Future: A "Build-it-Yourself" Project
By Kris Knickerbocker
Formal Learning
I plan to continue my education beyond my Master's degree. It has always been my dream to earn a PhD and I plan to realize that goal. The timeline is unclear and may shift according to my career, the program offerings, more children, and a plethora of other factors. However, I hold tight to the idea of earning that degree to complete my personal and professional journey. Of course, I'm open to more formal education before and/or after that.
Less-Formal Learning
I am a big fan of workshops, learning groups, and professional development opportunities. I normally choose to take these for "no credit" for two reasons:
- This generally removes the cost portion of the class. Many time, you can waive the fees by waiving the credit. For me, this allows me to take courses that would normally be outside of my family budget.
- Most class assignments are removed when opting out of class credit. In this way, I can either complete the assignments for my own benefit, or just focus on the classroom aspect without the extra work. This lets me control and choose the time investment I'm making.
Informal Learning
I love magazines. Each year, I try to subscribe to at least 2 new publications. I've found that you can find ideas to integrate into your classroom in the most unexpected places! I've found hands-on activities to teach DNA sequencing in Better Homes & Gardens! I've found supplies to use for Chemistry labs in Think Geek magazine! I've found articles to print and integrate into lessons in Wired Science! I could go on and on. The point is, this is one way that I can open my non-creative science geek mind into creative and interesting directions. My analytical mind used to make it difficult for me to connect to the learning styles of my non-science-minded students. Simply reading articles (of all kinds) has allowed me to step outside of myself and find resources that help me to bridge that gap. Also, for those of you who are "counting pennies" like I am, most magazines offer anywhere from 1-3 months for free. This is enough to get a feel for the resource and see if you like what it offers. It's also enough to pull some great activities and articles out and try them! Another idea is to ask friends and relatives to pass their magazines on after they've read them.
Another way to find ideas is to visit attractions near you: go to a museum, visit a park, sit in on another teacher's classroom, go to a library when they're hosting a guest speaker, visit a courtroom and watch the proceedings, go to a music festival, listen to a music station you would normally flip past. I find that opening my mind to new experiences helps me to stop myself from "closing down" to new ideas. It's easy for me to become stagnant. That stands in the way of me connecting with my students. I commit myself to staying current on the world around me, including the difficult task of trying things that interest my students. Finding a common ground with teens becomes more difficult as I get older. I can't resign myself to that eventuality.
Room to Grow / Room to Change
I plan to teach forever. I'm happiest in my classroom. I cannot imagine a day when I'm not in front of 150 teenagers every day, doing labs and having crazy class discussions about that day's Bio or Chem topic. However, I need to plan for a time when that might change. Teaching is not what it used to be. The days of phenomenal health benefits, collective bargaining rights, and job security seem to be slipping through our fingers. I may need to focus my efforts elsewhere. Toward that end, I need to keep my eyes and ears open. Keeping professional relationships strong and growing is one piece of that puzzle. Staying informed on district changes and community concerns is also vital. Educating myself in a way that makes me valuable and flexible is also important. I am dedicated to working with students, parents, and community members long-term. My role in those relationships may shift over time, but my ongoing drive is to build a strong foundation now. That allows me better communication and resources for the present, as well as flexibility and jumping-off points in the future.
Technological Savvy
I made the comment in one of my previous posts that experience in a constantly shifting field (like technology) is almost immediately obsolete. What I meant by that was that technology is changing so quickly that as soon as you've finally mastered a particular software or program, there are 10 others that offer richer, more user-friendly, more interactive options! This can easily become frustrating and the learner can feel defeated. Having been through this a few times before, I've learned that I can apply previous knowledge to new applications.
In turn, I've made a promise to myself that I will not shut my mind to new technologies. My students are up on the newest resources as far as computers, phones, iPods, gaming systems, etc. It's my job to use their own resources to educate them. This is a big undertaking. The beautiful part is that I don't have to do it on my own. There are people teaching courses on the "newest gadgets" and online forums that discuss teaching strategies integrating technology, and YouTube videos showing labs and demos I've never seen before. The resources are there. I don't have to invent the wheel. I do, however, need to take time to keep myself informed and force myself out of my comfort zone.
In turn, I've made a promise to myself that I will not shut my mind to new technologies. My students are up on the newest resources as far as computers, phones, iPods, gaming systems, etc. It's my job to use their own resources to educate them. This is a big undertaking. The beautiful part is that I don't have to do it on my own. There are people teaching courses on the "newest gadgets" and online forums that discuss teaching strategies integrating technology, and YouTube videos showing labs and demos I've never seen before. The resources are there. I don't have to invent the wheel. I do, however, need to take time to keep myself informed and force myself out of my comfort zone.
Parents and Community
I'm fortunate to work in the East Lansing school district. Our school is situated directly next to Michigan State University's campus. Many of our students have parents who are MSU professors. We have students from 60 different countries who attend ELHS. The diversity in our school is remarkable. Because of this, I have a large pool of qualified and knowledgeable community-members who are willing to be guest speakers in my classroom! Every year, I'm able to integrate more and more community resources into my classes. This allows students to benefit from knowledge sets beyond my own. Also, it gives students the chance to connect with community resources they didn't know existed.
The diversity of our student and family populations also includes racial, socioeconomic, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability/disability, and religious diversity (just to name a few). Seeing families and students different from themselves is vital. ELHS students regularly host opportunities for teachers and fellow students to take part in discussions and presentations on topics outside of their own personal experience. I make it a point to attend as many of these offerings as I can. Not only does this keep me informed about issues and ideas that I wouldn't otherwise has access to, but it also allows me to model acceptance and open-mindedness to my students. This is a commitment that I will continue for the entirety of my teaching career.
The diversity of our student and family populations also includes racial, socioeconomic, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability/disability, and religious diversity (just to name a few). Seeing families and students different from themselves is vital. ELHS students regularly host opportunities for teachers and fellow students to take part in discussions and presentations on topics outside of their own personal experience. I make it a point to attend as many of these offerings as I can. Not only does this keep me informed about issues and ideas that I wouldn't otherwise has access to, but it also allows me to model acceptance and open-mindedness to my students. This is a commitment that I will continue for the entirety of my teaching career.