Want to Innovate?

Many teachers, by nature, are futurists. We are planners at heart. People that plan feel they have a level of control. However, some of my best ideas happen on the fly with no planning involved.

The district I teach for has purchased one of the programs Monique Markoff mentions in the video. They leave it up to teachers how to implement the program. The district will require students to complete a specific amount of time on the program weekly. On my campus, it was up to teachers how and when to fit the program into their schedules. Some choose to use a blended learning approach to incorporate the learning.

I am committed to having my kids use technology. My idea of students using technology in the class is for them to learn to use it as a tool. This is why I choose ePortfolios for my innovation project. I want my students to use the iPad to document their learning and use it for other learning. Unfortunately, my students do not have technology available 100% of the time because we are not a one-to-one campus. So I have to be sure to plan activities during the times we have access.

Through authentic projects, I can create an environment where my students are given choice, ownership, and voice. It just takes a little planning to ensure I am covering all the knowledge and skills required by the state.