Welcome to day 29 of my blogging challenge. In case you missed what it's all about, you can read more in Day 1.
Today's challenge: How have you changed as an educator since you first started?
I'd hope everyone's answer would be YES! Change is part of any profession - not just education. Each day, each year, each decade are not the same. Therefore, your practices should not be the same.
That said, I like to think I've a very different educator from when I first started. When I first started, I was fairly creative in the types of lessons and assignments I assigned. I loved integrating technology and I loved trying new things. However, I was also less confident and was overwhelmed by all of the demands placed upon teachers.
Part of my change is due to just advancing in a career - meeting new people, encountering new situations, and just wising up. However, other parts of my change are due to my connections.
In my first year of teaching, my principal said, "Hey, you're getting an eMINTS4ALL classroom." And, that was that. So, for the next four years, I implemented more and more as part of the program and attended training after training. It was, in those four years, that I really found a love for instructional technology and helping teachers help students. So, I switched roles.
I became a tech director.
It was in those two years that I realized I did NOT want to be just a fix-it person. I had to work with teachers and students. And, I realized I wanted to influence change in education more than ever.
So, I became an instructional technology specialist. I'm in year three of this position now and, each day, my focus and passion narrows, causing me to adapt who I am as an educator. I used to be about the tools and now, I'm about the content driving the tools. I'm more liberal as an educator and more forgiving of students. It's hard to say exactly how I've changed, but I continue to evolve from the people I meet each day.
What about you - how have you changed? Consider reading this article and see if it changes you.
Today's challenge: How have you changed as an educator since you first started?
I'd hope everyone's answer would be YES! Change is part of any profession - not just education. Each day, each year, each decade are not the same. Therefore, your practices should not be the same.
That said, I like to think I've a very different educator from when I first started. When I first started, I was fairly creative in the types of lessons and assignments I assigned. I loved integrating technology and I loved trying new things. However, I was also less confident and was overwhelmed by all of the demands placed upon teachers.
Part of my change is due to just advancing in a career - meeting new people, encountering new situations, and just wising up. However, other parts of my change are due to my connections.
In my first year of teaching, my principal said, "Hey, you're getting an eMINTS4ALL classroom." And, that was that. So, for the next four years, I implemented more and more as part of the program and attended training after training. It was, in those four years, that I really found a love for instructional technology and helping teachers help students. So, I switched roles.
I became a tech director.
It was in those two years that I realized I did NOT want to be just a fix-it person. I had to work with teachers and students. And, I realized I wanted to influence change in education more than ever.
So, I became an instructional technology specialist. I'm in year three of this position now and, each day, my focus and passion narrows, causing me to adapt who I am as an educator. I used to be about the tools and now, I'm about the content driving the tools. I'm more liberal as an educator and more forgiving of students. It's hard to say exactly how I've changed, but I continue to evolve from the people I meet each day.
What about you - how have you changed? Consider reading this article and see if it changes you.
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