Post #1

I'm somewhat excited to find out how I can integrate technology into my classroom more efficiently and effectively. These days, the amount of new technology available is quite overwhelming, and there are times when I'm not sure what to take, what to leave, and when to stop. While the access provided by Web 2.0 has revolutionized the way teachers share, develop, and innovate, wading through the number of resources out there sometimes seems like more trouble than it's worth. How can I evaluate the never ending stream of free resources on the web? Which applications are best suited to meeting my students' needs and interests AND my curriculum objectives? In what ways can I ensure that my students are receiving maximum benefit from a resource and not just making themselves feel good because they are using some new technology? When are new technologies definitively superior to traditional instructional resources? In what ways can I more effectively take advantage of the applications that I already use in my classes? How can I help my my students be prepared to confidently navigate the various tech. resources they will encounter upon entering the university? How can I use technology in my classes to promote independent learning among my students? I look forward to exploring these questions and many others during the spring semester. Perhaps most importantly, I’d like to know how I can keep up with my students when it comes to new technology!

While I currently use blogging, voice thread, and various Microsoft applications in my classes, I still feel that I am somewhat illiterate when it comes to technology. In general, my tech. confidence is quite low!

Right now I teach English as a second language at the English Language Institute here at UM. Ultimately, I’d like to teach ESL and Spanish at the secondary level, which is one of the reasons I applied to the C&I graduate program. I’ve been teaching English (and a little Spanish) for approximately 8 years. In that time, I’ve taught in Nebraska, Ecuador, South Korea, and Montana.

I recently took an online quiz that tests whether you’re a “native Montanan.” I got over 60% of the questions right (some were really obscure!), which the site claimed was pretty high. The fact is I hope to spend the rest of my time in the U.S. here in Montana, but I’ll always be from Nebraska.