Mission Statement

My Leadership Mission Statement

Today’s children are growing up in the midst of a constantly evolving technological environment, in which they are afforded the opportunity to communicate through digital forms and mediums on an almost daily basis.

For some there is a worry that this is encouraging too much reliance on technology, and an under stimulation of children’s natural creative instincts and abilities. On the other hand, others argue the importance of teaching children how to engage productively and creatively with their technologies so that, as with any artistic medium, technology can become an invaluable tool through which they can express themselves in new and exciting ways.

As a future educator & Ed tech leader, I am committed to continuing to develop meaningful opportunities for students to interact with technology in their classroom.  These interactions will encourage students to think critically and creatively about the way in which they engage with technology in their everyday lives.  It is my personal mission statement to encourage students- and fellow teachers, towards active participation and dialogue with various forms of technology.  I will strive to ensure that students are challenged through their interactions with technology, and that they are faced with the chance to discover ways in which to use technology to enhance their own interests, creativity and curiosities, so that they grow up with an awareness of interactions that are possible within a digital realm. 

The Impact of Technology on Teaching

One of the biggest arguments I hear, from advocates against the use of technology in the classroom is: Students are already over exposed to technology, and so we need to teach them other ways of engaging with material

Are kids today really that overexposed to technology? I would probably have to agree.  I definitely see a lot of downsides to certain interactions and overuses of technology (one of my biggest pet peeves is when you are engaged in a 'real life' conversation with someone and they take out their phone and procede to text someone else while chatting with you!) ...
BUT.

I think we are doing a disservice if we do not provide opportunities for students to learn how to interact with technology in creative and constructive ways.

As teachers we are already well aware that if you can capture the magic that is your student's interests, you stand a much better chance of engaging them and teaching them something that's going to stick.
Technology is an easy one to make work for us in the classroom, because it has already won over the interests of most of our students.  The best way to compete with this force, is to work with it!

When we teach with technology we are showing students that their devices can make a difference to their lives and their learning.  We are reminding them to look for teachable moments in their everyday interactions, and exposing them to opportunities to show us that they can make connections between something they enjoy, and something they can teach themselves through that enjoyment.

What does a 21st Century Teacher Look Like?

What Does a 21st Century Teacher Look Like?


If you were to ask me this question back in August, when I was fresh into the Ed Tech cohort at Brock University, I would have thrown some general terms out at you:
Technology.  Real world learning. Differentiated Instruction.     These were some of the buzzwords I knew, and thought gave me an 'in' into the new century of teaching.

But 21st century teaching is none of these things.
And it is all of these things, at the same time.

To be a 21st century teacher you require a 21st century classroom, but this doesn't mean that your classroom  has to be hardwired with all of the latest gadgets and technological innovations.

It is possible to have the most stripped down, basic classroom in the world- and still engage your students by teaching as a 21st century teacher, because the 21st century teacher is one who elevates the learning experiences in their classroom, so that students are exposed to real, meaningful opportunities for creative risk taking and engagement with what they are learning. 

It is not about just using the buzzwords, but about making them work for our students and our classrooms.
I think one of the biggest things that 21st century teaching is- is learning.  If we are committed to joining our students on this crazy ride that is the changing face of our technological world over the past few years- then we will go far toward helping them to navigate this changing climate in healthy, creative ways that will serve them.

I am so happy to see that 21st century teaching is about celebrating creativity, and encouraging students to find their interests- and learn from and through them.

Certainly, the 21st century teacher has a lot to learn- but we teachers are at our best when we are situated as learners, alongside our students!

21st Century teaching isn't just about technology useage (although technology being such an integral component of our century, it goes without saying that it will certainly serve its place)- it is about using our world's growing knowledge base to help us, and our students, become better and more comfortable learners and explorers.