Jun
30
Project Day
June 30, 2006 | | Leave a Comment
It’s not about the technology…it’s about the learning that occurs. This paraphra
se of my instructor’s comments, made earlier in the course, has stayed with me throught this journey. I have embraced the technology, but I have stuggled with finding a place for it in my teaching. I love to learn about new ways to use the technology, but I have difficulty incorporating it in my lessons in such a way that the students say “Wow! I really learned something in this class. I like the way Mr. Powell teaches.” Now maybe I am being a little hard on myself. I have experienced those moments and heard comments similar to the one I shared. But for me, these moments are few. I want to help my students. I do not want to hurt them by denying them the best education they can get. So I stuggle to learn more.
The biggest lesson learned from this course has been seeing that I am the Mr. Edmund-type of teacher Sprague and Dede describe in their article “If I Teach This Way, Am I Doing My Job?” Okay…I’m not quite that bad, but I do know that they would say I was an instructionist. I would agree with them.
I have a difficult time letting go of the idea that I need to be in control of the classroom. I have to be the dispenser of knowledge.
I want to be a constructivist teacher. This course represents the third time during my studies that I have encountered the concept of constructivism. Harry Wong is right when he insists that a good teacher makes sure that during instruction time, the students are doing most of the work. It’s no wonder that I find myself tired at the end of a school day.
Now, I am on my way to adapting to this model of instruction. I employ cooperative learning lessons whenever I can because they engage the student. Constructs like Think -Pair – Share allow students to hear from each other. Instead of me asking a question, getting five to seven hands waving in the air, and I call on ONE student to answer, cooperative stuctures allow me to pose a question and let students share their answers with each other. I then call on one or two pairs to share their discussion with the whole group. I enjoy those moments.
I want to expand on constructivism and incorporate technology as a tool to help my students fall in love with learning as I have done. It is that love affair with learning that drew me into the profession in the first place. I wanted to share with my students what my best teachers shared with me…a passion to know more.
