I can not believe how much thought and preparation it takes to hit the new literacy skills. The unit plan that I created ended up being over 27 pages long and it took a long time to think critically for me to try and hit the key literacy skills. Some of the skills are easy to hit, like asking questions and searching / locating information, but synthesizing information and resources takes a lot more out side of the box thinking. There are various ways to teach these skills and finding the ways to be creative is the key. I can not wait for my next school year to begin so that I can start using these new literacy skills in my lessons on a daily basis.
I plan on using the computer and internet as much as possible. This past year at school I used as much technology as I could but now that I have wondered around the internet with a purpose of using / finding out ways to get my students to explore and figure things out on their own, it will be a lot more useful and easier for me to allow them the time to do activities. I think that the thing that will stick out the most to me after this course is that it will take students some time to get used to looking / exploring / learning how to use the internet properly. There might be times where they do not get exactly what I am looking for but they are still using their using new literacy skills. It will take a little bit of time for them to develop their computer skills and surfing skills. The more times that they do it, the better they will be. It is like the good old saying, ‘Practice Makes Perfect!’
One goal that I have for myself is to create and get used to using Webquests inside of my classroom. I know that my district offers PD’s dealing with different internet related topics. Such as, digital story telling, Microsoft Movie Maker, research beyond the internet, etc. They have so many different classes / courses that I can take that will enable me to make a Webquest a valuable tool for my classroom. I really would also like to learn how to create / make my own website. I have a Wiki page, but I want to actually have my own website so I can publish my very own things on there. I plan on doing all of these things to help benefit my students. They are the next generation and they will be preparing themselves for jobs that are still unknown, as much technology integration and new literacy skills that they can learn while being with me the better. Plus, as we all know, once our students get thinking and asking questions, it only makes you work harder to discover more and better ways to deliver instruction. I love to see where and what my students will think of. Give them the keys to search the internet effectively and a way for them think on their own, who knows where and what they will learn.
The future of education is changing each and every day, so are the jobs and the way that we need to teach our students the skills.
