Tammy+M

1-2: 9-28-13

When I was growing up, my plan was to be a math teacher. However, in my junior year of high school, the school bought four TRS-80s. I started working with them, writing simple programs that we saved on tape drives, and I was hooked. I ended up completing my undergraduate degree in computer science, with a second major in philosophy. I then spent fourteen years writing software. As I watched my older two children grow, I became interested in the fact that the two of them learned so differently. I began researching how children learn, and this ultimately rekindled my interest in education. I did a career switch, and started teaching at the elementary level at a private Montessori school.

I love Montessori, especially the philosophy of “following the child”. Children are not meant to be cookie cutter. They have different learning styles, different strengths and weaknesses, different areas of interest, and they learn different things at different paces. Although the students in my classroom were required to complete certain goals each day, much of their time was able to be spent on the things that interested them. I had the same students for three years, and one thing that surprised me early on was that what interested a child often changed over time. I had many students over the years who were all about math in first grade, and then in second grade they did as little math as possible, and you couldn’t keep them away from books and the language shelf. I also saw the reverse of this, and I saw it happen with other areas of the classroom as well. Other things in Montessori that I love are the hands-on aspect of the shelf works, and the ability for students to move freely around the classroom as long as they accomplish their goals and didn’t disturb others. I had students in my classroom that probably would have been ADD/ADHD in a traditional classroom, but they were able to function in a classroom that allowed movement without medication.

When I started teaching eleven years ago, I used very little technology in the classroom. I did not see enough benefit in the programs/games that reinforced math facts and such. However, my opinion of technology in the classroom has evolved as technology has evolved. Search engines have become sophisticated enough that even elementary students can locate the information that they need with just a little practice. Information is longer just read, but is also readily available through podcasts and videos. However, by far my favorite aspect of technology is the ability for students to create their own content. This not only allows them to demonstrate what they have learned in a way that works for them, it also allows them fantastic opportunities to develop the 21st century skills of creativity, communication, collaboration, and critical thinking. This has led me to a mini-career change, as I am now teaching computer technology at the middle school level, and pursuing my MED in curriculum and instruction with a focus on technology integration.

I believe that technology integration goes beyond the classroom, or at least is should. Our students have amazing tools and learning opportunities right at their fingertips with their cell phones and iPods. The trick is to inspire them to use these tools for lifelong learning.

I believe that currently society drives technology. Perhaps the reverse was true for a while, with people being sold on the fact that they needed this or that technology. However, I think that the rapid changes that we are currently seeing in technology are a result of consumer demand for new tools and features. If people can imagine it, they think it should be available, and the tech industry responds in order to increase their profits. Personally, I never really thought I would see cars that could drive themselves in my lifetime, but here we are!