From the Other Side

This week I had the pleasure of being interviewed by one of my colleagues who is completing a master’s course at ISU. Her assignment was to interview various teachers and discuss their perspectives on incorporating technology in the classroom. I found it interesting how many of the same questions she was required to ask in the interview were questions or themes incorporated throughout the CTER program. For a moment I felt like an expert when answering her questions about Web 2.0 technologies in the classroom! But I know that technology is constantly changing and in a few years my “expertise” won’t amount to much unless I stay on top of things. I felt well prepared for the interview and it showed, because my colleague complimented me after the interview regarding my knowledge. Most of her interviews were with business teachers who used technology often in their curriculum and she found it refreshing that even a Social Studies teacher could find ways to use Web 2.0 on a regular basis.

Another discussion this week erupted in my classes in regards to current events. The face-off between President Obama and comments posted on Twitter regarding an off hand comment on Kanye West were hotly debated in my US History classes because we are just now covering the 1st Amendment: Freedom of Speech/Press. The students really became engaged in the discussion because many of them knew the background story and were familiar with the technology. From a teacher’s perspective it was great that things fell into place at the right time (current event examples and content). Thank you Twitter for contributing to a great discussion in my classroom!