Library Media Specialist, Joppa View Elementary
“Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” – John F. Kennedy
We realize we cannot always do what has “worked” in the past, the present is what we think is working “now,” but the future holds endless technological possibilities for our students that we must stay connected and up-to-date with. As we continue into the 21st Century, we continue to grasp and grow with the technology changes that come our way. We have the privilege to become a Lighthouse School this year and cannot begin to imagine the instructional possibilities that lie ahead. We had the opportunity to familiarize ourselves with the new devices and participate in a worthwhile professional development opportunities with which we learned applications and were able to collaborate with colleagues about the device roll-out process.
As a special area teacher, I envision my students collaborating and connecting with each other through digital applications that they are familiar with and already have become “experts” in. We are learning with our students and connecting on their technological level which will increase engagement and productivity. My curricular expectations and student participation, I foresee, will be met and exceeded exponentially through the use of the devices as our students in grades one through three will have equitable opportunities to access digital information.
Collaborating with classroom teachers will be met with ease as students will be able to continue and complete activities and instructional objectives in the classroom that pertain to what we are learning in the media center. I am excited and eager to begin this journey with students and colleagues!