Throughout the past few weeks I have learned that although teaching twenty-first century skills involves the use of technology, there is not enough funding to supply teachers with the necessary tools to teach these critical skills. I have searched high and low for grant opportunities and other resources that might help me reach my goals and have had no luck what-so-ever. It has been a disappointing search and I have come to the conclusion that without funding and support for necessary resources, I will not be able to teach the skills that I find important. The e-beam that I thought I could use in the classroom is not available and the other two student computers will be taken out of my room so that another computer lab can be created. Yes, I can still help students become more creative thinkers, but I cannot involve technology and collaboration outside of the classroom when I do not have parental approval and the resources I have are so ancient that they do not sell the parts anymore. Times have changed; however, change costs money, and our district along with many others do not have the capability to supply money for these resources.
Therefore, at this point I am not ready to set new goals. I would still like to figure out how I can ‘make do with what I have’ and find ways of integrating technology seamlessly into my math curriculum. Today’s leaner uses technology continuously throughout their lives and it is not something that should be taken away or limited in the classroom. It is important for my students to use these tools and as Vicki Davis suggests in the video, I am not only a teacher, but also a connector (Laureate Education, 2009). I should be connecting my students to as many resources as possible so that when they leave my classroom they have the tools they need to succeed in life. Throughout the summer I will continue to search for grants and other opportunities that help me to reach my goals; however, I will also try to create lessons that promote creativity and collaboration without the use of technology.
References:
Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Integrating technology across the content areas. Baltimore: Author.
Erin-
ReplyDeleteI am sorry to hear you were unable to find any grants for using 21st Century skills in the classroom. You would think that there would be endless possibilities with today's society.
I understand that you want to make do with the goals you currently have. This whole process is rather overwhelming and can challenging this time of the year.
Good luck!
~Meghan
Erin,
ReplyDeleteDid you try donorschoice.org to get your projected funded. I have gotten two projects funded through them, one got me a color printer and digital camera and then other one I am getting 3 nano video ipods for my classroom. They are really the easiest way for teachers to get projects funded. So if you haven't tried that, then I would suggest that. I feel your pain when it comes to having no classroom computers for students. Even though my school has labs, they are not set-up in a way that my deaf students can go down and work in.
Meghan and Ashley-
ReplyDeleteThank you for your help with coming up with different possibilities. I will check out the donorschoice.org site as soon as I can and see if I might be able to get funding through them. Do you know the regulations for if you were to move? Would the technology items you recieved stay with the school or move with you?
Erin-
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you hit a wall and that must be very frustrating. I have never looked for grants but I have heard the same thing that with the economy the way it is it is very hard to get one approved but I do not know first hand.
I agree with you that if you do not succeed at first try, try, again. In my school we have some great computer labs but they are rarely available. You are lucky that you even had a computer I have never had a computer in my room sorry that it was taken away though that has to be frustrating.
I give you a lot of credit for your effort to complete your GAME plan as well as improve your students learning experience. Hang in there and I hope you find a grant soon.
Making do with what you have is the hardest part. Have you been able to really evaluate the possibilities to make due. I myself do that and have looked into some projects that would be so overwhelming to try and complete it would take a lot of time that needs to be spent on other things. It is very hard.
ReplyDeleteErin-
ReplyDeleteI know this may be a stretch, but what if you could work with what technology your students already have? Cell phones, ITouch's, other internet ready devices that so many of our young students have at their disposals. Instead of having to rely on your frugal school district, you could use the technology that the students use everyday. Just an idea. I can see how that problem can be terribly frustrating. Good Luck!