The Digital English Classroom

Regrettably, I use Web 2.0 minimally in the classroom.  Over the last few years, I have experienced apathy from students in regards to traditional education (e.g. reading from a text and writing responses on paper, teacher centered instruction, etc.).  They are not reading the texts and have difficulties responding critically and creatively to the readings.  Also, I have discovered that they have an extremely difficult time connecting the material to themselves and to world outside of themselves.  I would like to see their attitudes toward learning change.  The more I learn about Web 2.0, the more I become interested in utilizing it more in the classroom.   

We have no choice but to change the way we teach.  Technology is not going away and if we don’t start using it with our students, they will simply “check out” when coming into our classrooms.   I like the idea of using blogs with my students because it enables them to think critically and independently in an informal environment.  This gives students greater responsibility for their own education and actively engages them in the learning process.

We fear change.  We have been doing something a certain way for so long, and we think “How will our students react?  Can they complete these tasks if we change our teaching strategies?”  The truth is they can change more easily than we can.  The old strategies just aren’t cutting it.  Students don’t want to merely complete worksheets or reading assignments.  They want something more.  They deserve it.   

The best teachers are those that embrace learning as much as they expect their students to embrace learning.  When I am not challenging myself, learning, and growing, I see my teaching suffer.  The class becomes stagnant.  Some of the most effective teaching moments have occurred when I was working on my graduate degree.  I incorporated all of the new and exciting material into my classes, including some of my own poetry and short stories.  My students really responded to what I shared with them.  I was excited about learning and so were they.  Lifelong learning is essential for teachers and anyone who wants to grow intellectually, emotionally, spiritually, etc.  One of the most challenging habits is accepting responsibility for my own learning.  The daily demands of work and family really make it difficult to find the time to focus on lifelong learning.  The key to alleviating this problem is to prioritize my time and avoid procrastination.  The easiest challenge is to have confidence in myself as a competent, effective learner and the most important habit is to create my own learning toolbox.  Teachers are provided with a plethora of resources.  We just need to take the time to sort through them all and incorporate them in our teaching.