18 April-My Beliefs

I think the things I learned from the articles, videos, and class this semester can all be summed up in one word: adaptability. It seemed that the theme that ran through the articles and videos was that students today are extremely adaptable because they are used to the changes and fluctuations in technology. They have been "rolling with the punches" their entire lives, when it comes to technology. Thus, teachers of these millenial students must adopt this level of adaptability in order to successfully help them through their educational journey. I believe that teachers must be lifelong learners and stay on top of the newest developments in their subject area and beyond. It is imperative that we, as teachers, are willing to change and adapt our lessons to meet the ever-evolving technology surrounding us and our students. I believe that being adaptable is being flexible, being willing to learn, being willing to change, and being willing to investigate and finding new answers to questions.

I felt that the video "Shift Happens" addressed this concept of adaptability very concisely. In a nutshell, the video was showing that everything is changing, both in the online environment and in the physical environment as a result. The video mentioned that this technological evolution is exponential. I believe that to be true. In the last 50 years, particularly the last 20, it seems that technological advancements are like a snowball rolling down a mountain. Not only have the advancements been increasing in volume and quantity, but they are also picking up speed. I believe that educators have the opportunity to shape some of the way students experience technology. This is why technology is so important in the classroom. When we understand how to better utilize technology to increase learning and output, we have the ability to share that with our students and set the next generation up with this increased learning and ability, which will certainly continue to advance exponentially. Thus, I believe, as educators, that our capacity for adaptability has to be as exponential as the changing technology is. I am excited to have the opportunity to expose my students to many technological experiences in my classroom and I hope to grow, along with them, as technology continues to grow and evolve.