“We need technology in every classroom and in every student and teacher’s hand, because it is the pen and paper of our time, and it is the lens through which we experience much of our world.” ~ David Warlick 

Ahhh…technology….what can feel like a friend to one educator can seem like a foe to another. Though advancements in technology are happening at a mind-boggling pace and the tools available today are far greater than those of a decade ago, the approach some schools take often fails to build the excitement in teachers needed for successful use. Often times “the best laid plans” of placing technology in classrooms can seem like little more than a dash and drop, where technological tools arrive in the classroom for teachers to use, having little to no training in appropriate use. Yet, despite these challenges, teachers must learn to leverage the technological tools available to them appropriately in order to best serve the students in their charge.

I remember a time fifteen years ago (give or take a few years) when all classrooms at my school were provided with a laptop computer and teachers were trained on programs available for use. Despite my excitement about having a laptop for use, many of the veteran teachers were wary, stating “this too shall pass” and “don’t get used to it….it won’t last.” Looking back now I question if those teachers were actually scared of having to use this new technology in their classrooms rather than being unsure of the livelihood of the new tool. Some of those same teachers are still teaching today and, believe it or not, the laptops are still in their classrooms, along with digital cameras, Smart Boards, document cameras, iPads, iPods, and countless other technological tools. Most of those teachers who were so uncertain of the staying power of the computer have accepted (and even embraced) the fact that technology is a tool for advancing learning and are now using those tools daily.

When I reflect back on the differences in my classroom from my first year of teaching to today (year nineteen), what a difference technology has made! I get frustrated if, upon arriving at school, I learn that Internet access is unavailable, or the Smart Board is not working properly, or laptops are not available for my students to use. What was once an occasional technological treat has now become an expected part of each day. After spending a week with my fellow Fellows at NCCAT, I know that I could be using the tools available to me at a far greater capacity….and I also know that my school has a long way to go.

The biggest challenge to leveraging technology to empower learning for my classroom and school lies primarily in the availability (or rather, lack) of technological tools and the likelihood that those tools available will work properly. No longer is the desire of teachers to use technological tools an obstacle; rather, making enough tools available for all to use has become the greater challenge. Ideally, my students should have laptops or iPads available to them throughout the entire school day for use in all curricular areas. Unfortunately, this is not a reality and I have to bargain with other teachers to ensure all students have shared time on the three laptop carts available for our 300+ student population

Also, the question must be asked, are we leveraging technology effectively to best meet the needs of our students? Can we truly say that technology is used in a transformative manner in our classroom? Just having technology available means very little….having my students use technology to to do things they didn’t even think were possible, that’s the real beauty of teaching and learning. To truly leverage technology, students should be connecting with other classrooms around the world; sharing what they are learning with others through blogs, videos, and digital portfolios; and making choices about how to use technological tools to help them learn.  

I am entering this school year with a new perspective on how to best leverage the technology available to empower my students. This will be the year when we envision, plan, create, and do things we’ve never done before. This is the time to expand my students’ minds and help them accomplish things of which they have only dreamed.

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“Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” ~ Helen Keller

Regardless of the task with which we were charged this past week at NCCAT, teamwork seemed to be the unifying theme. From working together with strangers (who quickly became friends) to build a marble “bridge”, flip a tarp from side to side with only the use of our feet, escape a fiery pit of death by walking together on “floating” white squares, or collaborate to rescue our three tennis ball “students”, we quickly saw that together we could achieve much more.

The theme spilled over as we tackled more challenges….most notably, rafting. Though I was not thrilled with the initial thoughts of possibly plunging headfirst into bitterly cold water, I must admit that the rafting experience was a high point of the week. Although I’m certain we had the best river guide (Hank, whom we renamed Ryan), during multiple times on our trip we had to work together as a team to navigate the raft to appropriate locations. Together it was possible….alone it would have been nearly impossible. I’m thankful that, through teamwork, I remained relatively dry and in the raft!

As I consider the task ahead of me, working towards the completion of my unit, I know that I will rely on my team of fellows, the wonderful ladies who have accepted the same challenge as me. Though we may not teach the same grades, we have the same goal….making teaching and learning better for teachers and students across North Carolina. I am proud to be one of the “Fabulous Five” working to create fabulous ELA units for NC teachers!

Most notably, I am proud of the 2013-2014 Kenan Fellows “team” that has been created and charged with making incredible things happen across the state. Together we can achieve more….and together we will achieve greatness! Go team!

“Mentoring is a brain to pick, an ear to listen, and a push in the right direction.” ~John C. Crosby

I will have the pleasure of working with Lisa Llewellyn McIntosh, K-5 English Language Arts Consultant for the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. During my fellowship, I will create an ELA unit plan focused on specific Common Core Standards, which will be available for use by elementary school teachers. In addition, I will work with other Kenan Fellows involved in the same fellowship to create and host a webinar on our created materials.

This summer I will spend the majority of my time planning and creating curriculum materials. I will also spend a week working with my mentor and other leaders from DPI in Summer Institutes held across the state. As a result, I know that I will learn greatly from the expertise of my mentor and look forward to our work together.