Tech Tuesday

Let's get one thing straight. Technology is only as good as we make it. And a lot of time...we don't. So, how do we change this? We learn about it, we practice best practices, and we preservere. We'll make this journey together. 

And that brings me to "Tech Tuesday." Each week, I will post a review, how-to, or other article about technology and it's use in the classroom. This may be apps, devices, or ways to use technology. I will even try to include student reviews once school starts back!

If you have technology that you would like me to review or if you are interested in being a guest reviewer, please let me know! We will learn and grow together!

Why STEM?

I am often asked, "Why STEM?"

For me, STEM is not just a fad.  STEM isn't some trendy teaching technique that may or may not pass.  Teaching through STEM is, for me, very personal.

I found out today that I will be having my second brain surgery in five months next week.  As I sat in the doctor's office talking with my neurosurgeon, I was reminded of my reasons for teaching through STEM.  One day, one of my students will have the role of physician; he or she will sit confidently explaining a procedure and will put his or her patient at ease.  One day, one of my students will save lives; he or she will be a problem solver, one who can look outside of the box, draw outside of the lines, and see beyond the "given" and to the truth.  One day, I hope, one of my students will be on the team that discovers a non-invasive treatment (or even a cure!) for the neurological conditions with which I now live.

This is one of the many, many reasons I teach through STEM.  What are yours?

Embarking upon the Journey

How do we establish a learning environment that meets the needs of 21st century learners when we, ourselves, often did not experience such environments?  How do we nurture a culture of intrinsic motivation in a world brimming with sources of external motivation?  How do we reach past today's distractions to engage with the students in our classrooms?  How do we encourage curiosity, flexibility, and imagination while, at the same time, promoting reasoning, critical thinking , and problem solving...especially when our students do not want to "push" the boundaries?  How do we condition our students to develop the mental stamina needed to do all that we want them to do and more???

These are the questions that I, as a teacher, find myself asking each day, and these are what I hope to explore through this blog.  I don't know who (if anybody) will read these entries, but to be honest, gathering a large readership is not the primary purpose of starting this blog.  This is for me, so that I may have a place to reflect upon these questions and my own teaching practice.  If you choose to follow (and I hope you do), I welcome you and your comments, thoughts, insights, questions, and more.

This blog is NOT a professional publication of any sort; instead, it is a reflection of my journey as I continue to learn what it means to teach 21st century learners.  I will post my ideas.  I will share activities whenever I think about it.  I will write about my successes and what I think contributed to those successes.  I will ponder those days that didn't go as planned and what I think contributed to the lack of success.  I hope that through this journey, I will continue to improve, both as a teacher and as a learner.  Ultimately, it is about my students and ensuring that I am providing them with the best possible learning experience.

I hope that you will join me on this journey!