This summer, just as I spend time rethinking my teaching and learning anew, Language Sensei will be revisiting past posts concentrating on professional change and ‘easy to implement tech’.
Hey you – you out there in your classroom. Remember when you were young? Remember your parents talking about the pace of change in daily life and you rolling your eyes at what they were saying? Remember thinking “Life’s changing people and why do you keep talking about ‘when I was young’? It’s not 19__ anymore.” When did we become those people? We’re supposed to be educating a generation to be ready for the ‘real world’ but when it comes to ‘real world’ methods and ideas we dig in our heels.
I am a language teacher and increasingly trying to offer new ways for students to do things. In my class at any one time students could be using paper, phones or computers for their work. I run classes, as many of you do, using web 2.0 tools. As an educator I use my Twitter PLN, #langchat colleagues and online to find new things to challenge my learners and new ways to do them. When I share alternatives with my co-workers I find many on similar journeys. The other day a colleague, looking at my QR codes for my student video/vocab links said “I’m so glad that I’m retiring in 3 years so I don’t have to do any tech etc in class!” I was dumbfounded. Why? It seems to me that a teacher who has a full-time job and is comfortable with their curriculum should be a great candidate for ‘change’, or dare I say, updating their classroom experience.
It’s my 18th year of teaching and my prepping and updating has never kept me busier. My classroom is not a place of comfort for me ….it’s uncomfortable and that’s good. Why do I love my uncomfortable classroom?
My students are learning to ‘do for themselves’ – When students direct their learning – materials and resources need to come from a variety of sources. I am using Quizlet, Snagit, YouTube, QRcodes, my own Quicktime audio files etc. These take time to set up. It’s not comfortable for me – as each unit brings up new requirements but once done – they are there.
My students are not just learning in class – I am amazed to see how and when they access material. Review videos at 2am, vocabulary on their phone ..these are just two tech changes that require me to be up to date. Flipping my classroom is not a permanent venture for me – but I am using the idea at least once or twice per unit – this requires time for me to prep items for them to use.
Teaching has changed – My language MFL classroom is focused more and more on communicative interactive activities. Therefore, I no longer ‘stand and deliver’ content and what I used to do just doesn’t cut it any more. This means more hours revising to make sure that activities fit into this new style.
Risk is not comfortable. I am risking by trying new things and revamping old items. Doing this in front of, and with, my students in the classroom is not comfortable. But choosing to eschew ‘comfort’ in my classroom I am seeing growth and learning like I never have before. My students are more involved and responsible learners…and their language use is soaring.
So you there sitting at your desk. Take a moment. Instead of being glad that you are retiring in X number of years so you “don’t have to learn anything new” why not see it as “I only have X years left to learn.” Consider the challenge, the gift, of recognizing that we are in a new age.
Comfort? No thanks!
Colleen
