From+my+heart

In creating this wiki, I learned about my own prejudices and preconceptions. Honestly, when starting out, I felt this class was just another hoop I had to jump through on my way to becoming a teacher. I didn't think I would get much out of it, nor that I would enjoy it. I don't want to come off as cheesy, or give the impression that this class changed my life. But I was truly surprised at how much I learned and how it forced me to think outside the box as far as my teaching practices go.

First, (and I still feel this way) some of the technology assignments do not translate well for a high school spanish course. At some points, I had to write assignments that teachers would not, and maybe should not, assign to first year students. Their language skills would probably be too low to understand the point of the assignment. Given that at the high school level a spanish teacher is usually teaching relatively low level spanish, this limits the amount one could ask from a student. As a result, some of the assignments were a little difficult to construct given the limitations of the students, and I had to reach a little bit on some of them. But on a positive note, the mayority of them did work well for me. They afforded me a chance to start to plan out ideas for how to teach creatively, as well as give me a different perspective on teaching and learning.

Second, I learned that I had to get past my own preconceptions on what teaching should look like. Elementary spanish is mostly taught by rote. And to a certain extent, I feel like that is an integral part of language acquisition that I cannot and would not want to do away with. While I'm always open to learning how to improve my teaching abilities, I have to admit I held a little reluctance in my mind at the onset of this class. I thought students would show up to class, and either put in the effort, or not. But that was on them, and that there was little I could do to motivate them. I don't see technology as a quick, one-size-fits-all solution to unmotivated students, but I've learned to appreciate the effects it can have on a teaching plan. I've realized that just because I think something should work one way, that doesn't mean that it is the best way. This class has helped me keep an open mind about new ways of doing things.

Being a student, I can appreciate the intelligent use of aides in the classroom setting. But I've also realized I'm very critical of teachers when I feel they're assigning frivolous things. I feel this will help me as a teacher to first be open to new ideas, yet still use critical judgment about which lesson enhancers actually enhance the lesson, and which distract. I'm very interested in developing this sixth sense to try to spare my future students frustration or annoyance with aides that do not aid.

I'm proud of most of my work in this class. I wouldn't say I'm technologically illiterate, but I also don't pick up immediately on how technology works sometimes and I'm prone to getting someone else to do it for me. In this class, I was faced with some obstacles where I felt I might not be able to finish the assignment, but I found the technology relatively easy to use once I sat down and listened to the tutorials thoroughly. Thinking back, I am surprised at how much I've learned and with the sheer amount of tools with which I've become familiar over the course of this semester.

I feel I'll certainly teach in the 21st century. I think teaching needs to keep evolving, just like our students do. Social networking and having an online presence is quickly becoming a large part in students' lives and I think it is critical to meet students on their turf. I am committed to doing whatever I can, within reason, to try to reach students. I feel that since there are so many styles of learning, teachers would be shooting themselves in the foot to try to exclude technology from their classrooms. This class has helped me to see the value in using technology to enhance learning.