....then you're in the right place. Teaching is not something people can do without preparation. Even though we've all watched teachers and teaching for a long long time by this point, so much of what a teacher does is invisible - the reading, studying, and preparation of both her theoretical grounding and her practices in the classroom. Getting you all on that life long road is the goal of this class.
So in addition to the work we've been doing, particularly with technologies, what can you do? There are several ways you can do the work of getting yourself prepared: one, doing the work in this class (this class is a requirement for new teachers for just this reason); two, do extra reading in areas you feel unprepared in (I’m happy to recommend books for you and there are lots to choose from); three, attend reading group meetings and workshops next semester on writing technologies if that’s your area of weakness; four; focus your observations on teachers whose classes are likely to show you how to do some things.
Acknowledging that there are things you need to work on individually is an important first step - remember when someone (Zebroski?) talked about the meta awareness that is the actual first step in learning something - the recognition that you don't understand? We cannot cover everything in one semester - you need to do work individually to get yourself up to speed on specific things you need more attention to. Teaching at the college level is not just a part of your fellowship; it is a serious commitment to the learning of first year college students who have come to the university with goals and desires for an education. It is hard work that cannot be done half heartedly.
Pam
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Pam-
I am interested in getting a list of some of these reading materials or if you could bring them to class. I may not agree with the use of technology in the classroom, and I admitt I may never. But I want to be a sucessful teacher, and if it is expected of me to have some understanding of using technology I would like to learn more. Just reading about teachers methods and studies using these types of technologies is not all that helpful, if I am unfamilar and don't know what they are talking about. Seriously I don't use chat rooms, rarely IM. A computer and the internet is a necessary evil in my life. I would gladly pack it up and leave it in the corner and go off to India. I only use these things because I am in a culture that tells me I need to.
So I am seriously at a loss. If you can reccoment teachers to observe that are using technology in interesting ways, please pass their names along. Also, I would like to learn more about these workshops and things you mentioned going on next semester, even if they are going on now. I can argue all day about why I don't like technology, but I now I would much rather brainstorm and enter a discussion about concrete uses, what these things are, how to set them up, use them in the classroom. I want to know what we are talking about here, because really I do not use the internet as a community for my writing, and I want to understand how people are doing this. Is it only blogs, and chatrooms, we are talking about. I need specifics if I am to understand and apply teaching theory to the classroom.
I am open to any books, workshops or class observantion suggestions you have. The argument will go no where if we can't grow and learn from it.
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