Passion and inspiration for digitally transforming your classroom

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6vVXmwYvgs

     If you are looking for an active classroom teacher to help you get excited about transforming your classroom for the  21st century, this is it!  Kayla Delzer, a third grade teacher from North Dakota, and newly named 2019 Teacher of the Year, delivers a powerful message about breaking down the walls to global learning.

"Embrace the students of today, to re-imagine tomorrow."  This is one of her powerful opening statements that sets the stage for a dynamic presentation that will motivate you to rethink how you teach.  It is time for teachers to take a step back and let our students become the leaders they will need to be in the future.  "Teachers don't need to master every single app or every single tool before we hand it over to students."  Kayla talks about letting her students figure out apps that she wants them to use.  Then the students in turn, teacher their peers as well as her!

     "Embrace their knowledge and they'll embrace their learning."  If we trust students abilities and allow them to take control of their learning, then they will be more internally motivated in that learning.  And in the end, all of the assessments will show growth.  However, she also cautions not to overuse technology.  Too much of a good thing, isn't always a good thing.  "Using technology just for the sake of using technology, is wasteful.  If it doesn't transform your classroom, or your teaching, or your learning, just skip it.  Don't use it."  If you are using technology to fill time or to brag that you have a classroom that uses technology, don't.  "Boring things on paper, are still boring when you put them on the IPad."  The purpose of learning must still be at the forefront of your teaching.  "Always start with your purpose."

So many schools are limiting technology use.  Even in early childhood education, students are limited to 7 minutes a day of computer time.  Why are we limiting a tool that has so much power and knowledge?  "Technology is the language today's students speak."  Not to mention, the ability it has to keep us connected with family, friends, and the world.  "Don't be the four walls that hold your kids back or limit their learning." There are many things that will change as we teach through the years.  "But one thing remains constant through time.  Relationships between students and passionate teachers will always be the foundation of successful classrooms."


Reference:
TED.  (Oct. 13, 2015).  Kayla Delzer:  Reimagining classrooms: Teachers as learners and students as leaders [video file].  Retrieved on Dec. 5, 2018, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6vVXmwYvgs