Website Complete...

....but work in progress.

I have submitted the website complete button for today but as I mentioned, it will be a work in progress because I still add more content and insights in my professional website. I like to take this website as a tool to reach out teachers out there to pursue what they love to do and continue to be passionate in their work and be proud. I want them to say -

I'm not just a good teacher but a great one!

I want them to appreciate that our students are safe and comfortable learning and getting ready to any challenges that life can bring. I want to empower teachers to be proud of what they can do. If we love what we do, we don't mind the issues, we don't the prejudices, we don't mind if we are underpaid or not supported. What matters most is the joy and meaningful experiences we give our students that can be use to uplift their life and others.

Issues in Maintaining a website

I think having a class website is a great tool for teachers for them to store and organize their ideas and make the resources available for students. The issues you'll probably encounter are having not enough time manage it or fix some technical problems. Your class website can also be a good resource for other teachers that share the same interests. First world countries(and upper class students) are lucky to enjoy this opportunity that technology can bring while the third world countries(or poor communities) are still doing the basics.


Here's some tips that you can pick up in maintaining a website:

https://spigotdesign.com/basics-maintaining-website/

http://nectafy.com/how-to-maintain-a-website/

http://www.webpagemistakes.ca/maintain-website/


Recently, I do not have a class website, not because of these issues. You see in China, Google is blocked as well as Youtube, Weebly, Facebook, and other websites so I was looking for another alternative for the students to use for communication and as a resource folder. I'm not sure if you heard about QQ - it's a Chinese social media that allows you to contact your students since they all have QQ numbers and you can create a class group where you can chat with them and share files. You can also share links and chat with them. I think it's cool.

Personal Barrier in Classroom Setting

I would not actually call it personal, but as human being, we have limits as to what we can do. I feel like most of the teachers don't want to use technology in class because they don't have time to learn more about it or give their time to use it in class. As for me, I don't feel like it's the reasons that hinder me from integrating technology in my classroom instruction. My issue would be the number of students in class. As much as I think that technology helps me a lot in delivering my lessons with comfort and easy access for students to review, I felt bad that I can't fully go around to check 28 students during 1 hour and 30 minutes class. I don't also have time to stay after class or have a free time to help students because I have 32 teaching periods every week. But even then, I think technology has been helping me out to help insure that my students are achieving the curriculum outcomes and show to me that they comprehend through their presentations using technology since our class time is limited. Now here's my real struggle - technology can definitely help but my human body is tired, thus it's preventing me from providing quality instruction some times : (

Almost there...

Can't believe how time flies! I'm on my  last week finishing my course of Educ 5203. I have come to re evaluate myself as a teacher and what role I've been playing in educating future generation. Am I preparing them enough for their future? I think I do.

I haven't been writing much online because I was away for three weeks. During those days, I was trying to divide my time from studying online(maybe 5% only), travelling, processing papers important documents for work and visa application, renewing passport, attending wedding, seeing family and some friend, family reunions, taking care of my daughter who had undergone family issues with the new family of her dad, tv/radio interviews, diving, and the highlight of my trip was conquering one of my biggest fears - jumping off the diving board for 15 ft high. You see, I've always wanted to jump from the boat when we go swimming in the middle of the sea but I'm always afraid to do so. I just enjoy myself watching my nephews and nieces jump off of the port/boat and wishing I could do the same. Maybe because I was drowned few times since I was a kid but the desire to jump has been always what I wanted to do. Since last year, I took small steps towards making that dream a reality. Making it possible is like a dream come true.

Why I'm talking about this? It's because I think when you want to change something, you need to change your attitude and steps of actions and keep the goals the same. The last experience actually taught me something - if I was going to teach better and encourage my students to learn from their mistakes and try something new, I should be doing it to myself as well. As I said, change is inevitable. I can't pursue my dreams if I won't take a step towards it. Like our education, if our world has been changing a lot, with technology, I guess the best way to cope with it it to embrace it and focus on the goal of educating the learners no matter it will take time for us to learn and absorb new technologies.

I have so much to learn and share, but one thing I have right now - confidence! Yes, confidence.

Expected Change in Education

I came across at this article - Changes in the Teaching and Learning Process in a Complex Education System and it made me reflect about what changes are necessary for the 21st century learners and how does a teacher like me play the role in that significant change.

As we have known, the existence of technology greatly influences the way we want our students to be mold in order to fit the rapid change of the society, that includes the needs of people and the way we interact at each other. Stakeholders, educators, politicians, curriculum developers come together to plan what students should be doing in the next decade with the use of the existing technology. It doesn't look like easy as it seems. No matter how we try to simplify the teaching-learning situations, often, directly or indirectly we are affected from social norms and expectations.

I think teachers should start thinking about how important their roles are in educating these learners in a way that they could maximize or enhance students abilities and teach them how to use these abilities and be critical thinkers in this fast-changing world.

Reference:

http://www.necsi.edu/research/management/education/teachandlearn.html

ISTE for Teachers

When I was making my professional growth plan, I was also re-evaluating my role as a teacher and what opportunities I could offer to my students so they can be better at what they can do, if not best. Re-reading the ISTE for teachers reminded me of why I chose to remain as a teacher. 

Check it out for yourself:

http://www.iste.org/standards/standards/standards-for-teachers

Sometimes, we need a little shake and a reminder of what we signed for. And for sure, technology is one of those things that will help us bring our dreams to reality and thus, achieving git.