21st Century Teaching

As I read through the article, The Evolution of thought practice, I actually giggled some because I was able to see myself in each one of the stages. My first couple of years of teaching known as the Entry stage, I was totally scared of technology. I looked at it as another lesson I had to put together and it made me nervous. Almost all my lessons were direct instruction and it was very traditional. When I came to NVUSD I moved over to the Adoption stage because now my students were introduced to using technology because there were programs we had access to and about 4-6 iPads in the classroom. However, there was still very little work for me to do and they were only exposed to it. After being in this district for a year or two I learned to use the resources and tools and incorporate them into the teaching/learning that was already happening by including a routine in my daily lesson plans. Right now I feel as if I am in stage 4(Appropriation) because I now look for ways to use technology apps that include collaboration and exploration opportunities appropriate for first graders. With the help of this course by next school year I hope to be at the final stage of Innovation.
Unfortunately with every new bit of information I learn that excites me, every new page I read of The Flat World of Education, saddens me. Knowing how much I can teach and show my students to help prepare them in the process of being 21st century learners but also knowing so many children will never get that opportunity. Knowing that in 2019 there are still school districts that don't not only have access to technology they don't even have access to enough updated textbooks for their students or even the same teacher for more than 30 days. Knowing that minorities and the poor cannot compete on the same academic playing field as their peers leaving them with not even a chance to get the high paying technology jobs in the future is so unfair.