7 – A – 1

Big Shifts

The big shift I focused on is:

Big Shift 1: Open Content

How has this shift affected your teaching practice so far?

I believe that open content (Google, Bing, Search Engines) has affected my teaching the most.  Many times during the course of the school day or school week when students do not know the answer I over hear them say, ‘I'll just Google it when I get home.”  Which is not always bad, however it is an answer that is only skin-deep.  I call it the NOW answer.  Students want to know the answer right NOW! Students usually just click on the very fist link and whatever it says they students believe.  Students do not dig beneath the skin-deep answer or click on other links to double check the facts. 

How do you expect it might affect you in the future?

It has already started to affect my teaching and it will continue to affect teachers.  I usually give the students a ‘fun’ challenge problem on Monday and they have until Friday to answer the challenge problem.  The students would take the problem homework on it during the week; ask their parents for help if needed or maybe an older sibling.  Times have changed, students now will just go home Monday night Google the answer and be done with it already looking to move forward. 

Have your views changed since you started this course?

No, I have always been an advocate of including technology into the classroom.  I enjoy learning new technologies that I can include in the class.  I am finding harder because of the Common Core to integrate technology into lessons because my school is not letting us be to creative during teaching.  The admin wants us all to be on the same page, teaching the same way…so that is a sign that I need to find a full-time technology-teaching job.

How can you use technology to facilitate this shift in your own classroom?

I use technology on a daily basis in class SmartBoards, computers, laptops, and much more.  I try to create projects that have the students search deeper on the Internet or have more elaborate steps that include technology.  It is a change that we as teachers have to face everyday.