about these things starting at a young age. I learned the most about political influence in education through my group’s presentation on political issues in educational reform. I never knew that so much of America’s money went to education (almost half!), and this bill runs to over $500 billion! That is a lot of moolah! But still, I find it ironic that this is seldom enough for schools. I think it is sad that funding has been (and it seems like it always will be) an issue. I also think that it definitely isn’t going into the teachers’ pockets! (But, as I have discussed in previous blogs, good teachers are in it for the kids, not the money).

One thing I am glad I learned in this class is the differences in education that students receive. I think public schools are a great “melting pot” in the sense that there is a diverse student population in most schools, including students with special needs. However, I think that one downfall to the public school system is that we cannot guarantee that students of different racial or economic backgrounds is receiving the same education. I think that our school system still favors families of higher economic status, which is also usually a white family. In order to improve on this, I would like to use as much differentiated instruction as possible. I want to make sure that I am able to reach every child in my classroom, and that each of them gains knowledge and understanding from the curriculum. I also want to make sure that all ethnic groups are represented and celebrated in my room. This can be done through thematic units, parent/guest speakers, and research presentations.

It is crucial to involve kids in their own learning. I think that allowing a student to have some sense of control over their education creates a feeling of autonomy and relevance to learning new things. Kids need to know that it is their responsibility to learn and use new knowledge; otherwise, they will not be ready to succeed in the real world. One of the greatest gifts a teacher can give to their students is the ability to be inquisitive and ask “Why”. It is this mentality that allows for changes to happen, and for our society to intellectually advance itself. Without these gifted minds, there is no progress. After taking this course, I have realized that our world is changing how we communicate and how we learn, and we as teachers need to adapt to that. As a teacher, I must be flexible. I must be okay with trying new things and be patient with them. I must always think about my students, and the world they will be living in. I am happy to say, this class has both taught me these requirements, and helped me develop professionally so that I may one day rise to these challenges.