Of the six ideas, I strongly identified with “Share Everything” and “Talk To Strangers”. I believe these two ideas intertwine and compliment each other nicely. As a new teacher, I take every chance I can get when it comes to receiving lessons, units, activities, etc. from veteran teachers. I collect them in hopes of one-day using/modifying them to fit my needs. My intentions are to share as well, even if it something that does not work. I believe the true test of a successful lesson/activity will be if another teacher can use it and have it be successful for them as well. Talking to “strangers” coincides with sharing, as one must be open to utilizing the resources that technology provides us, as well as to be a good sharing “stranger”. In other words, in order for talking to strangers to be beneficial, the stranger must be willing to share. Lastly, growing up, I always wanted to have a pen pal from a different country. Looking at it now, I can see that creating digital pen pans amongst my students would allow them to not only email with one another, by video chat, tweet, etc. and create a relationship where each student is learning from the other. These new type of relationships are only possible through the incorporation of technology.
While I agree with, and support all of Richardson’s ideas, there are two that I think will be more of a challenge for me to develop and execute. While I love the idea of having students discover the curriculum, versus delivering it all myself, I feel like it will be a challenge to implement successfully. I foresee students being resistant to exploring their own interests within my subject, not wanting to take advantage of the opportunity I am providing them. Regardless of the challenges, I am determined to grow and learn with my students while trying the process out. Along the same lines, I see many challenges with trying to transfer the power to my students. Even with the potential challenges these ideas pose, I am excited to learn and develop my abilities to successfully facilitate these new teaching techniques.
Technology in the classroom is something I have only grown fonder of. Richardson’s book, Why School?, not only further intensified these beliefs, but also allowed me to look at it in a new way, with a complete revamp of teaching and assessments.
Richardson, Will. Why School?: How Education Must Change When Learning and Information Are Everywhere. TED Conferences, 2012. EPUB file.